Teachable Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for Teachable Sites

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make the information and communication technology they develop, buy, maintain or use accessible. The Revised 508 Standards, in effect since January 2018, incorporate WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA for web content, electronic documents and software.

Private businesses are not directly covered, but agencies must buy accessible technology, so vendors are often asked for an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) based on the VPAT. This checker runs the scan with the WCAG 2.0 AA preset that Section 508 uses.

If a federal program or contractor runs a site on Teachable, the builder’s templates and widgets must meet WCAG 2.0 AA. Check that you can edit the parts that fail; if you cannot, document them in your ACR.

Who Should Run the Teachable Section 508 Checker

• Federal agencies running a site or microsite on Teachable.
• Contractors and vendors whose Teachable site or portal is part of a federal contract.
• Agencies and vendors preparing a VPAT or Accessibility Conformance Report.
• State bodies and universities whose policies adopt Section 508.

Section 508 Checks That Matter for Teachable Sites

• 1.1.1 Non-text Content

  Every image, icon and chart needs a text alternative, or must be marked as decorative.

• 1.3.1 Info and Relationships

  Headings, lists, tables and form labels must be marked up so assistive technology can read the structure.

• 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum)

  Text needs a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, or 3:1 for large text.

• 2.1.1 Keyboard

  Every function must work with a keyboard alone.

• 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks

  Provide a way to skip repeated navigation, such as a skip link.

• 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value

  Custom controls need a name, role and state that assistive technology can read.

Where Teachable Sites Usually Fail Section 508

These problems come up again and again on Teachable sites, and each one fails Section 508. The Teachable accessibility checker explains how to fix them in Teachable.

• Sales pages built with images of text. Headlines, benefits and pricing set in graphics are invisible to screen readers and cannot be resized.
• Video lessons without captions or transcripts. Lesson videos need accurate captions and ideally a transcript. Automatic captions are a start, but they must be reviewed.
• Downloads in inaccessible PDFs. Workbooks, slides and templates exported as untagged or scanned PDFs cannot be read by screen readers. Test them with our free PDF accessibility checker.
• Low contrast and fine print. Brand colors on buttons, light gray guarantees and small print often fail the contrast minimum.
• Enrollment and checkout forms. Sign-up and payment forms with placeholder-only fields, unclear errors and countdown timers that rush the buyer.

Worried about ADA claims as well? The Teachable ADA compliance checker covers the Teachable risks behind most complaints.

What to Test by Hand on Teachable

Automated testing finds many, but not all, Section 508 failures. Check these yourself after the scan:

1. Test every page with a keyboard only, including menus and dialogs (2.1.1).
2. Check documents and PDFs separately, since Section 508 covers them too.
3. Record results per criterion if you need to complete a VPAT or ACR.
4. Rescan after each fix. Continuous monitoring rescans up to 500 URLs per domain daily and keeps a dated record in the Compliance Vault.

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Related Guides

• Section 508 CheckerThe Section 508 standard in full, for any website.
• WCAG 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live) Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 1.2.9 Audio-only (Live) explained simply: what counts as live audio, who it helps, how to add real-time captions or transcripts, and how to test it.
• WCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) explained simply: the 4.5:1 and 3:1 ratios, what counts as large text, the exceptions, fixes and how to test your colors.
• WCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions explained simply: visible labels, format hints, grouped fields and required markers, with code examples and a test routine.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

Teachable Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions