Wix Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for Wix 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 Wix, 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 Wix Section 508 Checker

• Federal agencies running a site or microsite on Wix.
• Contractors and vendors whose Wix 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 Wix 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 Wix Sites Usually Fail Section 508

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

• Generic div-based buttons. Elements styled to look like buttons but built from generic containers are often not operable by keyboard and are not announced as buttons to screen readers.
• Contrast in custom color palettes. Custom brand colors applied to text and buttons are not automatically checked against WCAG contrast ratios by the editor.
• Missing alt text. Images added through galleries or the media manager can be published without alt text if the field is left blank.
• Third-party app widgets. Booking, chat, review and marketing apps from the Wix App Market bring their own code, which the accessibility wizard does not audit.
• Custom interactions and animations. Scroll effects and custom animations can move focus unpredictably or hide content from keyboard users in ways the wizard does not catch.

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

What to Test by Hand on Wix

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.
• What Is a Website Accessibility Checker? How Automated Testing WorksA plain-English guide to website accessibility checkers: what they test, how they map results to WCAG, what they miss, and how to choose one.
• Free Tools to Check Website Accessibility: 6 Best Options ComparedCompare the best free tools to check website accessibility: AccessBell, WAVE, axe DevTools, Accessibility Insights, Lighthouse and ANDI, and when to use each.
• Automated vs Manual Accessibility Testing: Where Each FitsWhat automated accessibility testing catches, what needs a human, and how to combine both into a repeatable process for finding and fixing WCAG issues.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

Wix Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions