WooCommerce Section 508 Checker

Section 508 for WooCommerce 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.

A WooCommerce store is rarely a federal site, but vendors on GSA schedules or selling to agencies may be asked for an ACR covering their ordering portal. Scan the catalog, cart and checkout, and record the results for the report.

Who Should Run the WooCommerce Section 508 Checker

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

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

• Variation pickers and swatches. Color and size swatches built from clickable boxes often have no accessible name or keyboard support, so a shopper cannot choose a variation without a mouse.
• Product galleries and zoom. Gallery sliders, thumbnail strips and lightbox zoom can trap keyboard focus, and product photos are often uploaded with no alt text or just the file name.
• Cart and checkout forms. Coupon fields, quantity steppers, address fields and account sign-up can lack labels, and checkout errors are not always announced to screen reader users.
• Mini cart and off-canvas drawers. Slide-in carts and menus often fail to move focus into the drawer, let focus wander behind it, or ignore the Escape key.
• Payment gateway and express checkout embeds. Card fields, wallet buttons and pay-later messages load in iframes from the gateway. Missing frame titles and low-contrast widgets are outside your theme, so they need a different fix.

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

What to Test by Hand on WooCommerce

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 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value Explained in Plain EnglishWCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value explained simply: give every control a name, role and state with native HTML and ARIA, with code examples and how to test.
• 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.
• 5 Best ADA Compliance Software for Small Businesses (Updated 2026)The 5 best ADA compliance software for small businesses in 2026: AccessBell, AccessibilityChecker.org, AudioEye, UserWay and accessiBe, by price and features.
• WCAG Success Criteria LibraryLook up any criterion the scan flags, in plain language.

WooCommerce Section 508 Checker: Frequently Asked Questions