January 2021 1

Disclaimer: FHWA is committed to making its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessible by meeting the 

requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The tools, resources, criteria and other items provided herein are 

for internal use by FHWA for ICT it procures, develops, maintains, and utilizes. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the 

use by third parties of the information contained in this document. 

Section 508 Overview 

FHWA-HAD-21-011 

Background 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 508), as amended in 1998, requires Federal 

agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible. The amendments to 

Section 508 in 1998 directed the United States Access Board to develop and issue EIT accessibility 

standards. The Access Board issued the original Section 508 Standards in a Final Rule on December 21, 

2000, which went into effect on June 21, 2001. On January 18, 2017, the Access Board issued a “508 

Refresh” Final Rule, updating the standards (Revised 508 Standards) for accessible information and 

communication technology (ICT, previously called EIT), which became effective on January 18, 2018.i The 

508 Refresh incorporated by reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 A and AA, a 

set of electronic information accessibility guidelines developed by an international coalition of 

organizations and individuals dedicated to web accessibility.ii 

The Revised 508 Standards define ICT as: 

Information technology and other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which 

the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of 

electronic data and information, as well as any associated content. Examples of ICT include, but 

are not limited to: computers and peripheral equipment; information kiosks and transaction 

machines; telecommunications equipment; customer premises equipment; multifunction office 

machines; software; applications; Web sites; videos; and, electronic documents.

ICT that is procured, developed, maintained, or used by agencies shall conform to the Revised 508 

Standards. The Revised 508 Standards also clarify the electronic content that Federal agencies are 

required to make conformant with the Revised 508 Standards: 

• All public-facing content. 

• Nine categories of non-public facing content that communicate official agency business: 

A. An emergency notification. 

B. An initial or final decision adjudicating an administrative claim or proceeding. 

C. An internal or external program or policy announcement. 

D. A notice of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunity, or personnel action. 

E. A formal acknowledgement of receipt. 

F. A survey questionnaire. 

G. A template or form. 

H. Educational or training materials. 

I. Intranet content designed as a Web page. 
Section 508 Overview

FHWA-HAD-21-011 December 2020 2

Accessibility versus Section 508

• With respect to electronic and information technology or information and communication 

technology, accessibility is the ability of all persons to independently obtain information and use 

products, services and facilities.

• The Revised Section 508 Standards are the Federal Government’s standard for ICT accessibility, 

a minimum baseline.

i https://www.section508.gov/

ii https://www.w3.org/WAI/about/