Who is primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with Section 508 requirements?

Federal agencies and their offices are primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with Section 508 requirements. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that federal agencies make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. This requirement is a part of the larger commitment to ensuring equal access to government information and services for all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

Federal agencies have specific responsibilities to implement accessibility standards in their technology, including websites, software applications, and communication tools. This means they must evaluate their products and services to ensure they meet established accessibility criteria, provide necessary training to their employees on accessibility standards, and take corrective actions if compliance issues are identified. Moreover, these agencies are accountable for ensuring that vendors and contractors they work with also adhere to these accessibility standards.

In contrast, while employers in the private sector, state and local governments, and individual service providers have their own set of compliance obligations, they are not solely held to the standards outlined in Section 508 in the same direct manner as federal agencies.