Section 508 (2017) Accessibility Standard

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act - 82 FR 5790 (2017)

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (amended 29 U.S.C. 794d) requires that US Federal employees with disabilities have access to information comparable to employees without disabilities. The technical requirements for websites were updated in January 2017, to incorporate WCAG 2.0 at level AA by reference.

Rules

This section lists the 351 rules for Section 508 (2017) supported by the current version of the product.

1.1 Text Alternatives

1.1.1 A Non-text Content - 23 rules

• Applet with no fallback content (HTML)
• Image map has no accessible name (HTML)
• ARIA image has no accessible name (HTML)
• Image has no accessible name (HTML)
• alt is image file name (PDF and HTML)
• Graphic button has no accessible name (HTML)
• Object with no fallback content (HTML)
• ASCII art used for text alternative (HTML)
• Image accessible name uses placeholder (HTML)
• PDF graphic has no accessible name (PDF)
• button image must have alt (HTML)
• Frame src contains an image instead of HTML (HTML)
• Server-side image maps are inaccessible (HTML)
• Alt text does not convey color information (HTML)
• Alt text not updated (HTML)
• Object has no accessible name (HTML)
• Placeholder for timed media (HTML)
• Decorative image missing null alt attribute (HTML)
• Spacer image has descriptive alt (HTML)
• Decorative image with accessible name (HTML)
• SVG has no accessible name (HTML)
• Unicode lookalike characters used (HTML)
• Word graphic has no accessible name (Office documents)

1.2 Time Based Media

1.2.1 A Audio-only and Video-only (Prerecorded) - 2 rules

• Image accessible name uses placeholder (HTML)
• Placeholder for timed media (HTML)

1.2.2 A Captions (Prerecorded) - No rules

1.2.3 A Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded) - No rules

1.2.4 AA Captions (Live) - No rules

1.2.5 AA Audio Description (Prerecorded) - No rules

1.3 Adaptable

1.3.1 A Info and Relationships - 56 rules

• Headings should not contain headings (HTML)
• HTML heading is blank (HTML)
• Mark up lists and list items properly (HTML)
• Data table without th headers (HTML)
• Complex header associations need headers attribute (HTML)
• Layout table contains data table markup (HTML)
• Layout table contains summary or caption (HTML)
• fieldset without legend (HTML)
• fieldset with invalid legend (HTML)
• label is blank (HTML)
• PDF not tagged (PDF)
• PDF security blocks accessibility (PDF)
• Use h1-h6 instead of heading-like styles (HTML)
• Use h1-h6 instead of heading-like images (HTML)
• Use strong instead of CSS font-weight (HTML)
• ARIA table has missing cells (HTML)
• HTML table has missing cells (HTML)
• Spaces used to simulate table layout (HTML)
• JavaScript simulated link (HTML)
• fieldset with no form elements (HTML)
• CSS content: not available to all users (HTML)
• Broken cell headers ID reference (HTML)
• Data table hidden by role=presentation (HTML)
• Word table without row and column headers (Office documents)
• role=cell must be owned by role=row (HTML)
• role=option must be owned by role=listbox (HTML)
• role=menuitem must be owned by role=menu or menubar (HTML)
• role=menuitemcheckbox must be owned by role=menu or menubar (HTML)
• role=menuitemradio must be owned by role=menu or menubar or group (HTML)
• role=tab must be owned by role=tablist (HTML)
• role=treeitem must be owned by role=tree or group (HTML)
• role=listitem must be owned by role=list (HTML)
• role=gridcell must be owned by role=row (HTML)
• role=columnheader must be owned by role=row (HTML)
• role=rowheader must be owned by role=row (HTML)
• role=row must be owned by role=grid or rowgroup or treegrid or table (HTML)
• role=rowgroup must be owned by role=grid or treegrid or table (HTML)
• `role=feed` must contain `role=article` (HTML)
• `role=grid` must contain `role=row` or `rowgroup` (HTML)
• `role=list` must contain `role=listitem` (HTML)
• `role=listbox` must contain `role=option` (HTML)
• `role=menu` must contain `role=menuitem` or `menuitemcheckbox` or `menuitemradio` (HTML)
• `role=radiogroup` must contain `role=radio` (HTML)
• `role=row` must contain `role=cell` or `columnheader` or `gridcell` or `rowheader` (HTML)
• `role=rowgroup` must contain `role=row` (HTML)
• `role=table` must contain `role=row` or `rowgroup` (HTML)
• `role=tablist` must contain `role=tab` (HTML)
• `role=tree` must contain `role=treeitem` (HTML)
• `role=treegrid` must contain `role=row` or `rowgroup` (HTML)
• Broken aria-activedescendant ID reference (HTML)
• Broken aria-controls ID reference (HTML)
• Broken aria-describedby ID reference (HTML)
• Broken aria-flowto ID reference (HTML)
• Broken aria-labelledby ID reference (HTML)
• Broken aria-owns ID reference (HTML)
• ARIA role is invalid (HTML)

1.3.2 A Meaningful Sequence - 7 rules

• Right-to-left language without dir (HTML)
• dir=ltr for right-to-left language (HTML)
• CSS position: causes meaningless sequence (HTML)
• Word has spaces between each letter (HTML)
• Spaces used to simulate table layout (HTML)
• Table contains a nested table (HTML)
• Word graphic not inline (Office documents)

1.3.3 A Sensory Characteristics - 1 rule

• Frame title must describe function (HTML)

1.4 Distinguishable

1.4.1 A Use of Color - 2 rules

• Alt text does not convey color information (HTML)
• Underline removed from links (HTML)

1.4.2 A Audio Control - 2 rules

• Autoplay sound longer than 3 seconds (HTML)
• Autoplay media longer than 3 seconds (HTML)

1.4.3 AA Contrast (Minimum) - 2 rules

• CSS depends on default colors (HTML)
• Text contrast below minimum (HTML)

1.4.4 AA Resize Text - 2 rules

• CSS absolute units and zoom disabled (HTML)
• Zoom disabled by meta viewport (HTML)

1.4.5 AA Images of Text - No rules

2.1 Keyboard Accessible

2.1.1 A Keyboard - 12 rules

• Scrollable element not keyboard accessible (HTML)
• Server-side image maps are inaccessible (HTML)
• mouseup handler without keyboard equivalent (HTML)
• mouseover handler without keyboard equivalent (HTML)
• mouseout handler without keyboard equivalent (HTML)
• mousedown handler without keyboard equivalent (HTML)
• click handler without keyboard equivalent (HTML)
• dblclick handler without keyboard equivalent (HTML)
• Keyboard handler without tabindex (HTML)
• JavaScript simulated link (HTML)
• Field blurs when focused (HTML)
• Clickable control with no role (HTML)

2.1.2 A No Keyboard Trap - No rules

2.2 Enough Time

2.2.1 A Timing Adjustable - 4 rules

• Timed meta tag page refresh (HTML)
• Timed meta tag page redirect (HTML)
• Timed HTTP page redirect (HTML)
• Timed HTTP page refresh (HTML)

2.2.2 A Pause, Stop, Hide - 7 rules

• CSS animation longer than 5 seconds (HTML)
• Scrolling marquee element (HTML)
• Flashing blink element (HTML)
• Animated image longer than 5 seconds (HTML)
• Autoplay video longer than 5 seconds (HTML)
• CSS causes blinking (HTML)
• JavaScript causes blinking (HTML)

2.3 Seizures

2.3.1 A Three Flashes or Below Threshold - 1 rule

• Don’t use large flashing images (HTML)

2.4 Navigable

2.4.1 A Bypass Blocks - 2 rules

• Frame title is frame file name (HTML)
• Broken skip link (HTML)

2.4.2 A Page Titled - 4 rules

• Document title missing (PDF and HTML)
• Document title is blank (PDF and HTML)
• Document title is placeholder (PDF and HTML)
• Document title used on multiple pages (HTML)

2.4.3 A Focus Order - 1 rule

• Tab order wrong (HTML)

2.4.4 A Link Purpose (In Context) - 4 rules

• Image map has no accessible name (HTML)
• HTML link has no accessible name (HTML)
• Same link text in same context goes to different pages (HTML)
• Ambiguous link text with no context (HTML)

2.4.5 AA Multiple Ways - 1 rule

• Provide multiple ways to reach page (HTML)

2.4.6 AA Headings and Labels - 2 rules

• label is blank (HTML)
• Generic radio button labels need a fieldset (HTML)

2.4.7 AA Focus Visible - 2 rules

• Field blurs when focused (HTML)
• CSS outline or border hides focus indicator (HTML)

3.1 Readable

3.1.1 A Language of Page - 3 rules

• Page lang is invalid (HTML)
• Missing page language (PDF and HTML)
• Page languages do not match (HTML)

3.1.2 AA Language of Parts - 2 rules

• Element lang is invalid (HTML)
• Language change without lang attribute (HTML)

3.2 Predictable

3.2.1 A On Focus - 2 rules

• Unexpected popup on page load (HTML)
• Field blurs when focused (HTML)

3.2.2 A On Input - 3 rules

• select change event blocks keyboard navigation (HTML)
• Form submits on focus change (HTML)
• Script opens new window without warning (HTML)

3.2.3 AA Consistent Navigation - No rules

3.2.4 AA Consistent Identification - No rules

3.3 Input Assistance

3.3.1 A Error Identification - No rules

3.3.2 A Labels or Instructions - 3 rules

• fieldset without legend (HTML)
• fieldset with invalid legend (HTML)
• Grouped fields need a label or instructions (HTML)

3.3.3 AA Error Suggestion - No rules

3.3.4 AA Error Prevention (Legal, Financial, Data) - No rules

4.1 Robust

4.1.1 A Parsing - 194 rules

• HTML nesting error (HTML)
• Page has duplicate IDs (HTML)
• a cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• details cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• embed cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• iframe cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• label cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• a cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• details cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• embed cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• iframe cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• label cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• button cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• textarea cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• select cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• input cannot have clickable ancestor a (HTML)
• button cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• textarea cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• select cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• input cannot have clickable ancestor button (HTML)
• video with controls must not appear as a descendant of a (HTML)
• audio with controls must not appear as a descendant of a (HTML)
• video with controls must not appear as a descendant of button (HTML)
• audio with controls must not appear as a descendant of button (HTML)
• form cannot have ancestor form (HTML)
• progress cannot have ancestor progress (HTML)
• meter cannot have ancestor meter (HTML)
• dfn cannot have ancestor dfn (HTML)
• noscript cannot have ancestor noscript (HTML)
• label cannot have ancestor label (HTML)
• address cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• section cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• nav cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• article cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• header cannot have ancestor header (HTML)
• header cannot have ancestor footer (HTML)
• header cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• footer cannot have ancestor header (HTML)
• footer cannot have ancestor footer (HTML)
• header cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• footer cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• article cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• nav cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• section cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• h1 cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• h2 cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• h3 cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• h4 cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• h5 cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• h6 cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• hgroup cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• header cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• footer cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• article cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• nav cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• section cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• h1 cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• h2 cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• h3 cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• h4 cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• h5 cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• h6 cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• hgroup cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• footer cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• h1 cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• h2 cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• h3 cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• h4 cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• h5 cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• h6 cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• table cannot have ancestor caption (HTML)
• a cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• a cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• button cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• button cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• details cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• details cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• dialog cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• dialog cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• embed cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• embed cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• iframe cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• iframe cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• label cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• label cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• select cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• select cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• textarea cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• textarea cannot have ancestor button (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor a (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor address (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor article (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor aside (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor audio (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor blockquote (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor canvas (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor caption (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor dd (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor del (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor details (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor dialog (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor dt (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor fieldset (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor figure (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor footer (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor header (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor ins (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor li (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor main (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor map (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor nav (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor noscript (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor object (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor section (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor slot (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor td (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor th (HTML)
• main cannot have ancestor video (HTML)
• a cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• a cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• button cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• button cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• details cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• details cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• dialog cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• dialog cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• embed cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• embed cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• iframe cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• iframe cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• label cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• label cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• select cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• select cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• textarea cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• textarea cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• Element with tabindex cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• Element with tabindex cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• audio with controls cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• audio with controls cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• img with usemap cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• img with usemap cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• input cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• input cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• menu with toolbar cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• menu with toolbar cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• object with usemap cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• object with usemap cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• video with controls cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• video with controls cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=button cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=button cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=checkbox cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=checkbox cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=combobox cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=combobox cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=grid cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=grid cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=gridcell cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=gridcell cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=listbox cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=listbox cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=menu cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=menu cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=menubar cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=menubar cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=menuitem cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=menuitem cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=menuitemcheckbox cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=menuitemcheckbox cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=menuitemradio cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=menuitemradio cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=option cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=option cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=radio cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=radio cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=scrollbar cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=scrollbar cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=searchbox cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=searchbox cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=slider cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=slider cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=spinbutton cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=spinbutton cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=switch cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=switch cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=tab cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=tab cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=textbox cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=textbox cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• role=treeitem cannot have ancestor with role=button (HTML)
• role=treeitem cannot have ancestor with role=link (HTML)
• HTML parsing error (HTML)
• img in noscript before body (HTML)

4.1.2 A Name, Role, Value - 22 rules

• Image map has no accessible name (HTML)
• Graphic button has no accessible name (HTML)
• Frame has no accessible name (HTML)
• Frame title is frame file name (HTML)
• label is blank (HTML)
• HTML link has no accessible name (HTML)
• Alt text not updated (HTML)
• JavaScript simulated link (HTML)
• JavaScript control with no ARIA role (HTML)
• ARIA control has no label (HTML)
• HTML form control has no accessible name (HTML)
• ARIA label references empty element (HTML)
• input button without value or label (HTML)
• ARIA button is blank (HTML)
• HTML button has no accessible name (HTML)
• ARIA menuitem is blank (HTML)
• Hidden element is focusable (HTML)
• ARIA role hides focusable children (HTML)
• Clickable control without tabindex (HTML)
• Focusable role=separator must have aria-valuenow (HTML)
• Missing ARIA attribute (HTML)
• Invalid aria-controls value (HTML)