Section 508 Refresh Act: Senators Pushing for Enhanced Accessibility in Government Spaces

Last year, a group of senators introduced a bill to update Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. By refreshing the act, new Section 508 requirements would be added for federal agencies and their contractors.

Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are overseeing the refresh of the Rehabilitation Act, which is designed to reduce, if not remove, accessibility barriers in federal government information and communication technology (ICT). The act builds on the current accessibility requirements of the Rehabilitation Act, which were last refreshed nearly ten years ago in January 2018. 

“So many Americans rely on programs and services provided by the federal government — and yet, too many federal websites and apps remain nearly impossible to use by Americans with disabilities, preventing them from accessing vital information and resources,” said Duckworth in a press release around the announcement. 

Below, we’ll explore the Section 508 Refresh Act, its proposed changes, and how the refresh may affect businesses. 

What is the Section 508 Refresh Act?

The Section 508 Refresh Act is a proposed update to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. It requires that federal agencies and digital content technology be accessible to people with disabilities. To be Section 508 compliant, organizations must ensure their public-facing digital content meets the requirements included in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA (the international standard for accessibility). This includes content such as electronic documents, telecommunications equipment, websites, mobile apps, etc.

While the original law laid an important foundation, lawmakers and advocates (including the U.S. Access Board) have pointed out gaps in implementation and enforcement. The refresh of Section 508 standards aims to close those gaps by introducing key changes, including:

• Involving individuals with disabilities in testing processes: The Refresh would mandate that people with disabilities be directly involved in the testing and procurement of federal information technology. Including the disability community in Section 508 testing helps to uncover real-world issues that automated tools might miss, ensuring electronic content is more accessible from the start. 

• Improving the compliance process: Another major improvement would be the creation of a clear, more effective compliance process for individuals who face barriers with federal technology. Currently, the process for reporting accessibility violations can be confusing or discouraging. By streamlining and strengthening this process, the Refresh seeks to make accountability more accessible, too.

• Standardizing process for selecting federal technology: Placing accessibility at the forefront of decision-making — not an afterthought  — could help drive federal agencies towards more accessible digital procurement and development practices. More simply, a new standardized process would ensure accessibility is baked into federal content creation from day one.

• Mandating regular accessibility testing: A major part of the bill mandates regular testing of federal websites, software, and other digital tools to ensure they continue to meet accessibility standards over time. This is crucial for preventing outdated or newly introduced barriers from slipping through the cracks.

• Appointing a qualified Section 508 compliance officer: Finally, the Refresh Act would require every federal department and agency to appoint a Section 508 compliance officer. These dedicated professionals would oversee implementation, testing, and training, and alignment with federal laws — bringing much-needed consistency, expertise, and accountability to the federal landscape. 

Each of these changes is designed to enhance accessibility for members of the public and encourage government agencies to create accessible information and other digital content.

As of this writing, the Section 508 Refresh Act has been introduced in Congress but has not yet passed. While it has gained support from disability rights advocates and accessibility professionals, its future will depend on continued advocacy and legislative momentum. The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is currently reviewing it.

An accessibility icon with a series of concentric circles surrounding it

Why the Need for a Refresh?

Despite Section 508’s clear requirements, many organizations have struggled to meet those standards. Our 2025 Digital Accessibility Index found that government sites have the highest rate of keyboard accessibility issues, with 69.5% of scanned pages having at least one violation. This is a major barrier for those who rely on keyboard navigation to access government services, including applying for benefits or paying taxes. 

In addition to the high rate of keyboard accessibility violations, our scan also found that many gov sites fail to meet other basic accessibility conformance standards — like proper use of alt text for images, sufficient color contrast, and clear heading structures. While these issues may seem small on their own, together, they make critical services difficult, if not completely unusable, for individuals with disabilities. 

The inability to access public services — like healthcare or tax information — can exclude millions of people from fully participating in public life. The revised 508 standards were created with the intention to increase accountability among organizations and, hopefully, lead to better processes, equal access for all, and a deeper commitment to accessibility across the federal government.

How Does the Section 508 Refresh Act Impact Businesses?

It’s important to note that the Section 508 Refresh Act is not yet a legal requirement, as Congress is still reviewing it. However, the bill does raise the bar for what accessibility should look like in government settings, and that could influence future policy, procurement standards, and expectations for vendors and partners.

If your organization is legally required to comply with Section 508, it’s recommended that you take proactive steps toward compliance now. Not only does this lower your legal risk, but it also ensures that your digital content is accessible and usable for all individuals, including those with disabilities.

The good news: Enhancing the accessibility of your content isn’t as difficult as you might think. Implementing accessibility best practices into your content creation processes can get you closer to Section 508 compliance. Some of these best practices include:

• Use descriptive alternative text (alt text) for all images so screen readers can interpret visual content.

• Include captions for video and audio content to ensure people who are Deaf or hard of hearing can access the information.

• Test your website with assistive technologies, such as screen readers or voice recognition software, to uncover hidden accessibility barriers.

• Organize content with clear and logical headers, which will make it easier for screen reader users to navigate and understand your pages. 

• Ensure online documents (like PDFs and Microsoft Word documents) are properly tagged and structured for accessibility, including readable text, proper heading hierarchy, and navigable formats.

• Maintain strong color contrast between text and background — aim for a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text to support users with low vision or color blindness.

• Make all functionality operable by keyboard alone, without requiring a mouse. Include key focus indicators for links, buttons, and form fields as well, so keyboard users can easily track their location. 

• Label all form elements clearly, and ensure screen readers can associate each input with its corresponding label or instruction. 

• Offer helpful error messages and suggestions when users make mistakes filling out forms. 

These are just some of the success criteria included in WCAG 2.0, the current standard enforced by Section 508 and other accessibility laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For a more comprehensive list of WCAG success criteria, check out our Section 508 Compliance Checklist.

Stylized web browser with accessibility symbol, balanced scale, and AudioEye symbol next to it.

Prepare for What’s Next in Section 508 with AudioEye

The Section 508 Refresh Act signals a critical step forward in furthering digital accessibility across the federal government. If passed, the bill would close gaps around enforcement, accessibility testing, and accountability. Nearly 70% of government web pages contain keyboard accessibility issues (among other things), which heightened the need for a refresh. 

Taking a proactive approach to Section 508 compliance now isn’t just about avoiding legal risk — it’s about ensuring your digital experiences are accessible and usable to all users, including the millions of Americans with disabilities. 

At AudioEye, we make the path to Section 508 compliance easier. Our three-pronged approach to digital accessibility combines powerful automation and human-assisted AI technology to detect and fix digital accessibility issues, helping you achieve industry-leading compliance. Plus, with AudioEye Assurance, you’ll enjoy a level of legal protection that’s 400% better than consulting or automation-only approaches. 

Want to see where your site stands from an accessibility perspective? Use AudioEye’s free Web Accessibility Checker to find out.

Curious how AudioEye helps you achieve and maintain compliance with accessibility laws? Schedule a demo today.