benefits of section 508 compliance
Although Section 508 compliance is currently required only of federal entities, private sites greatly benefit from Section 508 web page design.
- Section 508 compliance is becoming the law for private sites. The Department of Justice has recently opinioned that the web is a "place of public accommodation," and therefore subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requiring such places to offer nondiscriminatory services to the impaired. A few sites have already been sued under the ADA, including two major travel sites that must now meet web accessibility standards and reimburse the court for tens of thousands of dollars. Using Section 508 in web page design can protect your site from unnecessary and costly litigation.
- Section 508 web page design reaches a wider audience. According to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, there are 50 million people with disabilities in the United States with $175 billion in discretionary spending power. Internet use among this group was approximately 38% in 2003, a percentage set to increase with advancements in assistive technologies and as current Internet users age. In an era when marketers are increasingly concerned about saturation, the disabled population is only just starting to cross the digital divide. With Section 508 web design, you'll be ready to greet them.
- Section 508 compliance is the ethical decision. Supporting web accessibility is simply good practice. Failing to care for your customers, all your customers, will cost you in sales and possibly in negative publicity. Section 508 web design is an easy way to show that your customers matter to you.
- Section 508 compliance enhances overall design. By using the guidelines of Section 508 in web page design, you are far more likely to achieve basic design goals. Section 508 web page design improves:
- Site consistency
- Browser and mobile device compatibility
- Loading time and bandwidth use
- Future usability
- Maintenance costs
- Search engine rankings
