WCAG, Section 508, and Readable Text

Would you like to make your e-learning courses more accessible to learners with disabilities?

There are two common requirements for e-learning accessibility in the United States:

• Section 508 (Section 508 Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
• WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

There is substantial overlap between the two guidelines. In fact, in 2017, Section 508 was updated to included criteria from WCAG 2.0. Compliance with Section 508 is frequently required when creating websites or e-learning for government agencies.

WCAG has three priority levels, or levels of conformance to standards. In general, A level requirements must be satisfied by developers; AA (Double A) level requirements should be satisfied by developers; and AAA (Triple-A) requirements may satisfy these requirements. Note, however, that certain organizations or government agencies may have more strict requirements.

Part of WCAG is ensuring all text is easily readable and has sufficient contrast. The Colorable app by Brent Jackson, a Brooklyn, NY-based designer/developer, helps to determine if text/backgrounds meet WCAG accessibility requirements.

https://colorable.jxnblk.com/