Digital Accessibility Compliance and Standards
Explore guidance on ADA Title II, WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, and the European Accessibility Act, along with deep dives into testing, audits, VPATs, and global regulations.
Why digital accessibility compliance and standards matter
Organizations face growing expectations from ADA Title II, WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, and the European Accessibility Act. The challenge isn’t knowing these acronyms —it’s applying these standards across websites, apps, documents, kiosks, and third-party systems.
Getting it wrong drives risk. Getting it right expands reach, builds trust, and benefits every user.
- Meet evolving global accessibility standards with confidence
- Strengthen usability and trust across every digital channel
- Build inclusive experiences that reach more customers and communities
- Address emerging regulatory requirements, including ADA Title II.
ADA Title II readiness
ADA Title II applies to all digital services provided by state and local governments, including websites, mobile applications, documents, and essential online transactions. While the technical requirements align closely with WCAG, readiness depends on more than conformance alone.
Organizations preparing for ADA Title II must be able to demonstrate that accessibility issues are identified accurately, prioritized appropriately, and addressed in ways that improve real-world usability for people with disabilities.
ADA Title II readiness typically includes:
Understanding how Title II applies across your digital ecosystem
Identifying accessibility barriers through validated audits—not automation alone
Prioritizing issues based on user impact, risk, and service criticality
Establishing repeatable processes to sustain accessibility over time
Vispero supports ADA Title II readiness through expert-led auditing, testing, and guidance—helping public entities move from reactive fixes to durable accessibility practices that stand up to scrutiny.
Start with an accessibility audit grounded in real user impact and regulatory expectations.
End-to-end support for digital accessibility compliance
Vispero connects you to strategy, testing, governance, and global standards to move from one-off fixes to a sustainable accessibility program.
Accessibility audits and reviews
Identify issues against ADA Title II, WCAG, Section 508, EN 301 549, and EAA with clear, prioritized remediation guidance.
Continuous monitoring and reporting
Ongoing visibility into conformance trends plus evidence of due diligence.
Training and coaching
Role-based training for product, UX, engineering, QA, content, and legal teams to interpret and apply standards.
Strategy, governance, and legal risk support
Program design, policies, KPIs, and documentation to support ADA, Section 508, and EAA expectations.
Governance & Program Enablement
Policies, scorecards, KPIs, and executive reporting.
Assistive technology & UX testing
AT-informed validation to confirm real-world usability beyond automation, including screen reader, magnification, and user-flow testing.
Reliable guidance across key accessibility focus areas
Explore curated resources that help you interpret requirements, strengthen processes, and address regional and regulatory needs. From testing workflows to program governance, each focus area brings together proven insights to support consistent, scalable accessibility.
Tools & Methodology
Practical checklists, testing workflows, and hands-on guidance for manual, automated, and AT-informed testing.
Accessibility Program Development
Models, roadmaps, and maturity guidance for building sustainable accessibility programs.
Governance & Training
Policies, ownership structures, training plans, and change management.
Canada / Australia / Asia
Regional accessibility requirements and best practices beyond the U.S. and EU.
Europe / EAA
EN 301 549, EAA deadlines, sector-specific expectations, and readiness checklists.
Legal Updates & Risk
Enforcement trends, case law summaries, and risk-reduction strategies.
U.S. Laws & Standards
ADA Title II/III, Section 508, and related U.S. regulatory updates.
Explore essential resources on digital accessibility and compliance
U.S. Digital Accessibility Laws & Standards
An overview of U.S. accessibility laws and standards, including ADA, ADA Title II, Section 508, and WCAG, and how they support real access for blind and low-vision users.
European Accessibility Act
Get key insights, deadlines, and guidance to prepare for the EAA. Explore requirements for digital products and services across the EU, with resources for e-commerce, banking, transportation, and self-service kiosks.
Accessibility standards explained
Quickly understand how WCAG, the EAA, and EN 301 549 work together. Get clarity on accessibility expectations so you can plan, prioritize, and maintain cross-market compliance.
How related topics connect within a broader accessibility program.
Digital accessibility compliance & standards frequently asked questions
What does digital accessibility compliance mean?
Digital accessibility compliance means ensuring websites, applications, documents, and kiosks are usable by people with disabilities and meet recognized standards such as ADA Title II, WCAG 2.2, Section 508, EN 301 549, and the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Compliance shows due diligence, reduces legal exposure, and improves the user experience for everyone.
What are the main standards we should follow?
Most organizations reference the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) as the global baseline.
In the U.S., compliance also means meeting:
- ADA Title II & III — digital public accommodation requirements.
- Section 508 — U.S. federal ICT and vendor obligations.
In Europe, follow EN 301 549 and the European Accessibility Act.
Vispero helps you align with each, providing mapping guidance and unified reporting across frameworks.
What’s the difference between conformance and compliance?
Conformance refers to meeting the technical success criteria of a standard such as WCAG.
Compliance extends beyond that — documenting, monitoring, and proving accessibility as part of governance and legal risk management.
How do I know which standard applies to my organization?
- Public sector or U.S. federal agencies → Section 508.
- U.S. private or state/local organizations → ADA Title II or III.
- EU or multinational entities → EN 301 549 + EAA.
Vispero provides jurisdiction-specific guidance, templates, and readiness checklists to identify which rules apply to your digital ecosystem.
What happens if we don’t comply?
Non-compliance can result in lawsuits, fines, contract loss, or reputational damage. The Legal Risk Center details current enforcement trends and how proactive compliance demonstrates good-faith effort. Beyond risk, inaccessibility excludes customers, employees, and students, limiting reach and innovation.
How often should we audit for accessibility?
Best practice: conduct comprehensive audits annually and light regression tests after each major release or redesign. Continuous monitoring ensures new content and updates stay compliant. See our WCAG Checklist and Section 508 Testing Guide for examples.
How does Vispero help maintain compliance over time?
We combine automated monitoring with human testing and governance support. Programs include:
- Regular WCAG and 508 audits.
- Policy, procurement, and vendor oversight.
- Team training and role-based enablement.
- Continuous metrics tracking for ESG and risk reporting.
What tools or resources do you recommend for ongoing conformance?
Start with these free and expert resources:
Our teams layer these with managed services, expert remediation, and AT-informed validation for sustained compliance.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA), and when does it take effect?
The EAA mandates that digital products and services across the EU be accessible by June 28, 2025. It applies to banking, e-commerce, telecom, transportation, and self-service kiosks. Learn more in:
Can you certify our organization for compliance?
Yes. Vispero offers formal Section 508 and Web Accessibility Certification and provides documentation to support RFPs, VPATs, and procurement requirements. Certification is paired with remediation support and ongoing monitoring to sustain compliance.
How does assistive technology fit into compliance testing?
Automated tools alone can’t confirm accessibility. Vispero’s ecosystem uses real assistive technologies — like JAWS®, ZoomText®, and Fusion® — to test experiences from the user’s perspective. Learn more in Accessibility Testing Products and related Vispero solutions.
How can we prepare our teams?
Start with structured training: design, development, QA, and content teams each need tailored instruction. Vispero and TPGi offer Accessibility Training Programs and self-paced modules to build capability and accountability.
How long does it take to achieve compliance?
It depends on scale and maturity. Most organizations see measurable progress within 3–6 months of initiating an audit and implementing prioritized fixes. Full program integration — policy, training, monitoring — typically takes 9–18 months.
Can Vispero integrate with our existing tools and vendors?
Yes. We work with common development and CI/CD tools (GitHub, Azure DevOps, Jira, Siteimprove, Deque, etc.) to embed WCAG and 508 checks directly into your workflow. Our goal is to enhance — not replace — your current tool ecosystem.
What’s the best first step to get started?
Schedule a compliance readiness review. We’ll identify which standards apply, where your highest risks lie, and how to build a sustainable accessibility roadmap.
Explore next steps in learning about accessibility compliance
Turn complex digital accessibility requirements into a clear, sustainable program backed by experts and proven resources.