Section 508 Review

Section 508 (a)

All non-text elements shall have text equivalents.

Similar Standards

• W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0
  1.1.1 Non-text Content
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1.0)
  1.1 Provide a text equivalent for every non-text element
  (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content) [Priority 1].

Example:

Consider the simple web form below

Original/Actual Application:

Which State do you live in?

Options

Arizona Texas California

Example:

Consider the simple web form below: (The alternate text is read by the screen reader)

Perceived Application:

Image buttons are used to submit the form

Which State do you live in?

Options

Arizona Texas California

Is it possible know what button to choose now?

Example:

Because of the alternate text, you now know which button to choose.

Improved Application:

Which State do you live in?

Options

Arizona Texas California

- Section 508(a) errors while 'WAVING' your page

Wave errors related to Section 508a

Icon	Title	Description	Recommended Actions
	ERROR: Missing alternative text	Alternative text is not present for an image.	Each image must have an alt attribute. That alt attribute contains accurate, adequately descriptive, and succinct alternative text for that image. If an image does not convey content, it should have null alternative text (alt="")
	ERROR: Spacer image missing alternative text	Alternative text is not present for an image used as a layout spacer.	A spacer image is typically used to control page layout. Supply null alternative text (alt="") if the image does not convey content.
	ERROR: Linked image missing alternative text	Alternative text is not provided for an image that is the only thing within a link.	Because each link provides a function, if the only content within a link is an image, that image must supply alternative text that describes the content of the image and/or the function of the link.
	ERROR: Image button missing alternative text	Alternative text is not present in a form image button.	Supply alternative text that describes the function of the image input element.