Building Fully Accessible Digital Experiences Through Sky Solutions’ 508 Compliance Toolkit 

As the world becomes an increasingly digital-first society, accessibility is no longer a bonus; it’s a fundamental need. With an estimated 1.3 billion people—or 16% of the global population—experiencing some form of disability, organizations, especially those serving the public, must embrace accessibility not just as a core organizational value for agency staff as well as end-users, but to drive cost-saving automation and self-service.

Understanding Section 508: Accessible by Design

Enacted in 1998, the Section 508 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandates that federal agencies ensure all electronic and information technology (EIT) is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including visual, auditory, and mobility challenges and more. To accomplish this, Section 508 and Title II of the ADA currently require adherence to the World Wide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

This means every piece of digital content, including individual documents, presentations, and other media, as well as agency websites, applications, and more must be built or remediated to remove barriers for all users. The goal? To ensure people with disabilities can provide, access, and benefit from digital services with the same ease as any other user.

More than simply a regulation, Section 508 enables organizations to create digital experiences that are universally usable. Compliance ensures that everyone, regardless of disability, can enjoy equal access to critical job functions, services and information.

Why Accessibility Matters to Vital Federal Agencies

When digital content isn’t accessible, it creates barriers that prevent millions from accessing essential services or information, whether to perform their job functions or to access critical services. It can also drive inefficiencies by requiring end-users to engage agency staffers to assist them with online tasks they might otherwise be able to complete on their own.

For federal agencies and the organizations working with them, this can lead to loss of trust, staff and user dissatisfaction, and even legal liability. It can also lead to decreased engagement, which not only adversely affects end-users but can impact future IT budgets.

But accessibility encompasses more than just technical adjustments; it ensures the user experience is seamless for all. So how can agencies ensure they’re always in compliance and reliably providing optimal experiences for both staff and end-users?

What Sets Leaders Apart

While many talk about compliance, very few lead by example. True innovators in digital accessibility lead with empathy and foresight, applying proven frameworks while developing specialized tools to address a greater array of needs. They anticipate needs and challenges rather than simply reacting to them.

Sky Solutions: A Proven Partner in 508 Compliance

With nearly two decades of experience, Sky Solutions brings proven expertise in Section 508 compliance and digital accessibility. We’ve successfully remediated hundreds of documents and supported multiple large stakeholder groups with timely, high-quality accessibility services. Our dedicated Center of Excellence (CoE) for Section 508 compliance, where we’ve developed proprietary tools and methodologies to test and troubleshoot compliance issues across low-code platforms, is a hallmark of our commitment to accessibility.

We continuously refine accessibility testing, especially on low-code platforms, and provide our public sector customers with compatibility guides for consistency and remediation summary reports for transparency and continuous improvement. Automated workflows eliminate manual delays to increase efficiency and decrease issues and inaccuracies.

Our comprehensive approach includes:

• Leveraging deep expertise in WCAG 2.0 Level A, AA and AAA guidelines, which are widely adopted as the standard for accessible digital content
• Delivery of remediation summary reports that detail corrections and offer guidance for continuous accessibility improvements through a robust workflow
• Development of compatibility guides that standardize remediation across all document formats
• Best practice guidance on document semantics, including content hierarchy, metadata tagging, and structured remediation methods for common issues

Our human-centered design (HCD) team integrates accessibility from the outset, minimizing rework and ensuring seamless, accessible digital experiences for all users. This proactive approach saves time, conserves resources, drives higher user satisfaction and enhances usability from day one.

The Path Forward: Innovation That Benefits All Users

As digital expectations evolve, the real challenge isn’t just fixing what’s broken but reimagining how we build. Accessibility must be built into every stage of digital development—from design to deployment. Organizations that embrace this mindset not only ensure compliance but also lead the way toward creating efficient, satisfying experiences for staff as well as clients.

With our proven expertise, proactive approach, and proprietary 508 Compliance Toolkit solution, Sky Solutions stands as a trusted partner for any organization looking to automate accessibility compliance and maximize human-centered digital innovation.