Assessing Section 508 compliance on federal e-government Web sites: A multi-method, user-centered evaluation of accessibility for persons with disabilities

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal e-government Web sites to be accessible to persons with disabilities. While some studies have assessed the accessibility of federal e-government sites, most of these studies did not sufficiently examine the breadth and depth of issues related to Web site accessibility. This article details a multi-method, user-centered study of the accessibility of federal e-government sites that addresses the complexities of accessibility and the reasons for continued inaccessibility on federal e-government sites. By employing policy analysis, user testing, expert testing, automated testing, and a survey of federal Web developers, this study provides a multi-dimensional, user-centered portrait of the levels of accessibility of federal e-government Web sites, reasons for the current levels of accessibility, and perceptions about accessibility. This article discusses the legal requirements of accessibility, the previous research, and the data and findings of this study, and ultimately offers recommendations for increasing federal e-government Web site compliance with Section 508.