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Section 508 eLearning checklist
This Section 508 eLearning checklist tests what blocks people who use a keyboard, a screen reader or captions. Section 508 points to the WCAG checks. Answer 20 yes or no questions to score your course and get a fix list.
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The 20 checks in this Section 508 eLearning checklist
Section 508 points to WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Each check below names the WCAG success criterion it comes from.
| Check | WCAG |
|---|---|
| Can you finish the whole course with only a keyboard? | WCAG 2.1.1 |
| Can you always tab out of every part? | WCAG 2.1.2 |
| Can you always see where the keyboard focus is? | WCAG 2.4.7 |
| Does every video have captions? | WCAG 1.2.2 |
| Is there a transcript for audio with no video? | WCAG 1.2.1 |
| Does every image that teaches something have alt text? | WCAG 1.1.1 |
| Is text dark enough on its background? | WCAG 1.4.3 |
| Do you explain things without color alone? | WCAG 1.4.1 |
| Does a screen reader read the screen in the right order? | WCAG 1.3.2 |
| Are headings and lists marked as headings and lists? | WCAG 1.3.1 |
| Does every button say what it does? | WCAG 2.4.4, 4.1.2 |
| Can learners turn off or pause audio that starts on its own? | WCAG 1.4.2 |
| Can learners pause anything that moves for more than 5 seconds? | WCAG 2.2.2 |
| Are there no time limits, or can learners turn them off or extend them? | WCAG 2.2.1 |
| Is there nothing that flashes more than 3 times a second? | WCAG 2.3.1 |
| Can text be zoomed to 200% without breaking the screen? | WCAG 1.4.4 |
| Does each quiz question have a clear label and instructions? | WCAG 3.3.2 |
| Does quiz feedback say what was wrong in words? | WCAG 3.3.1 |
| Is the course language set (for example English)? | WCAG 3.1.1 |
| Does the course have a clear title in the browser tab or LMS? | WCAG 2.4.2 |
Questions about accessibility
What does Section 508 require for eLearning?
The revised Section 508 rules point to WCAG 2.0 Level AA for web content, which includes eLearning that US federal agencies buy or use. Many other buyers ask for WCAG 2.1 AA.
Is this checklist a full audit?
No. It is a self-check of the most common problems. A full audit also tests with screen readers such as NVDA and VoiceOver.
Which checks fail most often?
Keyboard access to custom clicks, missing captions, images with no alt text, and low contrast text.
Sources
- U.S. Access Board, "ICT Accessibility 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines": www.access-board.gov
- W3C, "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1": www.w3.org
Checked 23 Oct 2026.