Section 508 remediation is the process of converting a PDF document into a resource that is accessible to individuals with disabilities, and compliant with the federal regulations in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
This act and its amendments prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment and in the employment practices of federal contractors. Compliance with the regulations is becoming required over a much broader range of documents, as state and local governments, health care organizations, schools, banks meet their obligations under the Americans With Disabilities Act. Although Section 508 is not part of the ADA, the ADA’s overarching regulations prohibit any discrimination on the basis of disability and provides the framework for defining requirements for accessibility.
The remediation process benefits “non-disabled” users as well, as the improved sub-structure of remediated documents includes additional information, increasing the value of the content. Searchability, navigation, and readability, is better for all users.