Unlocking Hidden Profits: How Fixing Section 508 in Legacy Systems Could Be the Untapped Goldmine Your Business Can’t Ignore

Ever stumbled across a government website only to feel like you’ve entered the digital equivalent of a maze––blindfolded? Yeah, me too. It turns out, the U.S. federal government is waking up to a massive backlog of digital accessibility issues that have been lurking in the shadows for decades. From ancient PDFs that defy modern screen readers to legacy systems that haven’t seen a facelift since dial-up, Section 508 compliance has been a thorny, often overlooked challenge. But here’s the kicker: fixing these accessibility gaps isn’t just a tech hurdle—it’s becoming a civil rights imperative, demanding urgent action and smart investments nationwide. So how exactly are agencies cracking this nut in 2025, and what’s finally pushing them from good intentions to concrete change? Buckle up—for a dive into a federal push that’s as much about justice as it is about bytes and code. LEARN MORE

TL;DR

• The U.S. federal government is accelerating efforts to fix Section 508 accessibility gaps in legacy systems and documents, making inclusivity a national priority.
• Decades of inaccessible PDFs, outdated HTML, and non-OCR documents create barriers for people with disabilities accessing federal services.
• Lawsuits, advocacy groups, and watchdog reports are pressuring agencies to act, with OMB and GSA enforcing new WCAG 2.2 AA compliance rules.
• Funding from the Technology Modernization Fund and infrastructure initiatives is fueling large-scale remediation, training, and accessibility upgrades.
• Agencies are combining automated tools with manual reviews to ensure real usability for people with disabilities—not just technical compliance.
• Accessibility training is becoming standard for federal staff to prevent future noncompliance and foster a culture of universal design.

In an era defined by digital transformation and inclusive governance, the U.S. federal government is making a renewed and urgent push to modernize accessibility across its sprawling digital ecosystem. From legacy databases to PDF-heavy document archives, the need for fixing Section 508 accessibility gaps is no longer being delayed or deprioritized.

With increased scrutiny from watchdog groups, a wave of public sector lawsuits, and expanded funding for digital modernization, federal agencies are facing a pivotal moment. As part of this shift, many are looking to get help creating a VPAT from compliance experts to ensure transparency and meet procurement standards.

This article explores why the push to close Section 508 gaps in legacy systems and documents has become a national imperative—and what agencies are doing about it in 2025.

A Tidal Wave of Inaccessible Legacy Content

Decades of digitization have left federal agencies sitting on mountains of content—often in outdated formats that are unreadable by assistive technologies. Word documents from the 1990s, scanned PDFs lacking OCR (optical character recognition), and static HTML pages designed without semantic structure all present serious accessibility challenges.

Agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration maintain enormous online repositories, much of which remains inaccessible to users with disabilities. In 2023, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a scathing report identifying persistent noncompliance with Section 508 across numerous departments.

Fixing Section 508 accessibility gaps in these legacy systems is no longer just a matter of modernization—it’s about civil rights and equal access to public services. Federal users, including veterans, seniors, and disabled citizens, must be able to access essential digital content with the same ease as any other user.

Lawsuits and Advocacy Are Raising the Stakes

The accessibility push is not happening in a vacuum. Recent years have seen a sharp rise in legal actions and complaints filed against federal agencies for failing to meet Section 508 standards. These include lawsuits under both the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), particularly when services are delivered in a way that discriminates against users with disabilities.

In 2024, the National Federation of the Blind won a key settlement against a federal agency whose inaccessible online forms had blocked blind users from applying for housing benefits. Advocacy organizations and disability rights groups are now more organized and better resourced than ever before—and they’re watching federal agencies closely.

This has forced agencies to take a hard look at their digital offerings. Accessibility audits, risk assessments, and public remediation plans are now standard practice across many departments. The realization is clear: failing to act is no longer legally or ethically defensible.

OMB and GSA Are Setting the Pace with Mandates

At the policy level, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the General Services Administration (GSA) are driving the accessibility agenda forward with new mandates, guidelines, and funding. In January 2025, OMB issued a directive requiring all federal agencies to publish accessibility conformance reports for digital platforms, applications, and public-facing documents.

Meanwhile, GSA’s Section508.gov has become the central hub for compliance resources, checklists, and procurement guidance. The GSA has also begun enforcing new procurement rules that require all third-party vendors to meet WCAG 2.2 AA standards, not just the outdated WCAG 2.0 benchmark still cited in Section 508.

These top-down mandates are pushing accessibility into every corner of government operations—from procurement and hiring to web design and data reporting. Compliance is no longer a technical issue for IT staff alone; it’s a shared responsibility across every federal team.

Funding Is Finally Catching Up to Mandates

One of the historical barriers to large-scale accessibility reform has been lack of funding. Accessibility remediation—especially for thousands of archived documents or enterprise legacy systems—can be complex and costly. But that is changing in 2025.

Thanks to funding allocations through the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, many agencies now have access to dedicated modernization budgets. These funds are being used for digital accessibility upgrades, staff training, AI-powered remediation tools, and third-party audits.

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation received $8 million in TMF funds to overhaul its intranet, content management system, and traveler information services to meet Section 508 standards. Similar initiatives are underway at the Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Automated Tools Are Not Enough—Human Oversight Is Critical

While many agencies are investing in automated accessibility checkers, these tools cannot replace the nuanced work of manual audits and expert remediation. Automated tools often miss contextual errors, such as unlabeled form fields or improperly structured data tables, and they can’t assess usability from the perspective of someone navigating with a screen reader.

This is why federal agencies are turning to specialized partners, whose teams combine AI-driven diagnostics with manual review by certified accessibility experts. The goal is not just to “pass the test,” but to ensure that real users with disabilities can complete key tasks efficiently and independently.

In a climate of increasing accountability, agencies understand that surface-level fixes won’t suffice. Real accessibility requires lived experience, ongoing oversight, and a deep commitment to usability.

Training Federal Staff Is a Long-Term Solution

Remediating old content is important, but preventing future inaccessibility is even more critical. Agencies are therefore investing heavily in accessibility training for designers, developers, content creators, and procurement officers.

Workshops and certification programs now emphasize universal design principles, keyboard navigation standards, color contrast requirements, and document remediation. For instance, agencies are learning to create accessible PDFs from the source—instead of fixing them after the fact.

GSA and the U.S. Digital Service offer accessible design bootcamps and office hours, while many agencies are mandating that new hires complete accessibility onboarding modules. This culture shift is slowly embedding accessibility into everyday workflows.

The Push Is Extending Beyond Public-Facing Platforms

The accessibility mandate doesn’t stop at websites. Internal systems such as HR portals, intranet dashboards, and federal learning management systems are now subject to Section 508 scrutiny. This is especially important for federal employees with disabilities, who need equitable access to tools and information in order to perform their jobs.

For example, the Department of Homeland Security recently conducted a full Section 508 audit of its internal training modules and revamped its intranet to be fully navigable by screen reader users. This internal focus is not only compliant—it fosters inclusivity and talent retention within the workforce.

Moreover, the hybrid and remote work revolution has magnified the importance of accessible digital tools. From video conferencing platforms to cloud-based project management apps, accessibility must now be baked into the digital workplace.

FAQ

What is Section 508 and why is it important?

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make digital content accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring equal access to public services and information.

Why are legacy systems a problem for accessibility?

Older documents, outdated web pages, and non-OCR PDFs often can’t be read by assistive technologies, creating barriers for users with disabilities.

What recent policy changes are driving federal accessibility updates?

In 2025, the Office of Management and Budget mandated accessibility conformance reports for all federal digital platforms, while the GSA now requires WCAG 2.2 AA compliance for vendors.

How is funding supporting Section 508 remediation?

Dedicated budgets from the Technology Modernization Fund and infrastructure legislation are funding accessibility upgrades, AI-powered remediation tools, and expert audits.

Why isn’t automation alone enough to ensure accessibility?

Automated checkers can miss contextual and usability issues that affect real users. Manual review by certified accessibility experts ensures full compliance and practical accessibility.

Does Section 508 apply to internal federal systems?

Yes. Internal portals, HR systems, and remote work tools must also be accessible so federal employees with disabilities can perform their jobs effectively.

Conclusion: The Future Is Inclusive by Design

The U.S. federal government’s accessibility overhaul is long overdue—but it is finally gaining momentum. With expanded mandates, dedicated funding, and a growing ecosystem of accessibility experts, the task of fixing Section 508 accessibility gaps in legacy systems and documents is no longer aspirational—it’s underway.

As the digital face of government becomes more inclusive, it sets a precedent for the private sector and raises the bar for what accessible design should look like nationwide. In the end, the federal accessibility push is about more than compliance. It’s about delivering public services that reflect the values of equity, inclusion, and dignity for all. And that’s a mission worth investing in—today and into the future.