Making/Developing A Website For All: Our Accessibility Story

508: what does this number mean to you?

(Hint: no, it is not the number of members of the Electoral College!)

508 refers to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires Federal agencies and their grantees to produce digital content that is accessible to people with disabilities. The law covers mobility, sensory, cognitive, and behavioral challenges, as well as challenges due to chronic medical disorders, such as HIV/AIDS.

HIV.gov is committed to our responsibilities under Section 508—and we work hard to make our content accessible. But we learned some valuable lessons about full accessibility when we were preparing to launch our digital storytelling initiative, Positive Spin. Those lessons helped us to make Positive Spin stronger and guides our 508 efforts. We are excited to share what we learned with you! Watch the video to learn how we encountered and successfully addressed accessibility issues with the help of Reinhard Stebner, a Senior 508 Specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


HIV.gov is committed to continuously learning and sharing information on using digital tools to improve access to health information. Stay tuned for more blogs about 508 compliance.