Compliance Checklist
This checklist is based on the WCAG 2.0 requirements.
Below are a series of tables based on the content of General Office Documents. (HHS is using different versions of Office throughout the staffdivs. If you need details for your specific version, please consult the Microsoft site for your specific version). If ‘No’ is answered to any item, then the document is not 508 compliant.
In addition to Section 508 requirements, HHS has policies, standards, and requirements for electronic documents that include but aren’t limited to the following:
ID | Requirements | Result |
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AA1 | Document file name should not contain any spaces or special characters. | |
AA2 | Document file name needs to be concise, generally limited to 20-30 characters and should clarify the contents of the file. | |
AA3 | All Document properties should be filled out: Title, Author, (an HHS OpDiv, StaffDiv, or Program Office---not an individual’s names) Subject, and Keywords | |
AA4 | Use electronic version for any signatures. |
Section A: All Office Documents
These checks should be performed on all PDFs no matter of what is present in the actual content:
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
A1 |
Is the title in the Document Properties filled out properly? |
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A2 |
Is the language of the document properly set? |
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A3 |
Did the document fully pass the Accessibility Checker? |
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A4 |
Is the document free from content that flashes more than 3 times per second? |
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A5 |
Is the document free from content carried over from Office such as comments, track changes, etc? |
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A6 |
Is the order of the content accurate and logical? |
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A7 |
Can text be resized and considered readable when magnified to 200%? |
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A8 |
Is the document free from electronically fillable forms? |
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Section B: All Office Documents containing Color
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
B1 |
Does any information conveyed with color have a non-color method for understanding? |
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B2 |
Does all text (with the exception of logos) have a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 or greater no matter the font size? |
WCAG 2.0 Success Criterion 1.4.3 (Size stipulation not considered by HHS) |
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Section C: All Office Documents containing Links
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
C1 |
Are links distinguished by a method other than color? |
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C2 |
Can all link text be understood out of context? (If generic text is used, see next item) |
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C3 |
Does generic link text have sufficient context? |
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Section D: All Office Documents containing Images
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
D1 |
Do all informational images have alt text that provides the same level of understanding a visual user would gain? |
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D2 |
Do all decorative images have “ “ in the alt text field? |
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D3 |
Have all multilayered objects been flattened into one image and does that image use one alternative text description for the image? |
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D4 |
Do complex informational images have an alternate accessible means of understanding? |
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D5 |
Is the document free from any content that should not be included as an image? (Picture of an informational table, text) |
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Section E: All Office Documents containing Tables
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
E1 |
Was the table created with the built in table styles? |
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E2 |
Does the table structure in the tag tree match the visual table layout? |
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E3 |
Do all Header cells contain text? |
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E4 |
Is the document free from table styles for any content that is not a data table? |
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E5 |
Is the document free from data tables with merged cells, both column and row header cells, and multiple column or row cells? |
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Section F: All Office Documents containing Lists
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
F1 |
Are all visual lists created with the built in list styles? |
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F2 |
Are multiple lists in the same document properly grouped / separated? |
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Section G: All Office Documents containing Headings
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
G1 |
Is text intended to act as a visual heading styled with the built in heading tags (H1 through H6)? |
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G2 |
Do heading styles follow a logical hierarchical progression? (Do not skip) |
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G3 |
Are heading styles refrained from being used on text that has been visually altered purely for decoration? |
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G4 |
Does the Heading text accurately describe the sectional content? |
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Section H: All Office Documents containing other common elements
ID |
Requirement |
Traceability to 508 |
Result |
---|---|---|---|
H1 |
Is the table of contents created with the built in office styles? (TOC, TOC Item) |
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H2 |
Are citations and footnotes/endnotes created with the built in office styles? |
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H3 |
Is the language properly set for foreign words or phrases? |
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H4 |
Is information in the header, footer, watermark, speaker notes, etc. available in the main body of the document? |
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