US laws and standards
In the US, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act says that federal agencies must make their technology easy to use for workers and people with disabilities. Federal agencies must follow the Section 508 Standards, which use WCAG for web content. The ADA protects private websites by calling them public places and is enforced through lawsuits.
Key point
Section 508 and the ADA are two different laws that cover different areas. Section 508 applies to federal agencies and sets clear technical rules. The ADA covers more situations but does not set exact technical rules. Courts have said it requires accessibility, but the specific standard of “what counts” is decided in each case.