In 1998, congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 u. Section 508 compliance testing 508 compliance website. Section 508 requires that when federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. If youre not sure if you need to be 508 compliant, its best to ask an expert. Section 508 compliance and vpat voluntary product accessibility template vpat, developed by the information technology industry council, is standardized form that assists federal. Smart technologies is committed to simplifying federal government certification and accreditation processes by providing information to comply with your agency requirements. Section 508 is an important amendment to the rehabilitation act that protects the right of people with disabilities to have equal access to electronic and information technology. Simply put, companies will no longer be able to sell federal agenciesany software or hardware that fails to meet accessibility standards. On january 18, 2017, the access board architectural and transportation barriers compliance board published a final rule that updated and reorganized section 508 standards. Any and all digital communications that a company under section 508 jurisdiction creates must be 508 compliant.
They contain technical criteria specific to various types of technologies and performancebased requirements which focus on functional capabilities of covered products. Section 508 lawsuits section 508 document compliance. In response to section 508, the information technology industry council itic has established a template called the voluntary product accessibility template vpat for u. If you want to sell technology to the federal government or one of its contractors, you will need a conformance. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications about this document who should use this document this document has been designed for and is intended for use by dhs trusted.
This includes private contractors, the financial industry, healthcare, many legal organizations, and others. It also impacts any company that does business with a federal agency. This includes website content, emails, computer software, gaming systems, apps, and pdf versions of traditionally printed assets. Section 508 requires federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. First of all, the feds thankfully updated 508 guidance in 2017 and their website is much easier to navigate than it used to be. Oct 08, 2019 who is responsible for 508 compliance. A major part of digital accessibility is providing captioning for online video content. The term includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar.
They were issued under section 508 of the rehabilitation act which requires access for both members of the public and federal employees to such technologies when developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies. Letter references shown in map to section 508 federal access board technical standards, i. Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. If youre an author or developer of electronic documents, software applications, web content, operating systems, accessibility platforms, assistive technology, mobile environments, and. Section 508 compliance approach for webbased applications. Any component or portion of existing ict that complies with an earlier standard issued pursuant to section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended as republished in appendix d, and that has not been altered on or after january 18, 2018, shall not be. Gsa section 508 and accessibility what is section 508.
A part of the americans with disabilities act, being 508 compliant means that the stuff you post on your. The federal government increasingly relies on technology to carry out its. Section 508 establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the federal government. This means that federal employees with disabilities are able to do their work on the accessible computers, phones and equipment in their offices, take online training or access.
The section 508 standards are part of the federal acquisition regulation far and address access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Section 508 requires the attorney general to submit to the president and congress reports containing information on and recommendations regarding the state of federal department and. The scope of section 508 is limited to the federal sector. Oct 30, 2018 trouble is, the guidance provided by the federal government doesnt include tools to help you determine whether you are meeting the guidelines. Cms section 508 policy 3 downloadedprinted copies may be obsolete. Mar 17, 2020 to help you ensure your website meets accessibility standards, weve created a sevenchapter guide about section 508 compliance the legislation that requires federal websites to be accessible and web accessibility. Federal agencies must ensure that this technology is accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities to the extent it does not pose an undue burden. If you arent worried about being 508 compliant, you should be. It includes binding, enforceable standards, as well as compliance reporting requirements and a complaint procedure.
If youre an author or developer of electronic documents, software applications, web content, operating systems, accessibility platforms, assistive technology, mobile environments, and modern development frameworks, you need to understand how the revised 508 standards 36 c. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. Section 508, an amendment to the united states workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, is a federal law mandating that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained. Previously, section 508 listed a specific set of accessibility requirements that agencies and schools were required to follow for compliance. Federal government electronic information technology accessibility standards. About the section 508 standards united states access board. Section 508 was originally added as an amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973 in 1986. The term includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services including support services, and related resources. The federal government increasingly relies on technology to carry out its business and deliver information to citizens, from creating files to managing contracts, which makes ensuring access for individuals with disabilities part of everyones job. Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their ict such as technology, online training and websites accessible for everyone. Section 508, an amendment to the united states workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, is a federal law mandating that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities.
The 508 universe is the place to find specific section 508 training and information resources the section 508 universe includes training on designing accessible. Section 508 covers eit broadly and includes software, web sites, web applications and hardware applications such as computers, networks, peripherals and other types of electronic office equipment. S access board also offers valuable section 508related resources via its section 508 best practices webinar series. Making files accessible issues, testing, and remediation. Noncompliance with wcag does not result in any penalties. These amendments also created enforcement measures to mandate compliance for websites, documents, and applications developed with us federal funding or for us. To help you ensure your website meets accessibility standards, weve created a sevenchapter guide about section 508 compliance the legislation that requires federal. Section 508 compliance and vpat voluntary product accessibility template vpat, developed by the information technology industry council, is standardized form that assists federal contracting officials in making preliminary assessments regarding the availability of a given product and service with features that support accessibility. Ict applies to the information technology and other equipment your agency procures, develops, uses, and maintains. Section 508 doesnt apply to the private sector, nor does it impose requirements on the recipients of federal funding. Jul 12, 2019 section 508 compliance testing checklist. In 1998 the us congress amended the rehabilitation act to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. To assist government customers in making procurement decisions, microsoft publishes.
A trusted tester is a person certified to provide accurate and repeatable section 508 compliance test results for software and web applications. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act requires that institutions receiving federal funds solicit, procure, maintain and use all information and communication technology ict so that equal or alternatecomparable access is given to federal employees and members of the public with and without disabilities. Federal contracting officials, buyers, and vendors to assist them in making preliminary assessments regarding the compliance of electronic equipment and software to. Section 508 covers technology bought by the federal government from private entities or developed by the federal government. On april 26, 20, michael leiterman, a lawyer for the department of homeland security dhs filed a suit against his employer, for violating federal antidiscrimination laws that require the federal government to provide equal opportunity to people with disabilities, citing section 508 of the americans with disabilities. Section 508 coordinators find the section 508 contact by agency. Section 508 standards will become part of the federal acquisition regulation andother federal laws that govern agency buying. Dec 21, 2000 section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Do your states laws require section 508 accessibility.
These tests are for measuring compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. Being 508 compliant makes it easier to sell your goods and services. Web application development methodology for section 508 compliance. Section 508 requires the attorney general to submit to the president and congress reports containing information on and recommendations regarding the state of federal department and agency compliance with section 508, including actions regarding individual complaints. This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, the internet. Ensure 508 compliance with an accessibility strategy. The resources in this section were developed by federal agencies, and shared here for your convenience. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a law that requires the federal government to provide access to its information and communication technology ict to people with disabilities. They were issued under section 508 of the rehabilitation act which requires access for both members of the public and federal employees to such technologies when developed, procured. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a law that requires the federal government to provide access to its information and communication technology ict to people with. The buy accessible wizard identify electronic and information technology eit products and services that are section 508 compliant. Access board get the full law, helpful overviews and learn about the development of the law. Oct 25, 2019 who is responsible for 508 compliance.
Sep 24, 2018 a major part of digital accessibility is providing captioning for online video content. How do i make my ios android apps compliant with section 508 of the u. The office of the chief information officer ocio is responsible for hhs section 508 compliance. If you want to sell technology to the federal government or one of its contractors, you will need a conformance report showing your products section 508 compliance. Simply put, companies will no longer be able to sell federal. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act requires that institutions receiving federal funds solicit, procure, maintain and use all information and communication technology. As far as 508 compliance on a mobile device the vpat, which is the form you. Resources for developers and document authors guidance on how to develop and author accessible electronic content. Department of homeland security sued for section 508 violations.
Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications about this document who should use this document this document has been designed for and is intended for use by dhs trusted testers. Microsoft is a major software and cloudservices provider to u. How do i make my ios android apps compliant with section. Ict shall be exempt from compliance with the revised 508 standards to the extent specified by e202.
The section 508 standards are part of the federal acquisition regulation far and address access for people with physical. Far helps the federal government purchase accessible tech and more. Section 508 of the us rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended, mandates that when the federal government purchases most electronic information and technology eit, including software applications, it must ensure that the eit provides federal government employees with disabilities with access to and use of information. Section 508 gsa governmentwide it accessibility program. Section 508, an amendment to the united states workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, is a federal law mandating that all electronic and information.
Note, much of this guidance predates the revised 508 standards. Section 508 applies to all federal government agencies and their websites. If your organization works with the federal government or aspires to do so, section 508 and ada website content compliance will have you on the right track. Assistive technology helps people with disabilities use technology.
As far as 508 compliance on a mobile device the vpat, which is the. Smart technologies currently has software and hardware certification in place in most federal agencies. Requiring business partners to provide accessible documents guidance to ensure business partners produce accessible content. Via federal acquisition regulation far, the federal government has worked towards ensuring 508 compliance. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973. Nearly everyone plays a role in carrying out section 508. Pdfs require 508 remediation as they are not accessible by screen readers. Section 508 of the us rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended, mandates that when the federal government. Section 508 compliance a quick guide by level access. Procuring section 508 conformant ict products and services basic overview of the federal acquisition process as it relates to procuring accessible ict. Section 508 lawsuits section 508 compliant document. On april 26, 20, michael leiterman, a lawyer for the department of homeland security dhs filed a suit against his.
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