Section 508 Resource Guide
The Architectural and Transportation Compliance Board ("Access Board") is responsible for developing technical and functional performance criteria for electronic and information technology covered by Section 508. Although the law itself does not include accessibility standards, it does provide some guidance on its coverage. First, Section 508 does not require Federal agencies or departments to provide special accessible equipment for people with disabilities at any location other than where electronic and information technology is provided to the public. Second, Section 508 does not require the installation of specific accessibility-related computer software or hardware at the workstation of a non-disabled employee.
In general, electronic and information technology becomes accessible to persons with disabilities when it can be used or accessed through more than one sense or ability. For instance, an electronic mail system that cannot be adapted for use with a screen reader may be inaccessible to a person with a visual impairment. In this example, Section 508 would not require the agency to provide electronic screen reading software or hardware at each employee's workstation; however, Section 508 may require that any new electronic mail software be compatible with screen reading software and hardware. Similarly, an Internet website that can only be used with a computer mouse may be inaccessible to people who cannot use a mouse because of dexterity or visual impairments. In this example, Section 508 may require that the agency also maintain a separate website that is compatible with Internet browser software that can be operated with a keyboard cursor.
Both the Access Board and the General Services Administration are responsible for providing technical assistance for compliance with Section 508. In February 2000, the Access Board will issue regulations detailing requirements for Federal agencies. Until that time, the following resources may be useful in developing, procuring, maintaining, and using accessible electronic and information technology. This listing does not constitute an endorsement of these resources by the Department of Justice and is intended only to provide examples of a range of possible resources. The Department of Justice will periodically update this list of resources on its Internet website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508.
Other government agencies have a wealth of information for making electronic and information technology accessible to persons with disabilities.
a. Access Board
The Access Board is responsible for developing standards for compliance
with Section 508. In addition, the Access Board has developed accessibility
standards for other Federal legislation. The Access Board maintains a website
at http://www.access-board.gov.
b. Department of Education
The Department of Education has been a leader in assisting persons with
disabilities through technological solutions. The Department of Education
has also been at the forefront of evaluating software for accessibility.
The Department of Education maintains a website at http://www.ed.gov.
c. General Services Administration (CITA)
The Center for Information Technology Accommodation ("CITA") of
the U.S. Government's General Services Administration ("GSA")
is nationally recognized as a model demonstration facility for instituting
accessible information environments, services, and management practices.
CITA shares the important goal of achieving "maximally accommodating"
public information infrastructures with an informal, growing network of
public and private sector partners. CITA maintains a website at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/cita/index.htm.
The following websites provide general information about Section 508.
a. Section 508, 29 U.S.C. § 798
The text of Section 508 may be found at the Department of Justice's website
at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508.
b. Definition of "Information Technology" (Clinger-Cohen
Act of 1996)
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that the Access Board issue
standards defining "electronic and information technology that is consistent
with the definition of information technology specified in Section 5002(3)
of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996" (40 U.S.C. 1401(3)). The text of
that definition can be found at the Department of Justice's website at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508.
c. Questions and Answers Regarding Section 508 (Department of Education)
The Department of Education has prepared an information "Questions
and Answers" document regarding Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
A copy of this publication is available from the Department of Education
and can be found at the Department of Education's website at http://www.ed.gov.
d. Managing Information Resources for Accessibility
This manual, prepared by GSA's Center on Information Technology Accommodation
("CITA"), covers policy issues and practical concerns for information
accessibility to accommodate users with disabilities. A copy of this manual
is available at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/cita/front.htm.
The following resources provide general information about accessible electronic and information technology.
a. Trace Research and Development Center
The Trace Research and Development Center of the University of Wisconsin-
Madison develops universal design principles incorporating accessibility
for persons with disabilities. The Trace Research and Development Center
maintains a website at http://trace.wisc.edu.
b. Archimedes Project (Stanford University)
The Archimedes Project is a multi-disciplinary research group devoted to
ensuring universal access to information regardless of an individual's needs,
abilities, or preferences. Current research projects include development
of the Total Access System (TAS), which will provide universal access to
any computer-based equipment, and the development of various "Accessors,"
which will provide access to computer information for people with a multitude
of disabilities. The Archimedes Project maintains a website at http://www-csli.stanford.edu/arch/arch.html.
Several private and public organizations provide guidance for developing accessible web pages.
a. World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
The Web Accessibility Initiative works with other organizations for the
development of web accessibility standards (including guidelines for page
authoring) and educates, researches, and develops web accessibility standards.
The Web Accessibility Initiative maintains a website with useful information
at http://www.w3.org/WAI.
b. City of San Jose WWW Page Accessibility Standard
In 1996, San Jose, California, developed basic web page accessibility standards
that have been designated as a "best practices" model by the League
of California Cities. These standards can be found at http://www.ci.san-jose.ca.us/oaacc/disacces.html.
c. Trace Research and Development Center
The Trace Research and Development Center addresses web accessibility and
includes information about the compatibility of browsers with adaptive hardware
and software. The Trace Center also provides links to other organizations
involved in the development of standards for accessible website design.
The Trace Center maintains a website at http://trace.wisc.edu.
In addition, the Trace Center, in conjunction with Adobe Systems, hosts
a service for conversion of .pdf files (a multi-platform document format
used on many Internet web sites) to either plain text or html format via
e-mail. Information regarding this service can be found at http://access.adobe.com,
a website maintained by Adobe Systems, Incorporated.
d. Center for Applied Special Technology ("CAST")
CAST is an educational, not-for-profit organization that uses technology
to expand opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities.
CAST maintains a dynamic website called "Bobby" that analyzes
web pages currently on the Internet for their compliance with web accessibility
standards and provides a summary of any problems that may be encountered
by visitors to the website. CAST's homepage can be found at http://www.cast.org.
e. IBM Special Needs Systems
IBM has developed and collected useful information for ensuring that computer
information is accessible to persons with disabilities. Included in their
webpage is information for making web pages and Javatm applications
(a popular computer language used commonly in Internet websites) accessible.
Their website can be found at http://www.austin.ibm.com/sns/access.html.
f. Government of Canada
The Canadian Government has also been working on providing access to persons
with disabilities to government services or activities offered through the
Internet. Useful and up-to-date information about their efforts can be found
at a website http://w3.pwgsc.gc.ca/forum/.
g. Adobe Systems
Adobe Systems Incorporated manufactures Adobe Acrobat, a program used to
create and read so-called .pdf files (a multi-platform document format that
is becoming increasingly popular on Internet web sites). To assist users
with disabilities accessing .pdf files, Adobe Systems maintains a website
at http://access.adobe.com
that discusses conversion of .pdf files to more accessible formats. In addition,
Adobe Systems, in conjunction with the Trace Research and Development Center,
has developed a service for conversion of .pdf files to other file formats
via e-mail.
h. Lynx Viewer
Lynx is a web browser that displays web-based information in text-only format.
It is widely used by persons using adaptive equipment and software in order
to access Internet web pages. Information about Lynx is available at http://lynx.browser.org.
As an introduction to Lynx, a basic Lynx Viewer is available at http://www.delorie.com/web/lynxview.html.
a. Managing Information Resources for Accessibility
This manual, prepared by GSA's Center on Information Technology Accommodation
("CITA"), covers policy issues and practical concerns for information
accessibility to accommodate users with disabilities. This manual also includes
clauses from non-binding Federal Information Resources Management Regulations
(FIRMR) addressing procurement of accessible technology. A copy of this
manual is available at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/cita/front.htm.
b. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130
This document contains excerpts from the Federal government's policy directive
for promoting the application of technology to improve the use and dissemination
of information by Federal agencies. It states that Federal information must
be made accessible to members of the public with disabilities. A copy of
this document can be found at GSA's website at http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/library.htm.
a. Requirements for Accessible Software Design (Department of Education)
The Department of Education has established software requirements that it
is now using in all of its contracts to ensure the accessibility of its
programs and activities to individuals with disabilities. These standards
can be found at http://ocfo.ed.gov/coninfo/clibrary/software.htm.
b. Trace Research and Development Center
The Trace Research and Development Center has also researched and developed
standards for accessible software. The Trace Research and Development Center
maintains a website at http://trace.wisc.edu,
which includes standards for software accessibility and links to other organizations
that may assist in making operating systems and computer software accessible
for persons with disabilities.
c. National Software Testing Labs ("NSTL")
NSTL provides testing services on a contract basis to hardware manufacturers,
software developers and publishers, corporations, and government agencies.
NSTL provides a website that includes contact information and a description
of their services at http://www.nstl.com.
By February 7, 2000, the Access Board will determine the manner in which
telecommunications equipment must be accessible to persons with disabilities
under Section 508. Standards developed by the Access Board for compliance
with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- which affects the design, development,
and fabrication of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment
-- provide some interim guidance. In addition, the Federal Communications
Commission has adopted rules regarding closed captioning.
a. Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines.
The Access Board has developed guidelines for compliance with the Telecommunications
Act of 1996. These standards include design features that affect the usability
of telecommunications equipment by persons with disabilities. The standards
can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/rules/telfinl2.htm.
b. Federal Communication Commission Closed Captioning Rules
Pursuant to Section 305 of the Telecommunications Act, the Federal Communications
Commission has required closed captioning of televised information and has
encouraged use of EIA-608 standards for closed captioned programs. The text
of the rule can be accessed from the Federal Communications Commission at
http://www.fcc.gov/dtf/caption.html.
Information/Transaction machines (ITM's) include ATM's, fare vending machines,
informational kiosks, and other unattended machines for conducting transactions
or providing information. Of course, because ITM's are physical objects,
compliance with Section 508 may also require that the physical design of
the ITM's comports with hardware design standards.
a. The Access Board
The Access Board has been researching the accessibility of the ITM's in
cooperation with disability rights organizations and the Trace Research
and Development Center. A draft copy of their final report can be accessed
from their website at http://www.access-board.gov.
b. Trace Research and Development Center
The Trace Research and Development Center is currently researching the
accessibility of ITM's through a grant from the Access Board. The Trace
Research and Development Center maintains a website at http://trace.wisc.edu.
Electronic and information technologies may also take the form of physical
objects, such as fax machines, telephones, and ITM's. As noted above, Section
508 does not require the installation of specific adaptive hardware or software
at the workstation of a non-disabled Federal employee. When this technology
may be used by more than one employee or may be used by members of the public,
however, Section 508 may require that this technology be accessible to persons
with disabilities.
a. The Access Board
The Access Board has established guidelines for compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) that includes specific standards for reach ranges,
controls and operating mechanisms, and alarms, which may be useful in developing
the physical design of hardware. These guidelines can be found on the Access
Board's website at http://www.access-board.gov/bfdg/adaag.htm.
b. IBM Special Needs Systems
IBM has developed and collected useful information for ensuring that computer
hardware and software is accessible to persons with disabilities. The appropriate
website can be found at http://www.austin.ibm.com/sns/access.html.
last update April 13, 1999