Access boards new rules that updates accessibility requirements for information and communication technology ict in the federal sector covered by section 508 of. On august 7, 1998, president clinton signed into law the rehabilitation act amendments of 1998. S citizen working for a foreign government mission or international organization and are a. As we increase our reliance on electronic information systems to help us manage information and costs, improve service, and carry out our. The forms on this page are provided in adobe acrobat portable document format. A complete explanation of section 508 is available at.
This includes, but is not limited to, the following. Specifically, section 508 deals with electronic and services, including web page content, pdf documents and audio and video content and specifies requirements to ensure that all web content is accessible to people with disabilities. Handbook as508a section 508 technical reference guide. The following checklist should be used department wide by hhs staff to verify that pdf documents meet the requirements established by hhs. This guide recaps relevant web content accessibility guidelines wcag requirements and calls out specific considerations for content, design, and development. Using practical examples, this course explains how section 508 requirements apply to micropurchases of hardware, software, and other ict. Section 508 refresh understanding the new requirements. Section 508 is a part of the rehabilitation act of 1973 which requires that electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. The doc accessibility and section 508 website focuses on section 508 laws, accessibility standards and guidelines and contains resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of section 508 of the rehabilitation act. The checklist below, a series of tables, is based on the content of the web pagesite. This document must be completed by the requesting official purchase requestor and provided to the. Aug 23, 20 this section provides technical specifications and performancebased requirements, which focus on the functional capabilities of covered technologies. The section 508 standards are the technical requirements and criteria used to measure ict accessibility conformance within this law.
Documents that pass all applicable requirements on this list are considered to be in compliance with section 508, as interpreted by hhs. Section 508 was originally added to the rehabilitation act in 1986. A beginners guide to section 508 and accessibility compliance. Please visit other pages on the navigation pane to the right titled resources to view more information about accessibility and. Accessibility at penn state section 508 summary requirements.
Following passage of this landmark statute, the architectural and transportation barriers compliance board the access board was assigned the task of promulgating necessary regulations in order to implement these section 508 compliance requirements. The term agency is defined in section e103 to include the united states postal service and other federal agencies and departments as specified in 44 u. Since section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 only applies to federal agencies, the short answer is no. Section 508 compliance statement this document applies to the following products. In addition to section 508 requirements, hhs has policies, standards, and requirements for electronic documents that include but are not. Without running the text recognition function, scanned text is simply an image and therefore not accessible.
This handbook explains the requirements of section 508 of the rehabilitation act and sets forth, in broad outline, the. This section provides references and guidance toward accomplishing that goal. How does the refreshed section 508 rule affect your. The section 508 standards are part of the federal acquisition regulation far and address access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.
On august 7, 1998, president clinton signed into law the workforce investment. Federal government revised 508 standards transition workgroup and gsa, shows how to integrate the standards into an existing 508 program. Agencies must comply with these standards to ensure our technology is accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. December 12, 2017 you may wonder if nonfederal websites are required to comply with the revised 508 standards. The us access board established the section 508 standards that implement the law and provides the requirements for accessibility. The department of the interior doi is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended. Conformance to requirements for softwareauthoring tools requirement in the revised 508 standards. September 2012 section 508 report to the president and congress. A conviction is any plea of guilty or nolo contendere no contest or a verdict of guilty. Section 508 pdf document accessibility test process.
It also impacts any company that does business with a federal agency. Federal regulations section 508 united states agency for. Jan 18, 2018 content that was compliant with cdes prior web standards and has not been updated after january 18, 2018. Additional information on section 508 can be found at the websites for the u. Nov 20, 2017 section 508 also directs the attorney general to submit reports to the president and congress on the state of federal agencies compliance with the acts requirements. Please be aware that the primary requirment for producing a compliant document is a logical document structure.
These pdf forms are fully accessible but there is no computation, validation, or verification of the information you enter. Under the amendment, the effective date for the enforcement of section 508 was delayed to allow for additional time for compliance with the boards final standards. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. This dual approach recognizes the dynamic and continually evolving nature of the technology involved as well as the need for clear and specific standards to facilitate compliance. Compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. How the updated section 508 standards map to wcag 2. The purpose of this document is to ensure cms compliance with federal requirements relative to any purchase of electronic and information technology eit. Section 508 outlines the technical standards for accessibility that apply to websites. Nov 12, 20 chances are sooner or later youre going to be assigned a project requiring 508 compliant accessibility standards. Oct 08, 2019 section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. General and keyboard navigation checks should be performed on all pages no matter what is present in the actual content. If no is answered to any item, then the site is not 508 compliant. Pdf compliance checklist section 508 compliant document.
January 2002 new note to readers this document is a consolidation of acquisitionrelated questions that have been posed by agencies, contractors, and members of the disability. Section 508 applies to any information being distributed electronically. This manual assigns responsibilities for section 508 management and. Dec 18, 2012 examples of eit covered by section 508 main content software applications and operating systems e. The office of the chief information officer ocio is responsible for hhs section 508 compliance. In 1998, congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 to require federal agencies to make their electronic and. Within these regulations, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 establishes rules to ensure information and communication technology ict is accessible.
Users with impaired vision can see those tooltips as they hover over the cells. The original section 508 amendment was added to the rehabilitation act back in 1986. Guidance should include, among other things, adobe acrobat files. Irs section 508 compliant pdf forms internal revenue service. Follow the revised 508 standards to ensure your information and communication technology ict is accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities. Pdf allows the publisher to ensure that a document looks the same online as it does in print form. Only the standards that are applicable to pdfs are listed. Color why should color not be used to convey information. Criminal record statement state law requires that persons associated with licensed facilities or home care aide registry applicants be fingerprinted and disclose any conviction. Register for archive section 508 refresh understanding the new requirements.
The latest update to section 508, known as the refresh, went into effect march 21, 2017. Section 508 technical reference guide handbook as508a september 2004 transmittal letter a. On august 7, 1998, the president signed into law the workforce investment act of 1998, which includes the rehabilitation act amendments of 1998. For a full list of the section 508 standards of the rehabilitation act. This handbook explains the requirements of section 508 of the rehabilitation act and sets forth, in broad outline, the postal services policies on how to comply with them. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act requires agencies to give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is. Our nation, our warriorsespecially our wounded warriors, count on us to do the right thing and supporting section 508 is the right thing to do, said takai. The resources in this section were developed by federal agencies and shared here for your convenience. Note, much of this guidance predates the revised 508 standards. On august 7, 1998, the president signed into law the workforce. It also clarifies how developers should work together with designers and content creators to ensure that federal websites and digital products meet the revised 508 standards.
Narrative software uses the information from the accessibility table fields heading rows, columns, caption alignment and summary to produce a tooltip message for each table cell. How to create 508 compliant adobe pdf documents dau home. I508, request for waiver of certain rights, privileges. 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. Please see go to our websitefor details on how our deliverables meet section 508 requirements.
But the court also stated, nothing in section 508c1 relieves a church from having to meet the requirements of section 501c3. However, people with disabilities also are at significant risk of being excluded if. Employees who suddenly become disabled, either because of a stroke, car accident, sports injury, or sudden loss of hearing or vision, etc, will be better equipped to perform their jobs if they can return to work in an environment with 508 compliant eit. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act specifically requires federal departments and agencies to evaluate the extent to which the electronic and information technology of the department or agency is accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Accessibility requirements for mobile applications doc. Section 508 information technology access 1 what is section 508. Introduction to section 508 and information and communication technology ict.
Department of the interior section 508 policies and helpful links. Dec 12, 2012 commissioner of internal revenue, the united states tax court agreed that, under section 508 c1 of the tax code churches do not have to apply for tax exempt status and are considered automatically exempt. Below is a table summarizing section 508 requirements for federal government web sites. Page 1 of 6 waiver of certain rights, privileges, exemptions, and immunities department of homeland security u. Chances are sooner or later youre going to be assigned a project requiring 508 compliant accessibility standards. Do section 508 accessibility standards apply to my website. All federal employees who are purchase card holders and are responsible for procuring ict must be aware of their responsibilities regarding section 508 and accessibility. Directive 2007003 creating accessible pdf files for specific guidance. Must portable document format pdf files that are displayed on a federal website. Documents distributed via email includes broadcast messages and any attachments. Providing technical assistance on section 508 issues within the agency. This amendment strengthened section 508 and required that access to eit be provided by the. The checklist below, a series of tables, is based on the content of the pdf. To validate pdfs for section 508 compliance, testers must utilize the tools available in adobe acrobat professionalto conduct manual and automatic section 508 compliance testing.
The law strengthens section 508 of the rehabilitation act and requires access to. Each section 508 standard is mapped to the dhs pdf testing process for testers who are more familiar with the alphabetical approach. Reviewing new purchase requests originating within the usda business component to ensure usda compliance with federal section 508 requirements. Section 508 was added in 1987 as an amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973. While many of these standards relate to coding and the work of web designers or developers, several standards pertain directly to how content is added to a site. Four page guide to section 508 rules and regulations.
This includes private contractors, the financial industry, healthcare, many legal organizations, and others. The revised 508 standards contain scoping and technical requirements for information and communication technology ict purchased, built, maintained or used by federal agencies. They contain technical criteria specific to various types of technologies and performancebased requirements which focus on functional capabilities of covered products. Use this form to waive certain diplomatic rights privileges, exemptions, and immunities associated with your occupational status including any exemption from paying u. To make the most accessible products, know what section 508 requirements apply to your media. On august 7, 1998, president clinton signed into law the workforce. Omb memo about procurement solicitations attachment 1 doi section 508 contact list attachment 2 memo on section 508 training and bureau doi learn contact list attachment 3 directive 2007003 creating accessible pdf files. Keep reading to learn more about section 508 and accessibility compliance. Section 508 establishes requirements for any electronic and information.
The following are links to documents that have been used in training others to create section 508 compliant documents such as ones you may need to satisfy reporting requirements. But the court also stated, nothing in section 508 c1 relieves a church from having to meet the requirements of section 501c3. Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their ict such as technology, online training and websites accessible for everyone. All elements should be properly tagged, using the make accessible feature, in order to make the documents as compliant as possible with the section 508 requirements. Access board, the general services administration, and the u. To fully integrate 508 requirements into the development. About the section 508 standards united states access board. Pdfua clarifies and simplifies the pdfspecific technical requirements to meet wcag 2. In addition to section 508 requirements, hhs has policies, standards, and requirements for electronic documents that include but are not limited to the following. All functional organizations can use the information in this handbook to understand, achieve, and maintain section 508 compliance. Do the requirements of section 508 apply to acquisitions other than those for eit.
This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, the internet. Cms aspires to be a model employer of people with disabilities, as required by section 501 of the. The section 508 standards apply to electronic and information technology procured by the federal government, including computer hardware and software, websites, and multimedia such as video, phone systems, and copiers. Ssas guide to applying section 508 standards introduction ii section 508 ssa requirements and testing guidelines introduction the purpose of this document is to give vendors a significant and meaningful example of the features which ssa tests for in evaluating products for section 508 compliance. As originally written, the enforcement provisions of section 508 would have taken effect on august 7, 2000.
Aided by technology, electronic communication has become both a supplement to the traditional paperbased exchange of ideas and a communication channel for access to the postal service itself. According to the comments about this section of the. Using technology to enhance value is an integral part of the postal service s transformation plan. The fingerprints will be used to obtain a copy of any criminal history you. Introduction this article is intended to supplement previous eoatri and eo cpe articles concerning irc 508 and to discuss several issues regarding the notice requirements of that section. Making multimedia section 508 compliant and accessible. The more 508 compliant your eit systems are, the quicker employees can.
Adobe portable document format pdf documents should be created using adobe acrobat version 6 or later software, or equivalent tools from adobe. Technology is deemed to be accessible if it can be used as effectively by. However, pdfua 1 does not address scripting or the use of pdf files as a container for video. The checklist from section a forward is based on the wcag 2. Cms pdf file 508 checklist 1 cms pdf file 508 checklist document information. Get a free demonstration using your document or form. Adobe acrobat reader does not includeany accessibility validation tools and therefore it is not used to test pdfs in this test process. The access boards standards become enforceable on june 21, 2001 see. Home blog do section 508 accessibility standards apply to my website. Background irc 508 a provides generally that an organization organized after october. Accessibility web standards web site information ca dept. Release of new section 508 awareness computerbased training.
The president identified transparency, participation, and. Must portable document format pdf files that are displayed on a federal. Word documents powerpoint presentations excel spreadsheets pdf files. Citizenship and immigration services uscis form i508 omb no.
Section 508 508 statute php, 508 statute pdf requires that federal agencies. Simply email us a pdf and pick a page youd like us to make section 508 compliant. Section 508 compliance checklist section 508 self check web accessibility self evaluation form this is a printable form and not an electronic form. Providing section 508 program support and coordination between the agency and the business component clearance officer. In light of the need to include people with disabilities in the work of the postal service, section 508 of the rehabilitation act requires that all. Section 508 was recently refreshed, and the revised 508 standards become effective for federal agencies on january 18, 2018. Section 508 acquisition faqs acquisition of electronic and information technology under section 508 of the rehabilitation act questions and answers update.
While the checks are good and give more coverage than the adobe checker, there are a few that the aspa 508 team does not view as required fixes for either 508 or wcag 2. The americans with disabilities act, the architectural barriers act, and the rehabilitation act collectively make the ins and outs of everyday life more accessible for people with disabilities. This exception exists due to the safe harbor clause in federal section 508, which allows content that was compliant with the older version of section 508 to remain posted unless it is updated. In preparation for its report, the department of justice conducts a survey of federal agencies to obtain information on the state of compliance with section 508. This page has information about the section 508 law, and the va section 508 office.
With the exception of the contrast requirement, pdfua 1 includes most accessibility requirements relevant to the pdf format, including textual equivalence for static graphical elements. If youre not sure if you need to be 508 compliant, its best to ask an expert. Eit accessibility standards implementing section 508 were published by the u. All electronic communication and documentation created by cms employees and contractors must be 508 compliant. Color should not be used to convey unique information because individuals who may be color blind may not be able to distinguish the color conveying the information. Compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of. Frequent questions about section 508 what is section 508. Commissioner of internal revenue, the united states tax court agreed that, under section 508c1 of the tax code churches do not have to apply for tax exempt status and are considered automatically exempt. The president identified transparency, participation, and collaboration.
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