Section 508 requires that
the federal government procure, create, use and maintain ICT that is accessible to people with disabilities
, regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.
What does Section 508 apply to?
What is Section 508? Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d) requires
federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain or use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities
– regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.
Who must follow Section 508?
Who Does Section 508 Apply To?
Primarily any legal organization operating under permission of the federal government
is required to be compliant to Section 508. If you own a business, your wish is for as many people to access it as possible.
What are the requirements for 508 compliance?
The law (29 U.S.C § 794 (d)) applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508,
agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others
.
What is Section 508 and why is it important?
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.
What is Section 508 compliance checklist?
The accessibility checklists provide the evaluation criteria that must be met to ensure content is accessible to all users. Section 508 requires that
all external public facing content and non-public facing official agency communications be accessible
.
What is a Section 508 review?
Section 508, as amended, specifically requires that,
when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use ICT, (1) individuals with disabilities who are Federal employees have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of the information and data by Federal employees who
…
How do I comply with Section 508?
The best way to ensure you meet the standards is to design your content to follow the standards, have the
content audited for accessibility by
a third-party vendor, and verify that is accessible to people with disabilities by having users with disabilities perform testing using assistive technology.
What is the difference between ADA and Section 508?
Ultimately, ADA protects the civil rights of persons with disabilities participating in interstate commerce; whereas Section 508 is
a set of regulations related to access to Government ICT
. 508 compliance provides accessibility for digitally published material within government agencies and entities.
Why is Section 508?
When the federal government develops, procures, maintains, or uses information and communication technology, Section 508
ensures comparable access to people with disabilities as is provided to others
.
What is a 508 compliant document?
The accessibility standards set forth by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act require electronic document accessibility for everyone, including individuals with disabilities. The most commonly used electronic document format is Adobe PDFs but Section 508 Compliance includes
Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
, too.
How do I make a PDF Section 508 compliant?
- Structure the original source code properly. For example, suppose you are using Microsoft Word to create the document. …
- Use a PDF writer or PDF converter that supports ISO standards and web accessibility. …
- Run an Accessibility Check. …
- Document the properties. …
- Provide an alternative version.
What is the difference between Section 504 and 508?
Responsibilities under Section 504 and Section
508 can overlap
. Section 508 requires Federal agencies to ensure that persons with disabilities (both employees and members of the public) have comparable access to and use of electronic information technology. …
How do I know if my document is 508 compliant?
Select a page range if you prefer to do a full check on individual sections of a document. Select an
accessibility standard
(Adobe PDF, Section 508 (U.S.), or W3C ) from the Name menu, and then select the accessibility options to check for. Click Start Checking.
Is 508 compliance mandatory?
December 12, 2017 – You may wonder if non-federal websites are required to comply with the Revised 508 Standards. Since Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
only applies to federal agencies
, the short answer is no.
What are accessibility guidelines?
Understanding Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) are
designed to make websites universally accessible
. They also improve the experience for users without disability. There are three levels of WCAG conformance: Level A: the minimum level.
