Section:%20508%20Rehabilitation%20Act

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Section 508Rehabilitation Act
Larry Leventhal
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History

• The road to Section 508 started in 1984 with the
  creating of a Government-Industry Task Force
• Created in 1986 when added to the Rehabilitation
  Act of 1973
• A list of guidelines for purchase of office
  equipment was adopted in 1987

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History cont

• For a decade after its creation many agencies
  still had not incorporated that guidelines.
• 1998 a new revision of Section 508 was adopted by
  the Workforce Investment Act.

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Section 508 Overview

• A. General
• B. Technical Standards
• C. Functional Performance Criteria
• D. Information, Documentation, and Support

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General

• Purpose
• Requirements for Federal Agencies regarding
  disabled access to information
• Application
• Gives rules for how this law is applied to
  specific situations.
• Definitions
• Definition of terms used within the Section.
• Equivalent Facilitation
• Clarifies that section is meant to make
  information more accessible.

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Technical Standards

• Software Applications and Operating Systems
• Web-based intranet and internet information and
  applications.
• Telecommunication Products
• Video and Multimedia Products
• Self-Contained closed Products
• Desktop and Portable Computers

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Software Applications and Operating Systems

• Software used on a system with a keyboard must be
  executable from the keyboard.
• Applications cannot disable active accessibility
  features of other software.
• Well-defined focus that can be tracked by
  assistive software.
• Information about the use and status of all user
  interface elements must be available to assistive
  software.

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Software Applications cont

• Pictures used to represent control or status
  elements must stay consistent.
• Textual information is provided through OS
  functions for displaying text.
• Software cannot override user set color or
  contrast settings.
• When animation used, that information must be
  available in a non-animated form.

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Software Applications cont

• Color coding must not be the only means of
  conveying information. (example)

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Hit the Green box and win a prize!!
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Hit the Green box and win a prize!!
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Hit the Green box and win a prize!!
RED
GREEN
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Software Applications cont

• Products permitting users to adjust color and
  contrast must have a variety that allows for a
  range of contrast levels.
• Flashing items must NOT flash between 2 and 55
  Hz.
• Electronic forms will allow information to be
  accessed by assistive technology.

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Web Based Applications

• A text equivalent for every non-text element.
• Alternatives for multimedia presentation must be
  synchronized with presentation.
• Information conveyed with color must also be
  conveyed without. (example)

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Wrong! All instances of the search key Soccer
will be highlighted in red. The Soccer Emporium
has everything you need from soccer balls to goal
nets Right! All instances of the search key
Soccer will be highlighted in red and
surrounded with . The Soccer Emporium has
everything you need from soccer balls to goal
nets
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Web Based Applications cont

• Documents must be organized so they are readable
  without an associated style sheet.
• Redundant text links must accompany each active
  region of a server-side image map.
• Client-side image maps must be used except where
  regions cannot be defined with general geometric
  shapes.

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Web Based Applications cont

• Row and column headers will be readily identified
  for data tables.
• Markup will be used to associate data cells and
  header cells for data tables that have two or
  more logical levels of row or column headers.
• Frames must be titled with identification text.

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Web Based Applications cont

• Pages will not flicker between 2 and 55 Hz.
• Text only page will accompany any page that
  cannot be made to comply.
• Scripting language content or interfaces must
  provide functional text that can be read by
  assistive technology.
• Pages requiring plug-in will provide a link to a
  page that complies with Section 508

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Web Based Applications cont

• Forms must allow assistive technology to access
  information about fields
• Method provided to permit users to skip
  repetitive navigation
• Timed response must alert user and give
  sufficient time to indicate more time is needed.

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Telecom Products (Selected)

• If product allows user to change volume it must
  include feature that resets to default.
• Products meant to be heard by closely held to ear
  must allow to be attached to hearing aid.
• Interference with hearing technology must be
  reduced to lowest levels.

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Video and Multimedia Products

• TV tuners must be equipped with secondary audio
  program playback circuitry
• All training or information videos must include
  open or closed captions
• Display of text presentation must be user
  selectable

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Self contained, closed products

• Where any operable control is 10 inches or less
  behind the reference plane, the height shall be
  54 maximum and 15 minimum inches above the floor.

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Desktop and Portable Computers

• When biometric user ID are used an alternate form
  of ID that does not require specific biological
  characteristics must be provided
• At least one of each type of expansion slot,
  port, and connector must comply with publicly
  available industry standards.

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Functional Performance Criteria

• At least one mode of support for those who are
  blind or visually impaired.
• At least one mode of operation that does not
  require user hearing.
• At least one mode that doesnt require user
  speech
• At least one mode that does not require fine
  motor control

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Information, Documentation, and Support

• Product support documents will be available in
  alternate forms at no charge.
• Users will have description of accessibility and
  compatibility features in alternate format at no
  charge.
• Support for products will accommodate
  communication needs of users will disabilities.

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Examples
Pass
Fail

• www.vt.edu
• www.cs.vt.edu
• www.fbi.gov

• www.sony.com
• www.cnn.com
• slashdot.org
• www.microsoft.com
• www.aol.com