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KATS Network > Publications > Section 508 Resources

SECTION 508 RESOURCES

I. Policy

Federal Policies

Laws

• Section 508 statute (29 U.S.C. § 794d)
  Part of the 1998 amendments to the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508law.html

Regulations

• Section 508 regulations (36 CFR 1194)
  Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards released by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board [Published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000]
  http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/508standards.htm
  
  
• Final Far Rule (48 CFR 2, 7, 10-12, and 39)
  For Implementing Section 508 of the Rehab Act: Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards
  [Published in the Federal Register on April 25, 2001]
  http://www.section508.gov/docs/Final99607A.doc

Guidelines and Other Requirements

• Guide to the Section 508 Standards for Electronic and Information Technology
  This guide was produced by the Access Board. The purpose of this technical assistance document is to ensure successful implementation of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d). This guide can be found at http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/index.htm
  
  
• 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.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a130/a130.html
  
  
• 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://codi.buffalo.edu/archives/computing/.coca/
  
  
• Requirements for Accessible Software Design
  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://www.ed.gov/fund/contract/apply/clibrary/software.html
  
  

Department of Justice Technical Assistance Letters

• Compliance with Effective Communications Requirement
  Guidance on the need for State governments to make information resources accessible due to the "effective communication" mandate under the ADA Title II http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/foia/tal712.txt
  
  
• Compliance with Reasonable Modifications Requirement
  Guidance on the need for public accommodations to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, and procedures when necessary to afford goods and services to people with disabilities under the ADA Title III http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/foia/tal794.htm
  
  

Kentucky State Policies

State Laws

• KY AIT Law (SB 315) (KRS 61.980 - 988)
  Kentucky state statute requiring state compliance with Section 508
  AIT-Law.rtf
  
  
• Commonwealth of Kentucky Enterprise Standard 7025: Web Accessibility Standard
  These standards and guidelines apply to each Commonwealth of Kentucky entity publishing on the Internet in the course of its business and utilizing state resources, as well as to other entities specifically granted permission to use these facilities by the Commonwealth.
  http://gotsource.ky.gov/dsweb/Get/Document-37147/7025_Accessibility_DRAFT.doc
  
  
• Commonwealth Office for Technology Memorandum #2001-0802
  Memorandum outlining assistance available through GOT to help agencies comply with Kentucky's AIT Law. http://gotsource.ky.gov/dsweb/Get/Document-7390/2001-0802.doc

II. Free Tools and Guidance on Technology Access Issues

• Section 508 Web Tutorial
  Jim Thatcher designed this free tutorial on web accessibility.
  http://www.jimthatcher.com/webcourse1.htm
  
  
• Accessibility Resources for Developers
  A list of resources compiled by the National Center for Accessible Media
  http://ncam.wgbh.org/resources/all.html
  
  
• Section 508 Web Accessibility Checklist
  These guidelines are suggestions only, and are not part of the official Section 508 document.
  http://www.webaim.org/standards/508/checklist
  
  
• A-Prompt Toolkit Web Accessibility Verifier
  By checking Web pages for barriers to accessibility and making repairs to correct any problems, A-Prompt will ensure that you are reaching the widest possible audience.
  http://aprompt.snow.utoronto.ca/
  
  
• WAVE 3.0 - Web Accessibility Versatile Evaluator
  Originally designed by the late Len Kasday now made available by WebAIM.
  http://wave.webaim.org/index.jsp
  
  
• The Bobby Accessibility Checker
  Originally designed by CAST, this checker is offered by Watchfire to help Web page authors identify and repair significant barriers to access by individuals with disabilities.
  http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
  
  
• html2txt
  Originally known as "lynx-me", this utility shows you what a Web page looks like in a text browser.
  http://cgi.w3.org/cgi-bin/html2txt?
  
  
• WC3 collection of Evaluation, Repair, and Transform Tools
  This is a collection of information about Evaluation, Repair, and Transform Tools to be used by Web content developers and users to make the Web more accessible. [Most complete collection of tools at any one site]
  http://www.w3.org/WAI/ER/existingtools.html
  
  
• W3C Techniques For Accessibility Evaluation And Repair Tools
  This document describes techniques that Web accessibility validation tools may use to evaluate the conformance of HTML documents to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG 1.0).
  http://www.w3.org/TR/AERT
  
  
• Cleaning Up After WYSIWYG Editors
  If you insist on using one of those "WYSIWYG" ("What You See Is What You Get") editors that shield you from true HTML coding, you should know about some of the junk they tend to insert into your documents. This stuff is very familiar to anyone who's tried to clean up the mess left behind by running a web site through one of those site-mangling editors. http://www.dantobias.com/webtips/wysiwyg.html
  
  
• HTML Tidy
  This is a program designed to clean up html code-messy code can impede or block access technologies http://www.w3.org/People/Raggett/tidy/
  
  
• How To Create Accessible Adobe PDF Files
  This "Access Adobe" website includes a number or resources for creating and optimizing Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files so that they can be made accessible to users with disabilities such as blindness or low vision. http://www.adobe.com/enterprise/accessibility/main.html
  
  
• Quick List of Section 508 Rule
  NIEHS Introduction to Section 508 - 36 CFR Part 1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/websmith/508/rule.htm
  
  
• HIEHS Web Site Evaluation Form
  By filling out this form, you will get a listing of which paragraphs of Section 508 apply to your website. You can then click on the paragraph to get detailed infomation, which includes examples of how to make any needed corrections on your web pages. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/websmith/508/508form.htm

III. Commercially Available Section 508 Repair and Verification Tools

• PageScreamer
  PageScreamer is the cornerstone product in Crunchy Technologies' suite of Web accessibility tools.
  http://www.hallogram.com/pagescreamer/
  
  
• 508 Accessibility Suite for Macromedia Products
  This accessibility suite includes support for Dreamweaver and other popular Macromedia products.
  http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/
  
  
• DiamondTM Demo Tools
  DiamondTM is a very easy to use solution that requires no familiarity with HTML for most of the diagnostics and fixes. http://www.508compliant.com/tools.htm
  
  
• AccVerify(tm) Accessibility Verifier
  AccVerify(tm) provides for the verification of Accessibility policy and standards required for Web sites. http://www.hisoftware.com/access/Index.html
  

IV. Commercially Available Accessible Web Design Online Training Programs

• EASI Accessible Web Design Workshops
  EASI has been providing several online workshops that focus on adaptive computing technology, creating accessible web pages, learning disabilities and access to the disciplines of science, engineering, and math.
  http://easi.cc/workshop.htm

V. Private Accessibility Contractors

• Veritest, Inc
  Accessibility testing evaluates the usability of your software application, hardware product, and/or Web site for persons with disabilities, ensuring that everyone has access to the same resources.
  http://www.veritest.com/services/

VI. Articles and Other Useful Background Information on IT Accessibility

• Adapting systems for the disabled isn't as tough as you think
  An article from Federal Computer Week http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2000/0807/cov-access-08-07-00.asp
  
  
• Examples of Rich Media Accessibility
  This page contains examples of accessible rich media compiled by the National Center for Accessible Media. http://ncam.wgbh.org/richmedia/examples/index.php
  
  
• Video of training seminar by GSA on compliance with Section 508
  A web video broadcast of a workshop on implementing Section 508 at the Federal level. 2 hours, 39 minutes in length. http://www.broadcast.noaa.gov/access/webacc.ram
  
  
• Designing Access To WWW Pages
  Alliance for Technology Access guidelines on designing accessible web pages. http://www.ataccess.org/rresources/webaccess.html
  
  
• Making Final Preparations for Section 508
  Webcast from the Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center http://www.tvworldwide.com/event_ittatc_061801.cfm

VII. Government Sources of General Information about Section 508 and IT Accessibility

• 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/
  
  
• Department of Justice, Section 508 Home Page
  The Justice Department is responsible for enforcement issues relating to Section 508. http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/508home.html
  
  
• Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy
  For a resource on making IT accessible in the workplace, see the page "Technology and People with Disabilities" at http://www.dol.gov/odep/archives/ek99/tech.htm
  
  
• GSA, Center for IT Accommodation (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.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/
  
  
• TARGET (Technology Accessible Resources Gives Employment Today)
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture established the Technology Accessible Resources Gives Employment Today (TARGET) Center to support the department with assistive technology and ergonomic solutions. http://www.usda.gov/oo/target/ontarget.html

VIII. Non-Government Sources of General Information about Section 508 and IT Accessibility

• 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
  
  
• 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/
  
  
• 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/
  
  
• IBM Accessibility Center
  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 Java applications (a popular computer language used commonly in Internet websites) accessible. Their website can be found at http://www-3.ibm.com/able/
  
  
• Microsoft Web Accessibility Resources
  The information below outlines ways to use Microsoft Active Accessibility and provides resources including guidelines, tools, and other materials. http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/accessibility.asp

IX. Telecommunications Access

• 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/telecomm/html/telfinal.htm
  
  
• 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/cgb/dro/caption.html

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The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration (Grant #H224A090017), Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as Amended
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