|
Section 508 Standards
|
|
The Access Board is an
independent Federal agency devoted to
accessibility for people with disabilities. The Board developed
standards for electronic and information technology under the
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act Amendments requires that when Federal departments or
agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information
technology, they shall ensure that the technology is accessible to
people with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on
the department or agency.
Among other things, it applies to Federal pages on the Internet or the
World Wide Web. The Board's standards will become part of the Federal
procurement regulations.
Websites developed for the U.S. Army should have built-in specific
components which make it accessible under Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act.
A simple webmaster checklist for accessibility would include:
- arrange content in logical and clear order
- provide mouse over tags on all graphic images explaining their
use
- provide alternate text to explain non-textual information, such
as images, animations, audio, and video
- provide textual summaries of graphs and charts
- provide explanations of information conveyed with color
- provide substitute content for flash, applets and plug-ins
- prefer client side image maps, over server side image maps
How will Section 508 be enforced?
There is an administrative complaint
process, which becomes effective six months after the Board issued its
final standards. It enables any individual with a disability to file a
complaint alleging that a Federal department or agency has not complied
with the accessible technology standards in a procurement made after
that date.
The complaint process is the same as that used for Section 504 of
the
Rehabilitation Act, for complaints alleging discrimination on the basis
of disability in Federally conducted programs or activities. It
provides injunctive relief and attorney's fees to the prevailing party,
but does not include compensatory or punitive damages. Individuals may
also file a civil action against an agency.
When is Section 508 Compliance effective? June 21, 2001 which is six
months after the Standards were issued.
Contacts?
Virginia (Ginger) Calhoun [Virginia.Calhoun@osd.mil] is the
508 Compliance representative for DOD. She advises that Ms. Shirley
Bayne (703-428-1242, DSN 328-1242) is the 508 Compliance representative
for the U.S. Army. Army's alternate POC is now Mr. Mike Cather
(703-428-1238, DSN 328-1238).