Section 508 is a Federal law that is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which established guidelines for technology accessibility. In June 2004, the Department of Justice issued the Section 508 Report, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Accessibility for People with Disabilities in the Information Age. Section 508 was made part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in 1998. . Section 508 requires that any technology that's used by a federal agency or department has to be accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. Under Section 508, "[federal] agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others." While Section 508 specifically applies to government agencies, private businesses must also . Section 508 requires that U.S. federal departments and agencies to develop, procure, maintain, or use only electronic and information technology ("EIT") that is accessible for people with disabilities, unless doing . Pat Sheehan (VA) and Gary Morin (NIH NCI) talk about the relationship between the Section 508 Coordinator and Reasonable Accommodations. The law applies to the federal government and organizations . In April 1999, the Attorney General issued a package of detailed self-evaluation materials . What is Section 508? On January 18, 2017, the U.S. Access Board published a final rule updating accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communications Act. All Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) websites, applications, and other digital media are expected to comply with Section 508 requirements. Technology is deemed to be "accessible" if it can be used as effectively by . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. What is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require all federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain, and use information and communication technology -- ICT -- also known as electronic and information technology -- E&IT -- that is accessible to everybody, including individuals . . 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. Under Section 508, "[federal] agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others." While Section 508 specifically applies to government agencies, private businesses must also . This employment can include programs conducted by federal agencies, work programs that receive federal assistance, and work given through federal contracts, among many others. Section 504 was originally the last line of the Rehabilitation Act, but did not have any implementing rules. (i) to make equipment owned by the Federal Government available for access and use by individuals with disabilities covered by paragraph (1) at a location other than that where the electronic and information technology is provided to the public; or T he U.S government through Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended mandates federal agencies to ensure all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used are accessible to persons with disabilities. What is Section 508? Learn what you need to know in this article. New and redesigned sites should be compliant when submitted to the Web Governance Team for approval to send live. Over 20 years, the Rehabilitation Act was amended to address technology and accessibility. The NLRB is committed to providing access to our site for all persons with disabilities. 508 compliance refers to section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in relation to employment. Who is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973? Learn what you need to know in this article. 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. The Rehabilitation Act was the first major civil rights act in the U.S. to expand federal protections for people with disabilities. Act), as amended, as these sections will appear in volume 29 of the United States Code, beginning at section 791. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. Establishes U.S. What is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and why should you adhere to it when developing your product or services? It is in essence an extension of Section 504. 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. (a) development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic and information technology: when developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology, each federal department or agency, including the united states postal service, shall ensure, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the department or agency, that Section 508 is a Federal law that is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which established guidelines for technology accessibility. The standards are required to be published by February 7, 2000. Section 508 addresses every aspect of electronic documents, from tagging content and animated displays to TTYs and usability of keys and controls. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 105-220), August 7, 1998. Sections 501 and 505. L. 93-112) (Rehab. The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is a U.S. civil rights law passed in 1990 that protects people from being discriminated against on the basis of disability. The refresh in January of 2017 updated accessibility guidelines and requirements for information and communication technology . Any component or portion of existing ICT that complies with an earlier standard issued pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (as republished in Appendix D), and that has not been altered on or after January 18, 2018, shall not be . . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 508) requires all electronic and information technology (also referred to as information and communication technology or ICT) that is developed, procured, maintained, or used by a federal agency to be accessible to people with disabilities. 2000e-16), including the application of sections 706 (f) through 706 (k) [42 U.S.C. What is Section 508? Section 508 requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. 2000e-5 (f) through k)] shall be available, with respect to any complaint under section 791 of this title, to any . Section 508 For the Federal government, the requirement for accessibility is a law known as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires agencies to give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others We mean equipment like photocopiers, printers and fax machines. 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. Section 508 is an amendment of the United States Rehabilitation Act of 1973. ICT applies to the information technology and other equipment your agency procures, develops, uses, and maintains. Section 508 is an amendment to the Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law in 1998. Electronic subscription services are considered . Section 508 requires that U.S. federal departments and agencies to develop, procure, maintain, or use only electronic and information technology ("EIT") that is accessible for people with disabilities, unless doing so would be an "undue burden" on the department or agency. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was added in 1998 to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities, including both employees and members of the public. Section 508 is part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which itself is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 794d) requires that federal agencies provide equal or comparable access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to disabled employees and members of the public. The Section 508 amendment came about as part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which was intended to expand employment, retention . of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mandated that "all electronic and information technology used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities." Over the course of time, both the scope and the specificity of Section 508 have changed . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Acis an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act that refers specifically to electronic and information technology (EIT). With the advent of the Internet, an amendment (Section 508) was signed into law in 1998, expanding the Rehabilitation Act to include equal access to electronic and information technology. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) revised standards for electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by Federal agencies. Section 508 (a) (2) (A) of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 requires the Access Board to publish standards setting forth a definition of electronic and information technology and the technical and functional performance criteria necessary for accessibility for such technology. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended 29 U.S.C. In 2017, Section 508 was revised with the requirement that by January, 2018, all federal agencies and . Section 508. Specifically, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is what defines the term. IT Accessibility/Section 508. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act All Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) websites, applications, and other digital media are expected to comply with Section 508 requirements. (Other sections of the Rehabilitation Act apply to affirmative action - Sections 501 and 503, accessible technology - Section 508, and legal remedies - Section 505.) 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. What is the difference between Section 504 and 508? With the advent of the Internet, an amendment (Section 508) was signed into law in 1998, expanding the Rehabilitation Act to include equal access to electronic and information technology. Section 508 establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. The Rehabilitation Act was passed long before modern technology. 105-220) requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain and use information and communications technology (ict) that is accessible to people with disabilities - regardless of whether or not they work for the federal T he U.S government through Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended mandates federal agencies to ensure all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used are accessible to persons with disabilities. Accessibility means ensuring access to information or products for individuals who have a disability. With this, Information and Communications Technology, or ICT, is gathered and filed for people with disabilities to have easy access. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. That particular piece of legislation was the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was amended in 1998 to include Section 508. When originally drafted, Section 508. link-external. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. These Acts prohibit employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and other terms and conditions of employment including a request . E202.1 General. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (hereafter, "Section 508"), as amended, mandates that Federal agencies "develop, procure, maintain, or use" ICT in a manner that ensures Federal employees with disabilities have comparable access to, and use of, such information and data relative to other Federal employees, unless doing so would . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that the federal government develop, procure, maintain, and use information and communication technology (ICT) that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Over 20 Implementing Regulations for federally assisted programs, including: This means that Section 508 uses WCAG 2.0 to measure the compliance of any documents, web content, and software. Section 508 Background. When Federal agencies buy, build, maintain, or use Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that agencies must give people with disabilities (both employees and members of the public) access to information comparable to the access available to others, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. . (a) (1) The remedies, procedures, and rights set forth in section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. It applies both to tech used by federal employees, and tech used . Section 508: This section addresses information technology; specifically, it requires federal agencies' information and communications technology to be accessible to disabled people. Section 508, an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, mandates that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. Those with a history . "According to the Centers for Disease . Its purpose is to "require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities.". Examples of ICT include web sites, telephones, multimedia . This is where Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act comes in. Ensures that Service employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to Information and Communication Technology . Sections of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The ADA is a much broader law than Section 508, applying to the private and public sector and encompassing all areas of life, not just digital communications. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public, and senior workers access to information that is comparable to the access available to others. Section 508 is a clause that was added to a piece of legislation in the United States. In short, this policy aims to make . First and foremost, it's the law - Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires Federal agencies to make electronic and information technology they use, maintain, develop, or procure accessible to individuals with disabilities. 1998: Update to Section 508. Section 504 was originally the last line of the Rehabilitation Act, but did not have any implementing rules. A new and improved Section 508 was signed into law in 1998 as an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act v. Section 508 covers access to federal programs and services in regards to electronic and information technology vi Section 508 Section 508. iv was first introduced in 1986, but was fairly useless due to ineffectual enforcement mechanisms. 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. Section 508 requires that any Information and Communication Technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained or used by Federal departments and agencies must allow Federal employees and members of the public . Section 508. What is the difference between Section 504 and 508? This is Section 508. B. The U.S. Access Board establishes the Section 508 standards . 508 Compliance, therefore, involves developing a website that can be used by . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act enforces Federal Agencies to consider providing employees with disabilities usable or adaptive equipment or hardware, causing no hardship in the performance of their duties. Ensure 508 Compliance with an Accessibility Strategy. EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is the text of Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Pub. Ensure 508 Compliance with an Accessibility Strategy. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. This section bars the Federal government from developing, using, or procuring electronic and information technology (E&IT) goods and services (including web design) that are not accessible to those with disabilities. This means that Section 508 uses WCAG 2.0 to measure the compliance of any documents, web content, and software. Section 508 requires that individuals with disabilities can access and use information and data that is comparable to those without disabilities, unless an undue burden . The Reauthorized Rehabilitation Act of 1998 included amendments to Section 508 of the Act. E202.2 Legacy ICT. Section 501 prohibits employment discrimination against individuals with disabilities . ICT shall be exempt from compliance with the Revised 508 Standards to the extent specified by E202. On a webpage, this includes all text, images, sounds, code, and markup. Section 508 Surveys and Reports. Information, Guidance, and Training on the Americans with Disabilities Act. Technology is "accessible" if, regardless of the medium of the technology, individuals with disabilities to . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a law that requires the Federal Government to provide access to its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to people with disabilities. Therefore, it covers digital accessibility. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) policy and defines roles and responsibilities for implementing Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Section 508); and. 794d), as amended by the workforce investment act of 1998 (p.l. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act revised standards are harmonizing the international standards, one of which is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0). The Rehabilitation Act was originally signed into law in 1973. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and ICT accessible to people with disabilities. CMS' Accessibility Statement & Commitment Navigation "According to the Centers for Disease . It states that all federal agencies must make their EIT accessible to people with disabilities. (See section C.3 above) However, a vendor must design and manufacture products or services that meet the applicable Access Board's technical provisions if it wishes to sell those products or services to the government. 1999 Self-Evaluation Survey and Report. One of the areas that Gary and I are concerned about is in the area program access under 504, 501, and 503. What is Section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973? In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and added Section 508. Section 508 requires all federal agencies to make their electronic and . Monday, December 4, 2017. This includes employees as well as members of the public. 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. Accessibility means ensuring access to information or products for individuals who have a disability. The regulations for this law require the federal government to provide equal access to training and promotion opportunities, and reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs and services run by the federal government or its contractors. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. On a webpage, this includes all text, images, sounds, code, and markup. If making the electronic and information technology accessible would impose an undue burden on us, we will provide individuals with disabilities the . 794d) requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communication technology (ICT), Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with . Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires the federal government to actively hire and promote workers with disabilities. This clause "requires Federal [Government/public sector] agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to . What is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and why should you adhere to it when developing your product or services? Examples of ICT include websites, telephones, multimedia . This is where Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act comes in. For the majority of software and mobile apps, the W3's . Search this site Search. Section 508 requires that persons with disabilities have access to and use of information and data comparable to the information available . Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 508) requires all electronic and information technology (also referred to as information and communication technology or ICT) that is developed, procured, maintained, or used by a federal agency to be accessible to people with disabilities. Under Section 508, the Postal Service must ensure, absent an undue burden, that ICT allows employees and applicants access to . Section 508 requires that any Information and Communication Technology (ICT) developed, procured, maintained or used by Federal departments and agencies must allow Federal employees and members of the public . section 508 of the rehabilitation act (29 u.s.c. We understand that partnerships with our own 504 offices . That means that any electronic and information technology used, maintained, developed, or procured by HHS must be accessible to persons with disabilities. Section 508. 794. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act revised standards are harmonizing the international standards, one of which is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0).