In 1998 the us congress amended the rehabilitation act to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people. The section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is not only applicable to the federal agencies, vendors, and associates but could have an impact on the companies which. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act federal communications. When developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology, each federal department or. When originally drafted, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 mandated that all electronic and information technology used by the federal government be accessible to. Feb 18, 2020 are mobileready pdf files created with acrobat xi pro compliant with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended 29 u. Section 508 covers technology procured by a federal agency under contract with a. Section 508 was originally added as an amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973 in 1986.
Hud policy on section 508 of the rehabilitation act and. Section 508 requires agencies, during the procurement, development, maintenance, or use phases of ict, to. Department of state is committed to making its information and communication technologies ict accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the. Compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 usc 794d requires that when. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 section 508 is a federal law that requires individuals with disabilities have access to electronic documentation, data, and information technology. Section 508 requires that electronic and information technology eit acquired by the federal government be accessible by. Briefly put, section 508 is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973, and has. Sep 07, 2019 the section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is not only applicable to the federal agencies, vendors, and associates but could have an impact on the companies which does business directly or. Jan 18, 2018 within these regulations, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 establishes rules to ensure information and communication technology ict is accessible. Accessibility requirements viewsonic supports the federal government guidelines for accessibility to information technology products and services for the disabled. Federal government agencies develop, procure, or maintain, information and communication.
Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 usc 794d requires that when u. The rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended by wioa pdf. Dec 04, 2017 when originally drafted, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 mandated that all electronic and information technology used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. The standards, which have been in place for over 15 years, promote ict that can be accessed by the public and employees with disabilities.
Compliance policy web accessibility and section 508 of the. The boards section 508 standards, which were first issued in 2000, apply to ict developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies. Electronic and information technology a requirements for federal departments and agencies 1 accessibility 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. Compliance with section 508 of rehabilitation act of 1973. The standards, which have been in place for over 15 years, promote ict that can be accessed by the. Over the course of time, both the scope and the specificity of section 508 have changed through revisions and court interpretations. The original section 508 dealt with electronic and information technologies, in recognition of the growth of this field. 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. Section 508 was passed by the oklahoma legislature and signed by the governor of oklahoma in 2004.
Usaid implementation of section 508 of the rehabilitation act. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 and how. Within these regulations, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 establishes rules to ensure information and communication technology ict is accessible. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. Federal government agencies develop, procure, or maintain, information and communication technology ict, that it is accessible to persons with disabilities. The united states access board has issued final rulemaking that updates accessibility requirements for information and communication technology ict in the federal. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 disability. Nov 23, 2016 section 508 is an amendment to the workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, which u. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs that. It requires federal agencies to provide persons with disabilities, both employees and members of the public to have comparable access to and use of electronic information. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended the act requires that individuals with disabilities, who are federal employees or members of the public seeking information or. Briefly put, section 508 is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973, and has undergone several strengthening refreshes over the years.
Sep 21, 2018 section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. Section 794d and web content accessibility guildeines wcag 2. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 frequently asked questions the federal acquisition regulation far micropurchase exemption to section 508 of the rehabilitation act will expire on april 1, 2005. The federal government increasingly relies on technology to carry out its business and deliver information to. Section 508 is a part of the rehabilitation act of 1973 which requires that electronic and information technology developed, procured. Section 501 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 u. Are mobileready pdf files created with acrobat xi pro compliant with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended 29 u. The nondiscrimination requirements of the law apply to employers. Section 508 accessibility of electronic and information technology. The section 503 regulations set forth the standards for compliance with section 503 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. The law also established the access board section 502.
Integral to our function as a government agency is the right of all members of the public to access public information. A new version of section 508 was signed into law in 1998 as an amendment of the rehabilitation act. On august 7, 1998, president clinton signed into law the rehabilitation act. The legal basis for this rule is section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 u. 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. 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. The access boards final rule revises and refreshes its standards for information and communication technology in the federal sector covered by section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973.
Hud policy on section 508 of the rehabilitation act and accessible technology 1. Section 508 remediation government document remediation. Two sections within the rehabilitation act, as amended, have impact on accessible web design. Section 508 and section 501 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 are often confused with each other. 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. A new version of section 508 was signed into law in 1998 as an amendment of the. 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. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 frequently asked questions the federal acquisition regulation far micropurchase exemption to section 508 of the rehabilitation act will expire. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 get ada web. Department of state is committed to making its information and communication technologies ict accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 definition of. Rehabilitation act section 508 the rehabilitation act of 1973 requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology eit accessible to people with disabilities and. May 26, 2017 briefly put, section 508 is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973, and has undergone several strengthening refreshes over the years. Government document remediation and training services adhere to section 508, 503 and 504 regulations of the rehabilitation act of 1973 quickly and methodically.
Electronic and information technology a requirements for federal departments and agencies 1 accessibility a development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic. Usaid implementation of section 508 of the rehabilitation. Section 508 is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973 which applies to all federal departments and agencies. Strategic plan for improving management of section 508 of the rehabilitation act pdf, january 20. The access boards final rule revises and refreshes its standards for information and communication technology in the federal sector covered by section 508 of the rehabilitation. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act level access. Based on fiscal year 2018 data from the federal procurement data system fpds, it is. Based on fiscal year 2018 data from the federal procurement data system fpds, it is estimated that there are approximately 22,809 contractors that manufacture, sell, or lease ict supplies or services required to comply with section 508 standards.
Section 508 requires federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public. Xml rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended through p. Federal register information and communication technology. Thus, section 504 provides the context of the law and section 508 provides the direction. Introduction section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended, 29 u. Section 508 is a federal law that is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973, which established guidelines for technology accessibility section 508 requires that any information and.
Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a federal law that mandates all electronic and information. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973. Overview of the final rule united states access board. The section 508 refresh and what it means for higher. Although pdfua1 was considered as a standard, it was ultimately not. Later amendments strengthened requirements for access to electronic and information technology in the federal sector section 508. The standards apply to all state agencies, as defined. Title ivrehabilitation act amendments of 1998, section 508. Visitors, customers, and employees have the right to obtain county information and services as. Section 508 is a federal law that is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973, which established guidelines for technology accessibility 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 was recently refreshed, and the revised 508 standards become effective for federal agencies on january 18, 2018. Oct 08, 2019 section 508 of the rehabilitation act 29 u. The 508 standards and guidelines ensure that information and communications covered by section 508 are accessible to individuals with disabilities. It is important to understand section 508 in the context of other laws related to federal disability policy.
Section 508 of the rehabilitation act establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the federal government. The rehabilitation act of 1973 requires access to programs and activities that are funded by federal agencies and to federal employment. Section 508 is an amendment to the workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, which u. 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. Review section 508 law and related it accessibility laws and policies. Section 508 of the act, as now amended, provides for us a blueprint of just what is intended in section 504. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended the act requires that individuals with disabilities, who are federal employees or members of the public seeking information or services from a federal agency, be provided access to and use. Rehabilitation act of 1973 united states access board. Ensure your employees and members of the public have equal access to your documentation, regardless of ability. In addition to section 508, the rehabilitation act of 1973 has several other sections.
Nearly everyone plays a role in carrying out section 508. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973 wikipedia. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a federal law that mandates all electronic and information technology eit developed, procured, maintained, and used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. Compliance policy web accessibility and section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. A development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic and information technology. Summary of the rehabilitation act of 1973 get ada web. Section 501 and 505 prohibits federal employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. Section 504 of the 1973 rehabilitation act was the first disability civil rights law to be enacted in the united states. When developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology, each federal. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability.
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