Why Comply?

1. Why Comply? Section 508 Compliance Report Research Consultant: Megan Ulrich February 12th 2012

2. Summary • Section 508 Compliance is provisions of standards and requirements of Federal agencies when producing web pages so that accessibility is equal to those who are and are not disabled. • My professional opinion is that Home Depot should comply with Section 508 Compliance

3. Compliance is the Right Thing to do: • 10% of the population are deaf/hearing impaired • 11,400,000 people have visual conditions not correctable by glasses • 6,400,000 new cases of eye disease occur each year • 2,800,000 people are visually handicapped from color blindness • 1,100,000 people are legally blind

4. Compliance is the Legal Thing to do: • “In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Investigated Act of 1998, August 7, 1998 require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.” • “Specifically, Section 508 of the act requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use EIT, 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 disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed by the agency.”

5. Taken from Home Depot’s Website: “The Home Depot is Dedicated to: 1. Meeting the Needs of Government 2. Supporting Our Federal Customers 3. Partnering with State & Local Governments 4. Simplifying Tax Exemption” The Home Depot U.S.A. (2011). The home depot. Retrieved from https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Values/Pages/default.aspx

6. Home Depot’s Values: • # 3: “Doing the right thing: We exercise good judgment by ‘doing the right thing’ instead of just ‘doing things right.’ We strive to understand the impact of our decisions, and we accept responsibility for our actions.” • # 6: “ Building strong relationships: Strong relationships are built on trust, honesty, and integrity. We listen and respond to the needs of customers, associates, communities, and vendors, treating them as partners.” • # 8: “Respect for all people: In order to remain successful, our associates must work in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination and harassment where each associate is regarded as part of The Home Depot team.” The Home Depot U.S.A. (2011). The home depot. Retrieved from https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Values/Pages/default.aspx

7. Both of what Home Depot is dedicated to and it’s company’s values are reasons for compliance with Section 508 • Increase customer base and customer satisfaction • Prevent possible lawsuits in the future • Save money later by protecting your company now

8. Overall • Compliance is a smart move and though there may not be legal pressure now to comply, the advancing technical world will surely push forward as prices increase to make chances such as these more difficult • Compliance would support your goals and mission statements thus adding credibility to yourselves as a company and “team”

9. For More Support on How to Comply Please Contact: Megan Ulrich Research Consultant meganaulrich@hotmail.com (631) 737-8221