Section: 508 Rehabilitation Act

1. Section: 508Rehabilitation Act Larry Leventhal

2. History • The road to Section 508 started in 1984 with the creating of a Government-Industry Task Force • Created in 1986 when added to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 • A list of guidelines for purchase of office equipment was adopted in 1987

3. History cont… • For a decade after it’s creation many agencies still had not incorporated that guidelines. • 1998 a new revision of Section 508 was adopted by the Workforce Investment Act.

4. Section: 508 Overview • A. General • B. Technical Standards • C. Functional Performance Criteria • D. Information, Documentation, and Support

5. General • Purpose • Requirements for Federal Agencies regarding disabled access to information • Application • Gives rules for how this law is applied to specific situations. • Definitions • Definition of terms used within the Section. • Equivalent Facilitation • Clarifies that section is meant to make information more accessible.

6. Technical Standards • Software Applications and Operating Systems • Web-based intranet and internet information and applications. • Telecommunication Products • Video and Multimedia Products • Self-Contained closed Products • Desktop and Portable Computers

7. Software Applications and Operating Systems • Software used on a system with a keyboard must be executable from the keyboard. • Applications cannot disable active accessibility features of other software. • Well-defined focus that can be tracked by assistive software. • Information about the use and status of all user interface elements must be available to assistive software.

8. Software Applications cont… • Pictures used to represent control or status elements must stay consistent. • Textual information is provided through OS functions for displaying text. • Software cannot override user set color or contrast settings. • When animation used, that information must be available in a non-animated form.

9. Software Applications cont… • Color coding must not be the only means of conveying information. (example)

10. Hit the Green box and win a prize!!

11. Hit the Green box and win a prize!!

12. Hit the Green box and win a prize!! RED GREEN

13. Software Applications cont… • Products permitting users to adjust color and contrast must have a variety that allows for a range of contrast levels. • Flashing items must NOT flash between 2 and 55 Hz. • Electronic forms will allow information to be accessed by assistive technology.

14. Web Based Applications • A text equivalent for every non-text element. • Alternatives for multimedia presentation must be synchronized with presentation. • Information conveyed with color must also be conveyed without. (example)

15. Wrong! All instances of the search key “Soccer” will be highlighted in red. …The Soccer Emporium has everything you need from soccer balls to goal nets… Right! All instances of the search key “Soccer” will be highlighted in red and surrounded with “*”. …The *Soccer* Emporium has everything you need from *soccer* balls to goal nets…

16. Web Based Applications cont… • Documents must be organized so they are readable without an associated style sheet. • Redundant text links must accompany each active region of a server-side image map. • Client-side image maps must be used except where regions cannot be defined with general geometric shapes.

17. Web Based Applications cont… • Row and column headers will be readily identified for data tables. • Markup will be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers. • Frames must be titled with identification text.

18. Web Based Applications cont… • Pages will not flicker between 2 and 55 Hz. • Text only page will accompany any page that cannot be made to comply. • Scripting language content or interfaces must provide functional text that can be read by assistive technology. • Pages requiring plug-in will provide a link to a page that complies with Section 508

19. Web Based Applications cont… • Forms must allow assistive technology to access information about fields • Method provided to permit users to skip repetitive navigation • Timed response must alert user and give sufficient time to indicate more time is needed.

20. Telecom Products (Selected) • If product allows user to change volume it must include feature that resets to default. • Products meant to be heard by closely held to ear must allow to be attached to hearing aid. • Interference with hearing technology must be reduced to lowest levels.

21. Video and Multimedia Products • TV tuners must be equipped with secondary audio program playback circuitry • All training or information videos must include open or closed captions • Display of text presentation must be user selectable

22. Self contained, closed products • Where any operable control is 10 inches or less behind the reference plane, the height shall be 54 maximum and 15 minimum inches above the floor.

23. Desktop and Portable Computers • When biometric user ID are used an alternate form of ID that does not require specific biological characteristics must be provided • At least one of each type of expansion slot, port, and connector must comply with publicly available industry standards.

24. Functional Performance Criteria • At least one mode of support for those who are blind or visually impaired. • At least one mode of operation that does not require user hearing. • At least one mode that doesn’t require user speech • At least one mode that does not require fine motor control

25. Information, Documentation, and Support • Product support documents will be available in alternate forms at no charge. • Users will have description of accessibility and compatibility features in alternate format at no charge. • Support for products will accommodate communication needs of users will disabilities.

26. www.vt.edu www.cs.vt.edu www.fbi.gov www.sony.com www.cnn.com slashdot.org www.microsoft.com www.aol.com Examples Pass Fail