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Home | Universal Access: Section 508 Standards

Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 standards should be followed when the government develops, procures, maintains or uses electronic and information technology.

Section 508 Standards define electronic and information technology as follows:

Any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. The term information technology includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources.

Section 508 provides six key 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.

I recommend the following sites are starting places for learning about Section 508:

• http://www.section508.gov/
  
  Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. The Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA), in the U.S. General Services Administration's Office of Governmentwide Policy, has been charged with the task of educating Federal employees and building the infrastructure necessary to support Section 508 implementation. Using this web site, Federal employees and the public can access resources for understanding and implementing the requirements of Section 508.
  
  
• http://www.usability.gov/
  
  Usability is the measure of the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a product or system — whether a Web site, a software application, mobile technology, or any user operated device. This site is designed to provide current and accurate information on how to make health related information Web sites and other user interfaces more usable, accessible, and useful. The site also links to a variety of quality Web sites and resources on usability, accessibility, and related topics that exist in the field.

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