In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use ICT technology. These technologies must give employees and members of the public with disabilities access to information that is comparable to access available to others.
On January 18, 2017 the United States Access Board issued a final rule or “refresh” updating ICT requirements covered by Section 508. The rule also refreshes guidelines for telecommunications equipment subject to Section 255 of the Communications Act and updates and reorganizes the Section 508 standards and Section 255 guidelines. The refresh also harmonizes these requirements with other guidelines and standards both in the U.S. and abroad, including standards issued by the European Commission and with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a globally recognized voluntary consensus standard for web content and ICT. This refresh references Level A and Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements in WCAG 2.0 and applies them not only to websites, but also to electronic documents and software.
More information:
Looking to learn more about how to procure, create, remediate, manage and maximize ICT accessibility in your organization? Please see the links below that offer tools and information to get you started! Need more help? Please contact us and we will develop a plan specific to your agency’s needs!
GSA Section 508 Program Website - This website was intended to be a place for a variety of stakeholders to easily find guidance, tools, and resources for Section 508 procurements with the ultimate goal of ensuring equal participation for people with disabilities by improving Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility.
Revised Section 508 Standards Refresh Toolkit - These resources are intended to help your agency transition to the Revised 508 Standards, which go into effect on January 18, 2018.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Overview - This page explains what the WCAG is, who develops and maintains it, and more!
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 - This page features the text of the actual guidelines.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Checklist - The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Checklist serves as an appendix to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 [WCAG20]. It lists all of the success criteria from WCAG 2.0 in a checkable list. The level of each success criterion is provided as well as a link to WCAG 2.0 for more information for each success criterion. For many readers, the Checklist provides a quick reference and overview to the information in WCAG 2.0.
California Department of Rehabilitation Disability Access Services - The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Disability Access Services division serves as a resource that provides public information, consultation, training and technical assistance to state and local government, consumers, employers and businesses to help prevent accessibility issues. This is their Digital Accessibility page.
Access-IT California - This is the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) plan for making their ICT accessible to individuals with disabilities. It is a good model for developing your own accessible ICT plan.