Author: Eyal Bar, Head of accessibility, Allyable.
On some sites that are designed for people with special needs, you can see the work of section 508 of the rehabilitation act. What is it, and why is it so important?
This section requires all data and information on government websites to be approachable, especiA11y for humans with special needs. The scope and limitations of this chapter have continued to evolve through various interpretations and revisions.
It is important to note that the guidelines defined by EІTAAC and grouped in the now-famous Article apply to the Internet and a wide range of hardware and software technology devices. EspeciA11y:
- Application programs and operating systems
- Internet, information, and applications
- Telecommunication Products
- Video and multimedia products
- Self-contained products with embedded software
- Desktop and laptop computers.
As a result of this law’s entry into force, approachability requirements have largely come to play the role of a tender that the US government agency announces to purchase electronic and computer equipment and services. Between two companies participating in the same tender with the same proposal, the winner is the one who can guarantee the best adherence to section 508 guidelines.
The US government passed a legislative measure known in 1973. As the name implies, this was a law aimed at removing or reducing various obstacles that prevent a human with a disability from using the services and data provided by agencies, both as a government employee and as an ordinary person.
Section 508 compliant with this law was then grouped with a series of directives to remove barriers to approach to data and services in a specific area of so-called data. The first amendment with optional content dates back to 1986. Instead, the second amendment, the Labor Investment Act, which entered into force on August 7, 1998, signed by former President Clinton, is now binding in terms of section 508 law and approachability requirements for every US agency.
This section does not explicitly set out the approachability requirements that government agencies will have to accept. Instead, a technical body called the Access Council is created to be delegated to define the required chapter standards promptly. This l access agency, in turn, delegates to a technical committee of IT professionals, academics, and representatives of organizations with disabilities the material task of developing approachability rules. As a result of the work of this committee, the Access Board publishes draft approachability guidelines. After a period of public appraisal and comment, the proposals became law on December 21, 2000, with an obligation for US agencies to comply with this chapter.
What does section 508 law affect?
All requirements from this chapter can be divided into three large groups:
- Technical requirements. Site and application code, software, and operating systems must be compatible with assistive technologies.
- Functional requirements. People with special needs should have access to the entire system as a whole and not to a separate part of it.
- Support requirements. People with special needs should have access to all documents that describe how to interact with the system.
Any information and communication technologies that are created and used by agencies:
- Sites;
- Applications;
- Multimedia, computer games;
- Emails and documents;
- Software and operating systems;
- Technique: smartphones, computers, keyboards, printers, scanners, and others.
Who is required to comply with this chapter? Agencies and any companies that do business with them. They can be private firms from the USA and other countries.
US agencies are different agencies, for example, ministries, parliament, courts, government educational institutions. The law also applies to public organizations, private universities, colleges, schools, and companies that receive subsidies and grants from the budget or any other money from the state.
Contents of section 508 compliant. This chapter is divided into subsections A, B, C, and D.
- Subsection A is general. It has the purpose of the chapter, definitions of how to apply it.
- Subsection B contains technical standards that relate to software, operating systems, multimedia, applications, and computers.
- In subsection C, functional performance criteria.
- The last subsection, D, talks about documentation and support.
FAQ
- What kind of law or section ensures all data and information on government websites to be approachable?
Section 508 requires all data and information on government websites to be approachable, especiA11y for humans with special needs.
- What is Section 508 compliant?
Section 508 is a section of the law governing certain standards that must be adhered to in order for your site to be convenient for people with special needs.
- Who Must Comply With Section 508?
This section should be adhered to by all sites that run on federal funds. They should definitely make their sites convenient and accessible for people with special needs. This includes government agencies, federA11y funded non-profit organizations, public schools, public colleges, and universities.
- What is the difference between ADA and Section 508?
Section 508 is a collection of rules for websites to make them accessible to people with special needs, and the ADA aims to protect the rights of people with special needs involved in cross-border trade. Law 508 is more focused on making the website and communications technology accessible and user-friendly.
- Is section 508 law?
Yes. This law applies to all federal agencies developing, purchasing, service, or using electronic and information technology. It applies to but is not exclusively targeted at federal Internet or World Wide Web pages.
- What is an Accessibility Test?
Accessibility testing is defined as a type of software testing performed to ensure that the application under test can be used by people with disabilities such as hearing, color blindness, old age, and other vulnerable groups.
- What is the VPAT form?
The Voluntary Product Availability Model (VPAT) is a document that evaluates the availability of a particular product in accordance with Section 508 standards. The official VPAT forms are hosted by the ITI and are available in Microsoft Word format.