Legal and Government
Web accessibility is mandated
by the American's with Disabilities
Act, Sections 504
and 508 of the Rehabilitation
Act, and the Telecom Act, Section
255. Section 508 has recently been updated to include more specific guidelines.
The specific part that applies to web access is section 1194.22. Below are listed
resources to help explain the 508 mandates.The following three resource listings
are arranged alphabetically.
- Access
Board (http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22)
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires access to electronic and information
technology procured by Federal agencies. The Access Board developed accessibility
standards for the various technologies covered by the law. A web site will
be in compliance with the 508 standards if it meets paragraphs (a) through
(p) of Section 1194.22. This link will take you directly to the law -Section
1194.22 which offers explanations and sample coding for compliance. Also, has good FAQ on 508 -http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/FAQ.htm
- Federal
IT Accessibility Initiative (http://www.section508.gov)
The Federal Information Technology Accessibility Initiative is a Federal government
interagency effort to offer information and technical assistance to assist
in the successful implementation of Section 508. Section 508 was established
to prohibit barriers in information technology and present new opportunities
and promises for people with disabilities.
- Government
Computer News Section 508 Resource Center (http://www.gcn.com/Resource/section508/)
The Resource Center is a constantly updated hub for finding online resources
about 508 and technology accessibility.
- JimThatcher.com (http://www.jimthatcher.com/sidebyside.htm)
Side
by side comparisons of the Priority 1 Web Content Accessibility checkpoints
with the Section 508 Web Accessibility
standards.
However, some of the 508 standards relate to lower priority checkpoints
from the Web Accessibility Initiative. The view of the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines lists only the priority one checkpoints. The Section 508 view
includes priority 2 and 3 checkpoints in the comparison.
"
The
WCAG View" lists the Priority 1 Web Content Accessibility checkpoints
followed by a comparison phrase like "the same," and then the relevant
Section 508 web accessibility standard or standards.
" The 508 View." lists
all the 508 standards, and for each one, the comparison phrase, and the
relevant
WCAG checkpoint
or checkpoints.
