Digital Accessibility - Section 508 Refresh: Now What?

Section 508 Refresh: Now What?

Presented by:

Kevin RydbergSenior Digital Accessibility Consultant, Siteimprove, Inc.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

What is Digital Accessibility?

Accessibility is about people

• Digital accessibility makes it possible for everyone, especially persons with disabilities, to: • Use computer hardware and software• Create digital resources

Digital accessibility refers to all types of disabilities: visual, hearing, physical, cognitive, technical, etc.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

This is a new thing, right?

• In Europe, digital accessibility is understood as a citizenship obligation.• UK – 1995• Ireland – 1999• Greece – 2003• Germany – 2005• Spain – 2005• France – 2005

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

But this is new in the U.S, right?

• Digital accessibility has been in place since 1998:

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

What is Section 508?

• In 1998 the U.S. Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act (1973) to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

What is the Section 508 Refresh?

On Jan. 18, 2017, the U.S. Access Board updated Section 508 to align with global accessibility guidelines called WCAG 2.0.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

So what changed?

Public-facing• Webpage content• PDFs and other documents• Multimedia• Third-party content

• i.e. social media

Web content has officially been defined—and it needs to be accessible.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

So what changed?

Non-public facing

• Emergency notifications

• Initial or final decision adjudicating an administrative claim or proceeding

• Internal or external program or policy announcement

• Notice of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunity, or personnel action

• Formal acknowledgement of receipt

• Survey questionnaire

• Template or form

• Education or training materials

• Intranet content designed as webpage

Web content has officially been defined—and it needs to be accessible.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

So what changed?

Non-public facing

• Emergency notifications

• Notice of benefits, program eligibility, employment opportunity, or personnel action

• Education or training materials

Web content has officially been defined—and it needs to be accessible.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

How does this affect your organization?

Section 508 will affect everyone differently.

Those affected have until Jan. 18, 2018 to make their web content accessible.

• Federal agencies

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) providers

• Organizations receiving federal funding

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

How does this affect your organization?

Federal Agencies ICT Providers• Computer hardware and software• Websites• Multimedia such as video • Phone systems• CopiersOrganizations with

Federal Funding

• Check with the federal agencies from which you receive funding

Other Industries

• The question is when—not if.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

So now what?

REMEMBER:

Accessibility is a process—not a project.

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

Digital Accessibility: Process Not a Project

Ask your team these questions:

1. How do we support this?

2. How do we fund this?

3. How will we communicate this internally and externally?

4. How do we train for continued success?

5. What dependencies do we have on vendors?

6. What are our ongoing plans?

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

Questions

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh

Additional Resources 

www.W3C.comwww.Section508.govwww.Siteimprove.com 

Contact Information

Kevin RydbergSiteimprove, Inc.Twitter: @rydbergk

Email: kry@Siteimprove.com

siteimprove.comTwitter: @Siteimprove

Email: MarketingUS@Siteimprove.com

Live Tweet @Siteimprove #Section508Refresh