Section 508BSection 508BFederal IT Accessibility InitiativeFederal IT Accessibility Initiative

SummarySummary

NASA and GRC Implementation Status NASA and GRC Implementation Status

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 - Workforce Investment Act of 1998 - Section 508B RequirementsSection 508B Requirements

When Federal Agencies develop, procure, maintain, When Federal Agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use Electronic Information Technology, Federal or use Electronic Information Technology, Federal employees with disabilities must have access to and employees with disabilities must have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use of information and data by Federal access and use of information and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.agency.

Workforce Investment Act of 1998 - Workforce Investment Act of 1998 - Section 508B RequirementsSection 508B Requirements

Individuals with disabilities, who are members of the Individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, must have access to and use of information and agency, must have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

Undue BurdenUndue Burden

Congress defined the term as “an action requiring significant Congress defined the term as “an action requiring significant difficulty or expense”difficulty or expense”

Agency resources available to a program or component are Agency resources available to a program or component are considered in determining whether an action is an undue considered in determining whether an action is an undue burdenburden

– Case-by-case basisCase-by-case basis Other (unspecified) factors may be considered, e.g., an Other (unspecified) factors may be considered, e.g., an

accessible product does not (yet) existaccessible product does not (yet) exist The term "undue burden," is based on case law interpreting The term "undue burden," is based on case law interpreting

Section 504 (Southeastern Community College v. Davis, 442 Section 504 (Southeastern Community College v. Davis, 442 U.S. 397 (1979))U.S. 397 (1979))

ApplicabilityApplicability Electronic Information Technology (EIT)Electronic Information Technology (EIT)

– Telecommunications products, information kiosks, WWW Telecommunications products, information kiosks, WWW sites, multimedia, office equipment (FAX, copiers), and of sites, multimedia, office equipment (FAX, copiers), and of course most manner of computers, ancillary equipment, course most manner of computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware, services and related resources.software, firmware, services and related resources.

InformationInformation– Any information that is captured, used, re-used, disseminated, Any information that is captured, used, re-used, disseminated,

stored or otherwise processed by EIT is covered.stored or otherwise processed by EIT is covered.– If agency claims undue burden to provide electronically, then If agency claims undue burden to provide electronically, then

information must be provided by an alternative means. information must be provided by an alternative means. » To the public if information is for the publicTo the public if information is for the public» To employees if information is required for their jobTo employees if information is required for their job

RemediesRemedies

Section 508 authorizes persons with disabilities to file Section 508 authorizes persons with disabilities to file administrative complaints with agencies or to file administrative complaints with agencies or to file lawsuits in federal court on or after June 21, 2001. lawsuits in federal court on or after June 21, 2001. Lawsuit enforcement provisions only apply to Lawsuit enforcement provisions only apply to procurements made in violation of section 508. procurements made in violation of section 508. Administrative procedures must be patterned after those Administrative procedures must be patterned after those established for resolving other allegations of established for resolving other allegations of discrimination.discrimination.

For information on the network, if it is not available in For information on the network, if it is not available in a standards compliant form, then it must be made a standards compliant form, then it must be made available in an alternative (accessible) form at no added available in an alternative (accessible) form at no added charge. charge.

Six Subsections of Technical Six Subsections of Technical SpecificationsSpecifications

Software applications and operating systems Software applications and operating systems Web-based intranet and internet information Web-based intranet and internet information

and applicationsand applicationsTelecommunications productsTelecommunications productsVideo and multimedia productsVideo and multimedia productsSelf contained, closed productsSelf contained, closed productsDesktop and portable computersDesktop and portable computers

Software Standards 1 of 2Software Standards 1 of 2

(a) Keyboard Access - no mouse needed(a) Keyboard Access - no mouse needed

(b) OS Accessibility Features - no overrides(b) OS Accessibility Features - no overrides

(c) Current Focus - cursor, selection(c) Current Focus - cursor, selection

(d) Interface Elements - controls, menus(d) Interface Elements - controls, menus

(e) Images - consistent meaning(e) Images - consistent meaning

(f) Text - OS protocols(f) Text - OS protocols

(g) User Defined Attributes - text size(g) User Defined Attributes - text size

Software Standards 2 of 2Software Standards 2 of 2

(h) Animation - textual equivalent (h) Animation - textual equivalent

(i) Color - no dependencies(i) Color - no dependencies

(j) Color Contrast - effective (j) Color Contrast - effective e.g. not black on blue(k) Screen Flicker - not between 2 and 55 Hz(k) Screen Flicker - not between 2 and 55 Hz

(l) Electronic Forms - able to complete & submit(l) Electronic Forms - able to complete & submit» Layout i.e. logical organization when readLayout i.e. logical organization when read

» Hierarchy i.e. logical groupingHierarchy i.e. logical grouping

» Response time i.e. warning and adjustable timeoutResponse time i.e. warning and adjustable timeout

Industry SituationIndustry Situation

Congress’ intent is to use government acquisitions Congress’ intent is to use government acquisitions to drive the marketplace (similar to Energy Star, to drive the marketplace (similar to Energy Star, Closed-captioned TV, ...) Closed-captioned TV, ...)

General agreement that EIT vendors will self-certify General agreement that EIT vendors will self-certify compliance on web pages and product literature, compliance on web pages and product literature, using a simple and easy to understand template.using a simple and easy to understand template.

Vendor self-certification information beginning to Vendor self-certification information beginning to appear. Until heavily populated, procurement appear. Until heavily populated, procurement requestors will be significantly burdened.requestors will be significantly burdened.

DeadlinesDeadlines Center plan for overall compliance in place by Center plan for overall compliance in place by

September 30, 2001.September 30, 2001.– Draft plan developed and approved.Draft plan developed and approved.

Information newly made available over the network Information newly made available over the network after June 21, 2001 must be accessible or undue burden after June 21, 2001 must be accessible or undue burden be documented. be documented. – Agency-level undue burden argument already made to extend Agency-level undue burden argument already made to extend

compliance dates for Web information.compliance dates for Web information.– Guidance being addressed by CSD Web Team.Guidance being addressed by CSD Web Team.

All acquisitions must be compliant by June 25, 2001 All acquisitions must be compliant by June 25, 2001 unless undue burden documented.unless undue burden documented.– Acquisition processes developed, training and awareness Acquisition processes developed, training and awareness

sessions in process, implementation has begun.sessions in process, implementation has begun.

GRC Status - Web InformationGRC Status - Web Information

Overall plan is organizationally focused review of Overall plan is organizationally focused review of all web pages and renovation as appropriate over all web pages and renovation as appropriate over next 2 1/2 years.next 2 1/2 years.

GRC “Top 20” web pages to be compliant by GRC “Top 20” web pages to be compliant by September 30, 2001.September 30, 2001.

As of September 30, 19 of top 20 fully compliant. As of September 30, 19 of top 20 fully compliant. CSD Web Team has provided training sessions CSD Web Team has provided training sessions

and voluminous information on their web site.and voluminous information on their web site.

GRC Status - Acquisition Policy and GRC Status - Acquisition Policy and ProcessProcess

Only compliant products are to be acquired (where Only compliant products are to be acquired (where possible, based on market survey) after June 25, 2001.possible, based on market survey) after June 25, 2001.

Requirements/timelines specifications, and evaluation Requirements/timelines specifications, and evaluation of product compliance against standards are the of product compliance against standards are the responsibility of the requestor.responsibility of the requestor.

Office of Acquisition/CSD Team has developed Office of Acquisition/CSD Team has developed acquisition documentation, review processes, acquisition documentation, review processes, templates, and guidance documentation.templates, and guidance documentation.

Implementation now in process.Implementation now in process.

Information SourceInformation Source

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Purchase/Section_508_Site.htmhttp://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/Purchase/Section_508_Site.htm

OrOr

From the Web Intranet @ Glenn home page, enter 508 into the From the Web Intranet @ Glenn home page, enter 508 into the Transporter and follow your nose.Transporter and follow your nose.

TeamsTeams

WebWeb– Mary Ann BentsMary Ann Bents

– Jimmy GonzalezJimmy Gonzalez

– Kathy NaugleKathy Naugle

– Laurie YostLaurie Yost

– Pat McElroyPat McElroy

– Karen EdwardsKaren Edwards

– Kelly HeidmanKelly Heidman

– Grisselle LafontaineGrisselle Lafontaine

AcquisitionAcquisition– Robin StrohackerRobin Strohacker

– Karen EdwardsKaren Edwards

– Rita PoulsenRita Poulsen

– Erline TrsekErline Trsek

– Bob FirestoneBob Firestone

– Mildred BergmanMildred Bergman

– Paivi TrippPaivi Tripp

Backup MaterialBackup Material

17

Web Remediation ScheduleWeb Remediation Schedule1 GRC Top 20 Webpages September 30, 2001

2 Webpages to Request Services October 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002 June 30, 2002

3 Phase 3A – Directorate focus October 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002 June 30, 2002

4 Phase 3B – Division focus January 1, 2002 through September 30,2002

September 30, 2002

5 Phase 3C – Branch focus April 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002 December 31, 20026 Phase 3D April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003 March 31, 20037 Phase 3E July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 June 30, 2003

Acquisition ProcessesAcquisition Processes

Accessibility standards will, to a large extent, be Accessibility standards will, to a large extent, be considered during the considered during the planning and requirementplanning and requirement development stagesdevelopment stages of an EIT acquisition. of an EIT acquisition.

For some EIT acquisitions, accessibility standards will For some EIT acquisitions, accessibility standards will be considered during the be considered during the solicitation and evaluation solicitation and evaluation stagesstages of the procurement. of the procurement.

We must comply with those accessibility standards that We must comply with those accessibility standards that can be met with supplies or services that are available can be met with supplies or services that are available in the commercial marketplace in time to meet our in the commercial marketplace in time to meet our delivery requirements.delivery requirements.

Web Accessibility Check Web Accessibility Check ListList

Alternative Text for Images, Alternative Text for Images, Animation, and MultimediaAnimation, and Multimedia

Use of Color and ContrastUse of Color and Contrast

Style SheetsStyle Sheets

Data TablesData Tables

Identify FramesIdentify Frames

Flickering ContentFlickering Content

Scripts, Applets and Plug-insScripts, Applets and Plug-ins

FormsForms

Skip Repetitive LinksSkip Repetitive Links

Timed ResponseTimed Response

Text Only EquivalentsText Only Equivalents

Descriptive LinksDescriptive Links

Synopsis of StandardsSynopsis of Standards(some details)(some details)

Technical Standards (Subpart B)Technical Standards (Subpart B)

The standards provide criteria specific to various types The standards provide criteria specific to various types of technologies, including:of technologies, including:– software applications and operating systems software applications and operating systems

– web-based information or applications web-based information or applications

– telecommunication products telecommunication products

– video and multimedia products video and multimedia products

– self contained, closed products (e.g., information kiosks, self contained, closed products (e.g., information kiosks, calculators, and fax machines) calculators, and fax machines)

– desktop and portable computers desktop and portable computers

(see http://www.section508.gov/final_text.html)(see http://www.section508.gov/final_text.html)

Software Applications and Operating Software Applications and Operating Systems (1194.21)Systems (1194.21)

Most of the specifications for software pertain to Most of the specifications for software pertain to usability for people with vision impairments. usability for people with vision impairments.

– Alternative keyboard navigation, which is essential for Alternative keyboard navigation, which is essential for people with vision impairments who cannot rely on pointing people with vision impairments who cannot rely on pointing devices, such as a mouse. devices, such as a mouse.

– Other provisions address animated displays, color and Other provisions address animated displays, color and contrast settings, flash rate, and electronic forms, among contrast settings, flash rate, and electronic forms, among others.others.

Web-based Intranet and Internet Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22)Information and Applications (1194.22)

Ensure access for people with vision impairments who Ensure access for people with vision impairments who rely on various assistive products to access computer-rely on various assistive products to access computer-based information, based information, – Screen readers, which translate what's on a computer screen Screen readers, which translate what's on a computer screen

into automated audible output, and refreshable Braille into automated audible output, and refreshable Braille displays. displays.

– Conventions, such as verbal tags or identification of graphics Conventions, such as verbal tags or identification of graphics and format devices, like frames, are necessary so that these and format devices, like frames, are necessary so that these devices can "read" them for the user in a sensible way. devices can "read" them for the user in a sensible way.

Web-based Intranet and Internet Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22)Information and Applications (1194.22)

– Use of text labels or descriptors for graphics and certain Use of text labels or descriptors for graphics and certain format elements. (HTML code already provides an "Alt format elements. (HTML code already provides an "Alt Text" tag for graphics which can serve as a verbal descriptor Text" tag for graphics which can serve as a verbal descriptor for graphics). for graphics).

– Also addresses the usability of multimedia presentations, Also addresses the usability of multimedia presentations, image maps, style sheets, scripting languages, applets and image maps, style sheets, scripting languages, applets and plug-ins, and electronic forms.plug-ins, and electronic forms.

Telecommunications Products (1194.23)Telecommunications Products (1194.23)

Designed primarily to ensure access to people who are Designed primarily to ensure access to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. deaf or hard of hearing.

– Compatibility with hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive Compatibility with hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices, and TTYs (devices that enable people with listening devices, and TTYs (devices that enable people with hearing or speech impairments to communicate over the hearing or speech impairments to communicate over the telephone)telephone)

– One requirement calls for a standard non-acoustic TTY One requirement calls for a standard non-acoustic TTY connection point for telecommunication products that allow connection point for telecommunication products that allow voice communication but that do provide functionality. voice communication but that do provide functionality.

– Other specifications address adjustable volume controls for Other specifications address adjustable volume controls for output, product interface with hearing technologies, and the output, product interface with hearing technologies, and the usability of keys and controls by people who may have usability of keys and controls by people who may have impaired vision or limited dexterity or motor control.impaired vision or limited dexterity or motor control.

Video or Multimedia Products (1194.24)Video or Multimedia Products (1194.24)

Multimedia products involve more than one media and Multimedia products involve more than one media and include, but are not limited to, video programs, include, but are not limited to, video programs, narrated slide production, and computer generated narrated slide production, and computer generated presentations. presentations.

– Caption decoder circuitry (for any system with a screen Caption decoder circuitry (for any system with a screen larger than 13 inches) and secondary audio channels for larger than 13 inches) and secondary audio channels for television tuners, including tuner cards for use in computers. television tuners, including tuner cards for use in computers.

– Captioning and audio description for certain training and Captioning and audio description for certain training and informational multimedia productions developed or procured informational multimedia productions developed or procured by Federal agencies. by Federal agencies.

– Standards also provide that viewers be able to turn Standards also provide that viewers be able to turn captioning or video description features on or off.captioning or video description features on or off.

Self Contained, Closed Products Self Contained, Closed Products (1194.25)(1194.25)

This section covers products that generally have This section covers products that generally have imbedded software but are often designed in such a way imbedded software but are often designed in such a way that a user cannot easily attach or install assistive that a user cannot easily attach or install assistive technology. technology.

– Examples include information kiosks, information transaction Examples include information kiosks, information transaction machines, copiers, printers, calculators, fax machines, and machines, copiers, printers, calculators, fax machines, and similar types of products.similar types of products.

– Require that access features be built into the system so users do Require that access features be built into the system so users do not have to attach an assistive device to it. not have to attach an assistive device to it.

– Other specifications address mechanisms for private listening Other specifications address mechanisms for private listening (handset or a standard headphone jack), touchscreens, auditory (handset or a standard headphone jack), touchscreens, auditory output and adjustable volume controls, and location of controls output and adjustable volume controls, and location of controls in accessible reach ranges.in accessible reach ranges.

Desktop and Portable Computers Desktop and Portable Computers (1194.26)(1194.26)

This section focuses on keyboards and This section focuses on keyboards and other mechanically operated controls, other mechanically operated controls, touch screens, use of biometric form of touch screens, use of biometric form of identification, and ports and connectors.identification, and ports and connectors.

Functional Performance Criteria Functional Performance Criteria (Subpart C)(Subpart C)

The performance requirements of this section are The performance requirements of this section are intended for overall product evaluation and for intended for overall product evaluation and for technologies or components for which there is no technologies or components for which there is no specific requirement under the technical standards in specific requirement under the technical standards in Subpart B. Subpart B.

– Designed to ensure that the individual accessible components Designed to ensure that the individual accessible components work together to create an accessible product. work together to create an accessible product.

– They cover operation, including input and control functions, They cover operation, including input and control functions, operation of mechanical mechanisms, and access to visual and operation of mechanical mechanisms, and access to visual and audible information. audible information.

Functional Performance Criteria Functional Performance Criteria (Subpart C)(Subpart C)

The performance requirements of this section are The performance requirements of this section are intended for overall product evaluation and for intended for overall product evaluation and for technologies or components for which there is no technologies or components for which there is no specific requirement under the technical standards in specific requirement under the technical standards in

Subpart B.Subpart B.

– Provisions are structured to allow people with sensory or Provisions are structured to allow people with sensory or physical disabilities to locate, identify, and operate input, physical disabilities to locate, identify, and operate input, control and mechanical functions and to access the control and mechanical functions and to access the information provided, including text, static or dynamic information provided, including text, static or dynamic images, icons, labels, sounds or incidental operating cues. images, icons, labels, sounds or incidental operating cues.

Information, Documentation, and Information, Documentation, and Support (Subpart D)Support (Subpart D)

The standards also address access to all information, The standards also address access to all information, documentation, and support provided to end users (e.g., documentation, and support provided to end users (e.g., Federal employees) of covered technologies. Federal employees) of covered technologies.

– Includes user guides, installation guides for end-user Includes user guides, installation guides for end-user installable devices, and customer support and technical installable devices, and customer support and technical support communications. support communications.

– Information must be available in alternate formats upon Information must be available in alternate formats upon request at no additional charge. Alternate formats or methods request at no additional charge. Alternate formats or methods of communication, can include Braille, cassette recordings, of communication, can include Braille, cassette recordings, large print, electronic text, Internet postings, TTY access, large print, electronic text, Internet postings, TTY access, and captioning and audio description for video materials.and captioning and audio description for video materials.