Section 508 Compliance

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. The law (29 U.S.C. § 794(d)) applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to access available to others. The following are some of the tools needed to understand and convert files to meet the Section 508 Compliance.

Guidelines and Checklists for 508 Compliance

Currently, there is not one standardized guideline or checklist to ensure 508 Compliance. Workgroups from various agencies have posted their interpretations of the 508 Compliance law. Until we have a standardized guideline, it is recommended to read and utilize multiple guidelines.

• Section508.gov - http://Section508.gov
• HHS.gov - http://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/making-files-accessible/index.html#
• DHS - https://www.dhs.gov/compliance-test-processes
• VA - http://www.section508.va.gov
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - https://www.cms.gov

Checking for 508 Compliance

• Manual checks using checklists (document properties, color contrasts, tagging all images and content)
• Reading checks with screen readers (verifying reading orders, proper labeling, bookmarks)
• Adobe accessibility checks for PDF files

Instructional Files and Exercises

The following are instructional files to convert files to meet the 508 Compliance. Each instructional file is accompanied with a corresponding exercise file. Please note that all files have been intentionally modified to illustrate key points in the training.

Microsoft Word documents

• 01-HOWTO-add document properties to Word: instruction & sample exercise
• 02-HOWTO-add alternate text to Word document: instruction & sample exercise
• 03-HOWTO-use the Table of Content (TOC) generator in Word: instruction & sample exercise

Adobe PDF documents

Introductory Series
• • 10-HOWTO-get started in converting files to 508 compliance - instruction & sample file
  • 11-HOWTO-tag images and add alternate text to images -instruction & sample file
  • 12-HOWTO-tag tables in a pdf file - instruction & sample file

Advanced Series
• • 20-HOWTO-resolve fix other elements alternative text failed - instruction & sample file
  • 21-HOWTO-resolve form field errors - instruction & sample file
  • 22-HOWTO-resolve failed appropriate nesting - instruction & sample file
  • 23-HOWTO-resolve hidden tag errors - instruction & sample file