Using Section 508 Guidance to Improve the Accessibility of Government Services

Jun 5, 2015
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Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to use accessible information and communication technology (ICT), whether procured, developed, or maintained. Since the U.S. Access Board issued regulations for the law in 2000, much implementation guidance has been prepared by various agencies. While the regulations are being refreshed to account for changes in ICT over the years, we can take advantage of existing guidance that applies accessibility guidelines in contemporary contexts. Doing so furthers the digital government strategy by enabling all citizens.

This resource list presents a compilation of links to accessibility guidance, organized primarily—though not exclusively—by the ICT categories of Section 508 regulations. Links to downloadable documents, rather than web pages, indicate the file type in parentheses. In each section, links are ordered alphabetically, beginning with an abbreviation for the agency that authored or hosted the content.

Agency abbreviations are defined as follows:

  • CDC = Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • CMS = Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • DCG = District of Columbia Government
  • DHS = Department of Homeland Security
  • DOL = Department of Labor
  • DOT = Department of Transportation
  • ED = Department of Education
  • FDA = Food and Drug Administration
  • GSA = General Services Administration
  • HHS = Department of Health and Human Services
  • NPS = National Park Service
  • OMB = Office of Management and Budget
  • SSA = Social Security Administration
  • VA = Veterans Affairs

Accessibility Glossaries, FAQs and Resource Portals

Desktop and Portable Computers

Functional Performance Criteria [#Criteria]

Information, Documentation, and Support

Meetings, Conferences, and General Etiquette

Procurement

Prototyping

Self-Contained, Closed Products

Social Media

Software Applications and Operating Systems

Strategic Planning, Reporting, and Policy

Telecommunications Products

Video and Multimedia Products

Web-based Internet Information and Applications

Originally posted by Jamal Mazrui on Jun 5, 2015
Jun 5, 2015