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why is 508 compliance important

by Nora Schinner Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Compliance to UL 508A is critical to ensure industrial control panels are designed for safety and longevity in the work environment.

That's why Section 508 is so important. It holds all federal agencies and those receiving federal funding accountable while also offering guidance on how to provide digital accessibility properly. That way, all Americans are included in important communications.Dec 23, 2021

Full Answer

What does 508 compliance mean?

What is 508 compliance? Drafted as a 1986 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 508 was originally intended to address the workplace needs of disabled workers in the electronics and information technology fields.

What is a Section 508 compliant document?

Section 508 Overview. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain and use information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities - regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.

What is Section 508 standards?

Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others. The U.S. Access Board is responsible for developing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility standards to incorporate into regulations that govern Federal procurement practices. On January 18, 2017, the Access Board issued a final rule that updated accessibility requirements covered by Section 508, and refreshed guidelines ...

What is a 508 exemption?

Section 508 of the Code requires any organization created after October 9, 1969 that seeks 501 (c) (3) charitable exemption to notify the Internal Revenue Service and apply to obtain an official recognition, but exempts from the filing requirement those organizations described in Section 508 (c).

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What does it mean to be 508 compliant?

508 Compliance is shorthand for a law that requires federal government websites to be safe and accessible for people with disabilities. This law covers a range of issues related to assisting people with different kinds of disabilities.

What is Section 508 and why does it matter?

What is Section 508? Section 508 is part of a 1998 amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It requires all Federal electronic content to be accessible. The U.S. Access Board is an independent Federal agency which develops and maintains standards that must be met to achieve 508 compliance.

Who should follow 508 compliance?

Section 508 requires federal agencies to make their information and communications technology—referred to as ICT—accessible to persons with disabilities. That includes not only employees of federal agencies who have disabilities, but also all of their users.

What does 508 compliance apply?

What is Section 508? Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d) requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain or use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) that is accessible to people with disabilities – regardless of whether or not they work for the federal government.

What is the difference between ADA and Section 508?

Ultimately, ADA protects the civil rights of persons with disabilities participating in interstate commerce; whereas Section 508 is a set of regulations related to access to Government ICT. 508 compliance provides accessibility for digitally published material within government agencies and entities.

Why is compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation be important to a private non government website?

It serves to ensure that people with disabilities have access to digital information from government agencies – such as web-based forms, employee resources, and other important information – comparable to the non-disabled population.

How do you make something 508 compliant?

How to make PDFs 508 CompliantStructure the original source code properly. For example, suppose you are using Microsoft Word to create the document. ... Use a PDF writer or PDF converter that supports ISO standards and web accessibility. ... Run an Accessibility Check. ... Document the properties. ... Provide an alternative version.

What is the difference between 504 and 508 compliance?

With the advent of the Internet, an amendment (Section 508) was signed into law in 1998, expanding the Rehabilitation Act to include equal access to electronic and information technology. Section 504 was originally the last line of the Rehabilitation Act, but did not have any implementing rules.

How do I check a 508 compliance?

There are several ways to validate conformance to the Revised 508 Standards:Automated - High volume 508 conformance testing tools automatically scan and test electronic content;Manual - Manual testing uses a documented, consistent, repeatable process;Hybrid - A combination of automated and manual testing.

Do private companies need to be 508 compliant?

Does Section 508 Apply to the Private Sector? The straightforward answer to this question is no. Section 508 applies to federal agencies and doesn't affect non-federal agencies or websites unless those entities are providing covered services or products to federal agencies.

Do websites need to be 508 compliant?

All federal, state and local government websites are required to meet accessibility standards under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was updated in 2001 to include internet and intranet information and applications.

Is 508 compliance part of the ADA?

Section 508 is not part of the ADA. In 1998 the US Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 has its origins in 1973, when the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was passed, requiring unrestricted access to all federally sponsored programs and activities. The Access Board was established to oversee the new regulations, which were mostly for physical access to buildings at the time.

What does Section 508 mean for any company?

Obviously, Section 508 applies to all the Federal Agencies but what about the local, state government or, Non-Profit Organization? The law has always been a source of confusion, but the basic understanding is that it applies to every organization that receives federal funding.

Why is it more likely that ADA compliance may result in a demand letter or lawsuit?

The ADA and the regulations that have resulted in enhanced access to public buildings are well-known to most people. Over the years, advancements such as wheelchair ramps, braille instructions in elevators, and crosswalks without high curbs have aided people in gaining access to “places of public accommodation.”

What is 508 compliant?

Any and all digital communications that a company under Section 508 jurisdiction creates must be 508 compliant. This includes website content, emails, computer software, gaming systems, apps, and PDF versions of traditionally printed assets.

What are the federal guidelines for 508?

There are several laws related to Section 508, including laws that prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

What is Section 508?

Section 508 was made part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in 1998. Its purpose is to “…require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities.”. The refresh in January of 2017 updated accessibility guidelines and requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) ...

Does Section 508 apply to federal agencies?

Section 508 doesn’t apply to federal agencies only. It also impacts any company that does business with a federal agency. This includes private contractors, the financial industry, healthcare, many legal organizations, and others. If you’re not sure if you need to be 508 compliant, it’s best to ask an expert.

Is Section 508 compliant?

Achieving complete 508 compliance can be a complicated process to try and undertake on your own. Many people within an organization are responsible for documents and communications that fall under Section 508, as well as hiring or conducting business with contractors which must also be compliant. There are online assessment tools, but these are shortcut solutions.

What is 508 compliance?

The term “508 Compliant” is nothing new to the instructional design community, and some of you probably saw the title of this post and thought about skipping it. Any instructional designer wanting to work on a government contract needs to be well versed in 508 compliance, and has wrestled with the challenges involved on more than one occasion. But for those who don’t work work on government contracts as often (or at all), 508 compliance may still be a foggy concept.

Is it legal to code tables in 508?

The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal guidelines do a great job of summing this up: “Tables are permitted, but 508 requires that tables be coded according to the rules of the markup language being used for creating tables.

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What is 508 Compliance?

In short, Section 508 of the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that the federal government’s website information be safe and accessible for people with disabilities.

How Does Intellek Meet 508 Compliance?

We have over 1000 modules in our eLearning library, and each course we create has a consistent structure, branding, layout, and style. The design concept we use is clean and concise and remains uncluttered.

What is 508 compliance?

508 Compliance is shorthand for a law that requires federal government websites to be safe and accessible for people with disabilities. This law covers a range of issues related to assisting people with different kinds of disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain or use Information ...

What is Section 508?

Section 508 is about Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – the equipment and tools people use to access information or do their jobs. Reasonable Accommodation is about the individual and what he/she needs because of his/her disability.

Why is accessibility important?

Creating products and information that everyone can use drives innovation, provides a better customer experience, and improves employee engagement . Accessibility helps you reach more stakeholders and achieve your business objectives.

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1.What is Section 508 Compliance & Why is it Important?

Url:https://commonlook.com/what-is-section-508-compliance-why-is-it-important/

2 hours ago 14.8 million people in United States population have a cognitive disability. That means that, on average, 13.2 million people in the United States have at least one disability that Section 508 is meant to help with. Erickson, W., Lee, C., & von Schrader, S. …

2.Section 508: Why comply? | HHS.gov

Url:https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/why-comply/index.html

2 hours ago  · In 2017, the law was revised and strengthened by the 508 Refresh, which brought Section 508 requirements to WCAG 2.0 AA level compliance. This much-needed update brings the US government up to pace with the standards that most countries had established. It prompted federal agencies to work harder on their website and web content compliance.

3.What is Section 508 & Why it is important to comply with it?

Url:https://www.tech4planet.com/section-508-and-its-importance/

26 hours ago Why is compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation be important to a private non government website? Congress enacted Section 508 as an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act. It serves to ensure that people with disabilities have access to digital information from government agencies – such as web-based forms, employee resources, and other important …

4.What is Section 508? Who Needs to be 508 Compliant?

Url:https://brailleworks.com/508-compliance-needs-compliant/

24 hours ago  · That’s why Section 508 is so important. It holds all federal agencies and those receiving federal funding accountable while also offering guidance on how to provide digital accessibility properly. That way, all Americans are included in important communications. Ensure 508 compliance with an accessibility strategy

5.Videos of Why is 508 Compliance Important

Url:/videos/search?q=why+is+508+compliance+important&qpvt=why+is+508+compliance+important&FORM=VDRE

24 hours ago  · The key to 508 compliance is to understand the requirements and design to meet them before you start a project. If you want a more detailed look at the requirements, you can check out the EPA’s checklist , or you can read the full legislation here .

6.508 Compliance: Why It's Important and Where You Can …

Url:https://www.bottomlineperformance.com/508-compliance-and-eit-accessibility/

14 hours ago Under HHS Section 508, it is important for agencies to give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others. Keep in mind that electronic aids that people with disabilities use to access information online cannot interpret or “read” all the information if it’s not formatted a certain way.

7.The Importance of ADA Section 508 Compliance - cynerge

Url:https://cynerge.com/importance-of-ada-section-508-compliance/

16 hours ago Simply put, 508 compliance is necessary to assure people with disabilities have the same rights, access, and experience with technology and websites as people without disabilities. The main thing to remember is that the 508 compliance requirements have been updated to provide clarity on two types of electronic components, and how they must work together to increase …

8.Why 508 Compliance is Important and 6 Ways to Make …

Url:https://intellek.io/2021/06/15/6-ways-to-make-elearning-508-compliant/

21 hours ago  · Over the past 18 months, the Instructional Design team has been creating eLearning that is 508 Compliant. We are not a federal government, so why do we strive to be 508 Compliant? While we may only receive a small number of requests for 508-compliant eLearning, primarily law schools, Intellek believes it’s essential to be compliant for all simulated courses …

9.508 Compliance | What is Section 508? | Be Inclusive!

Url:https://508-compliance.org/

14 hours ago 508 Compliance is shorthand for a law that requires federal government websites to be safe and accessible for people with disabilities. This law covers a range of issues related to assisting people with different kinds of disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain or use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) that is …

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