Peter Fortuna | Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Remediation

With Rotary International, Zone 25/26, District 5230, and North Fresno Rotary, I am collaborating with my colleagues to meet the requirements of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design. Our mandate is to make sure that all electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities.

Section 508

In 1998 the United States of America amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible for individuals with disabilities. Section 508 was created to empower people with disabilities through the use of technology.  Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. ' 794d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.

Revised 508 Standards

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Final Standards and Guidelines - Read the Revised 508 Standards (final rule)
• Text of the Standards and Guidelines
• About the Update of the Section 508 Standards and Section 255 Guidelines for Information and Communication Technology - High-level overview
• Revised 508 Standards Transition Guide - An overview of changes your agency needs to make to transition to the Revised 508 Standards.

Related Laws

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 has several other sections:

• Section 501 and 505 - Prohibits federal employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities
• Section 503 - Prohibits employment discrimination based on disability by federal contractors or subcontractors
• Section 504 - Prohibits federal agencies, programs, or activities from discriminating and requires reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities

Additional related laws include:

• Section 255 of the Communications Act - Requires telecommunications products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - The first major legislative effort to secure an equal playing field for individuals with disabilities
• Assistive Technology Act of 1998 - Establishes a grant program to provide Federal funds to support State programs that address the assistive technology needs of individuals with disabilities
• Help America Vote Act of 2002 - Mandates improvements to voting systems and voter access for the nation's voting process
• 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 - Requires advanced communications services and products to be accessible by people with disabilities

Related Policies

OMB Memos

• Strategic Plan for Improving Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (PDF, January 2013)
• M-17-06 - Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services
• M-16-20 Category Management Policy 16-3: Improving the Acquisition and Management of Common Information Technology: Mobile Devices and Services
• M-13-13 - Open Data Policy - Managing Information as an Asset
• OMB Improving the Accessibility of Government Information - July 2010
• Office of Federal Procurement Policy 508 Compliance
• 2011 Notes from Daniel I. Gordon, Federal Procurement Policy Administrator
• 2010 OMB Memorandum for the Chief Acquisition Officers and Chief Information Officers
• 2007 OMB Memorandum for the Chief Acquisition Officers and Chief Information Officers
• 2005 OMB Memorandum for the Chief Acquisition Officers and Chief Information Officers

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

• EEOC Policy Guidance On Executive Order 13164: Establishing Procedures To Facilitate The Provision Of Reasonable Accommodation - October 2000
• EEOC Procedures for Providing Reasonable Accommodation for Individuals With Disabilities - February 2001

State and International

• State Policy - States' legislation requiring electronic and information technology accessibility
• International Harmonization - Other government-supported efforts around the world working on a "standards approach" to encuring ICT accessibility.

Sample Policies and Accessibility Statements

• Accessibility Help - SSA
• Accessibility - DHS
• Web Governance - Accessibility - VA
• Website accessibility - USA.gov