In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act and strengthened provisions
covering access to information in the Federal sector for people with
disabilities. As amended, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires access
to the Federal government's electronic and information technology. The law
applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use
electronic and information technology. Federal agencies must ensure that this
technology is accessible to employees and the public.
AR 25-1, Army Information Management, dated 15 July 2005, provides Army policy
on Section 508. Paragraph 6-4(n)(13) reads "Army organizations maintaining Web
sites are required to achieve Web site compliance with the provisions of Section
508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 (29 USC 794d). Web sites must
be equally accessible to disabled and nondisabled Federal employees and members
of the public. Guidance on Section 508 standards concerning Web-based, Intranet,
and Internet information and applications is located at
http://www.section508.gov.
Exceptions should be referred to the Staff Judge Advocate for legal review. (See
also paras 6–1p and q on information access.)
Paragraph 6-1(p) reads "
Information access for handicapped Army employees.
Public Laws 99–506, 100–542, and 105–220 require computer and telecommunications
systems to be accessible to Government employees with disabilities, their
supervisors, and others that need access to the employees. Information managers
will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate individuals with handicaps,
consistent with these laws and AR 600–7. The Computer/Electronic Accommodations
Program, 5111 Leesburg Pike, Suite 810, Falls Church, VA 22041–3206, provides
assistive technology accommodations and services to persons with disabilities at
the DOD at no cost to individual activities. The Computer/ Electronic
Accommodations Program operates a Technology Evaluation Center to match people
with specific technologies. Funding is available to provide such things as
interpreters, readers, personal assistants, telecommunications devices for the
deaf (TDD), telephone amplifiers, listening devices, closed captioned decoders,
and visual signaling devices for those with hearing problems."
Paragraph 6-1q reads "
Electronic and information technology access for
employees and members of the public with disabilities. P.L. 105–220
(Section 508) requires the government to provide disabled employees and members
of the public with access to information. Access for disabled persons must be
comparable to the access available to nondisabled persons. The law applies to
all Army organizations when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic
and information technology. Electronic and information technology includes
equipment or interconnected systems or subsystems of equipment that are used to
create, convert, or duplicate data or information. Section 508 applies to
computers and networks, hardware, software, Web pages, and e-mail, as well as
equipment used for transmitting, receiving, using, or storing information such
as fax machines, copiers and telephones. Review Web site
www.section508.gov for
further information and training about the laws and regulations pertaining to
Section 508 and how to support its implementation.
This page provides links to some major private organizations involved with
accessibility issues and to the public law and Section 508 requirements of the
Federal IT Accessibility Initiative. These links are provided only to promote
better understanding of the law and Section 508 requirements and is in no way
intended to recommend the use of any particular source in preference to any
other source or sources.
If anyone encounters difficulties with any departmental administrative publications, form, or Web page, please
contact us and provide a brief explanation of the problem encountered
www.cast.org
CAST is a not-for-profit organization that uses technology to expand
opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities.
www.w3.org The
World Wide Web Consortium (
W3C) develops interoperable
technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) to lead the Web
to its full potential as a forum for information, commerce, communication, and
collective understanding.
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
CAP provides accommodations to increase accessibility for persons with disabilities throughout the Department of Defense (DOD). As part of this effort, CAP is committed to supporting research and activities that increase the accessibility of World Wide Web (WWW) for people with disabilities.
Section 508 of the Federal IT Accessibility Initiative .
Workforce Investment Act Info and Tools .