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Section 508 Procurement Training

California State University

Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) - S508PT

Day Two Beginner Track 1:15 – 2:30 Workshop

The procurement process: evaluating 508 compliance and

discussion of 508 exemptions

Jon Brundage, presenter

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Topics

• How to determine what Section 508 standard the product being secured will apply to.

• How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• A look at the “Buy Accessible Wizard”• Exceptions: when are they granted and

why.

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How to determine what Section 508 standard the product being secured will apply to.

• Type of product, is it– web content or tool for creating web content?– software application?– telephone or answering service?– television, monitor or TV tuner card for computer?– self contained product such as a fax or copier?– desktop or laptop computer?

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How to determine what Section 508 standard the product being secured will apply to.

• Once we have the product type, identify the characteristics.– Is it something that is “virtual”?

• software• web content

– Does it have controls?• phones• keyboard• panel buttons

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How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• Exercise: evaluate a product

• Scenario:– A college wishes to distribute Apple iPods

to students so they may download Video productions of lectures.

– Students with disabilities must be taken into account.

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How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• First step- what kind of product is it?

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How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• What kind of product is it?– telecommunications– software– self contained

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How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• Next- what applies?– has software– has controls– has connectors

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How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• How does it meet requirements– available information (vendor VPAT)– evaluation by disability groups– in house evaluation

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How to evaluate a product against the applicable standard.

• Findings– documentation– controls– operation for various disabilities

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A look at the “Buy Accessible Wizard”

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A look at the “Buy Accessible Wizard”

• “A web-based tool to help users determine and document Section 508 requirements that apply to a particular E&IT acquisition”

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A look at the “Buy Accessible Wizard”

• Features:– Wizard– Buy Accessible data center

• manages data and references to company and accessibility information about E&IT products and services for government buyers

– Glossary of terms– Link to PPT that has outline of process

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A look at the “Buy Accessible Wizard”

• The Wizard takes you through a series of questions to help with analysis.

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A look at the “Buy Accessible Wizard”

• After going through a series of questions, relevant information is provided (applicable paragraphs)

• You can generate a report.

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• EIT for a national security system• EIT acquired by a contractor incidental to a contract• Installation of Assistive technology at workstations

of non-disabled• Agency owned information products –does not

require moving the equipment• Fundamental alteration of product• EIT located in spaces frequented only by service

personnel for maintenance, repair or occasional monitoring of equipment

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• National Security– Cryptologic activities related to national

security– command and control of military forces– equipment that is an integral part of a

weapon or weapons system– or systems which are critical to the direct

fulfillment of military or intelligence missions

• DOES NOT include routine administrative activities such as payroll, finance, personnel administration

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• EIT acquired by a contractor incidental to a contract– For example, if a vendor builds a website

for an agency, that website must be compliant but the vendor’s website is not required to be accessible

– A software provider does not need to make their authoring tools accessible.

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• Provisions do not require that Assistive technologies be installed on all agency equipment.– federal worker that is not blind does not

require a Braille reader at his/her work station.

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• Agency owned information products– Products owned by the agency available

for access and use by individuals with disabilities at a location other than that where the electronic and information technology is provided to the public is not required.

– “Hey, grab that Kiosk and move to my front lawn.”

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• Fundamental alteration– For example, a law enforcement agency supplies

a small pager device for field use. That product is meant to be small. Converting the buttons to a large size would constitute a fundamental alteration.

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• EIT located in spaces frequented only by service personnel for maintenance, repair or occasional monitoring of equipment

– “locked closet” concept– for example, a server located in

a closet only serviced by vendor.

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Exceptions: when are they granted and why

• Undue burden– Must be documented.– “...agencies shall provide individuals with

disabilities with the information and data involved by an alternative means of access that allows the individual to use the information and data.”

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Resources

• 2008 AccessWorld Guide to Accessible Products – http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=978%2D0%2D89128%2

D837%2D4&mscssid=1K8K9BF9DFG59HKTNF1NF772WF500439

• Access Board index– http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/index.

htm

• Buy Accessible Wizard– http://www.buyaccessible.gov/

• Section 508.gov– http://www.section508.gov/

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Questions/discussion

Thank You!

Jon Brundage

jon@jonbrundageassoc.com

www.jonbrundageassoc.com/CSU08/