Section 508 and Accessibility

2014 International Disability Rights Affirmation

Conference (IDRAC)

October 3-4, 2014

Second Life

Today’s speaker:

Timothy Creagan

Senior Accessibility Specialist

U.S. Access Board

AKA

“508man”

Today’s topics:

I. Introduction

II. Barriers to Information Technology

III. §508 of the Rehabilitation Act

IV. Complying with Section 508:

A. Testing and policies

B. “Equivalent Facilitation”

V. The “Refresh” of Sections 508 & 255

VI. Q & A

I. Introduction: Access Board Programs

• Guidelines and standards development

• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968

• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

• Telecommunications Act of 1996

• Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

• Technical assistance and training ***

• Research

• ABA enforcement

II. Barriers to Information

Technology for persons with

disabilities

Have you ever struggled to seethe characters on a screen?

Seeing:

• Phones

• Illuminated displays

• High contrast controls

• Large buttons

• Computers

• Zoom display

• High contrast display

• Screen reader

Hearing:• Phones

• Hearing aid compatibility

• Text capability

• Vibrating alerts

• Computers

• Video captions

• Visual alerts

Holding and manipulating:

• Phones:

• Large buttons

• Lightweight

• Speed dial

• Computers

• Sticky keys

• Keyboard commands

• Voice recognition= +

III. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Overview

§508 General Requirements:

• Each Federal department and agency, as well as the U.S. Postal Service, when procuring, maintaining, developing or using electronic and information technology, must ensure that:

• Federal employees with disabilities, and members of the public with disabilities seeking information or services, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by persons who are not individuals with disabilities, unless…

Standard:

….an “Undue Burden” would be imposed on the agency.

Section 508 Standards focus on

product categories of ICT:

• “Software applications and operating

systems” §1194.21

• “Web-based internet and intranet information

and applications” §1194.22

• “Telecommunications products” §1194.23

• “Video and Multimedia products” §1194.24

• “Self contained, closed products” §1194.25

• “Desktop and portable computers” §1194.26

Section 508 also focuses on the USER: *Known as Part C – Functional Performance Criteria

• §1194.31(a) …does not require user vision…support for AT used by blind or visually impaired

• §1194.31(b) …does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print, or support for AT….

• §1194.31(c) …does not require user hearing…support for AT used by …deaf or hard of hearing…

• §1194.31(d) …where audio information is important,… enhanced audio…or support for AT…

• §1194.31(e) …does not require user speech…support AT…

• §1194.31(f) …does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and …is operable /w limited reach

What technology is covered by §508?Includes, but is not limited to…

Computers Telecommunications

Websites

Kiosks

Printers

Software

Office Equipment

However, time has passed…….and technology has changed.

Today, what a product DOES is more important that what a product is CALLED.

“Feature”/“Function” versus “Product name”

Question:

How Can we use Section 508 to evaluate today’s technology?

For example, what features are

included in §1194.23

“Telecommunications Products” ?

• 2 way voice communication

• Controls and keys

• Hardware

• Minimize Hearing aid interference

• Text messaging(TTYs)

• IVR (Interactive Voice Response, menus)

Today there are many more products

available with many more features : FOR EXAMPLE, “Telecommunications Products”:

• “Landline” phones, wireless phones, Smart phones: Voice communication

• TTYs, SMS, Blackberry, iPhone, Sidekick, Twitter: Text messaging

• SKYPE: Calls/ Video Conferencing

• Zoomtext or other software: Adjust size of text

• Web sites: Contain information about product features

Section 508 still applies; analyze the

features of the technology:

• Subpart B Technical Standards - do any apply? • E.g. §§1194.23, 1194.21, 1194.22

• Subpart C Functional Performance Criteria – do any apply? • E.g. §1194.31(a) – (f)

• §1194.5 Equivalent Facilitation - the new technology or design [not necessarily in Section 508] results in substantially equivalent or greater access to and use of a product for people with disabilities – DOES THAT APPLY?

• E.g. voiceover for Apple iOS

• §1194.3 General Exceptions: Do any apply? • E.g. §1194.3 (e ) Fundamental Alteration

What about technology that has

features not addressed by §508?EXAMPLE:

• Mobile Telecommunications

• iPods and Podcasting -

Operate without buttons

• Smart Phones with touch screens

• [Voiceover]

• [Talkback]

Making technology accessible:

• Captions

• Alternative formats: text for audio, alt tags

for images

• Use of API (Application Programming

Interface) to address compatibility

between AT and IT software (make

products interoperate)

• “Apps” or “Applications” on Smart phones

IV. Complying with Section 508:

A. Policies and testing

B. Equivalent Facilitation

Implementing Section 508

• Agencies use the Section 508 technical

standards and Functional Performance

Criteria when they “procure, use, maintain

or develop” Electronic and Information

technology (E&IT)

• Agencies are responsible for developing

their own policies as to how they

implement Section 508 within their own

agencies

Complying with Section 508:

A. Sample policies and testing protocols

Sample policies and resources: • HHS Section 508 web standards and

checklists: http://508.hhs.gov/

• VA Section 508 Support: http://www.section508.va.gov/support/index.asp

• U.S. Access Board:

• http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-section-508-standards/guide-to-the-section-508-standards

Free testing tool bars:

Webaim: WAVE: http://wave.webaim.org/

Web Accessibility tool bar:

http://www.paciellogroup.com/resources/wat

CIOC Best Practices Webinar

seriesSEE:

“How Four Federal Agencies Handle Section 508 Testing: A Case Study”

http://www.adaconferences.org/CIOC/Archives March 25, 2014

Complying with Section 508:

B. Equivalent Facilitation

28

§1194.5 Equivalent Facilitation

“Nothing in this part is intended to prevent

the use of designs or technologies as

alternatives to those prescribed in this part

provided they result in substantially

equivalent or greater access to and use of a

product for people with disabilities.”

Using Equivalent Facilitation to achieve

access by alternative means:

• Use WCAG 2.0 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

• What is WCAG 2.0?

• International standard for web documents and web applications

• W3C Standard (2008)

• ISO Standard (2012): ISO/IEC JTC-1 40500:2012

• W3C/WAI: World Wide Web Consortium / Web Accessibility Initiative

• Developed through open and inclusive standards process

30

Why use WCAG 2.0?

• Technology Neutral• Unlike 508 1194.22, not HTML specific

• Success Criteria: (aka “Requirements”)• Address existing 508 technical criteria (1194.21

and .22)

• Address 508 functional performance criteria• Hearing, Sight, Manual Dexterity, Speech

• Partially address Cognition, Language, and Learning (CLL)

• Are Objectively Testable Written to be evaluated as yes/no or true/false statements.

31

Is WCAG 2.0 being used now?FEDERAL AGENCIES:

• Department of Transportation, Non-Discrimination on the Basis of

Disability in Air Travel: Accessibility of Web Sites and Automated

Kiosks at U.S. Airports, Final rule December 13, 2013

• Department of Justice, Accessibility of Web Information and

Services of State and Local Government Entities and Public

Accommodations, ANPRM July 2010 (Proposed)

INTERNATIONALLY:

• Canada

• Australia

• New Zealand

• European Union (EU) (Mandate 376)

32

WCAG 2.0: POUR Concept

The 4 Principles

• PerceivableContent is made available to the senses - sight, hearing, and/or touch

• OperableInterface forms, controls, and navigation are operable

• UnderstandableContent and interfaces are understandable

• RobustContent can be used reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies

POUR’s Overlapping Tenets

33

“How to Meet WCAG 2.0”

“How To Meet WCAG2.0” - daily resource

document for the day-to-day Developer

• is a Database

• Quick Reference:

• http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/

• Customizable

• Searchable

• A way to get to the Techniques and Failures

34

Concluding thoughts about WCAG 2.0 :

• The Success Criteria are the Requirements• The Techniques are not required but provide

guidance

• WCAG 2.0 can be used – Equivalent Facilitation (§1194.5)

• Built-in Prioritization Path/Plan (for Development/Remediation/QA)

• WCAG 2.0 Support Documents are Regularly Updated

35

W3C Resources: • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0:

URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

• Understanding WCAG 2.0:Stable URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20/

• How to Meet WCAG 2.0: URL: http://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG20/quickref/

• Techniques for WCAG 2.0: Stable URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20-TECHS/

• Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Information and Communications Technologies (WCAG2ICT)URL: http://www.w3.org/tr/wcag2ict/

IV. The Refresh of Section

508

The “Refresh” of Section 508:

The “Refresh” is an update of:

Section 508 standards for electronic and information technology (“E&IT”) (procured by Federal agencies)

Section 255 guidelines for telecommunications products

Why Refresh? • Statutory requirement:

• “The Access Board shall periodically review and, as appropriate, amend the

standards to reflect technological advances or changes in electronic and

information technology.” (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act)

• “The Board shall review and update the Telecommunications Act Accessibility

Guidelines periodically” (Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act)

• Changes in technology• 13 years since the first Section 508 standards

• 15 years since the first Telecommunications Act Accessibility Guidelines

• Clarify ambiguities in current standards and guidelines• What products are covered?

• Improve testability

ICT Refresh Steps • TEITAC establishment: July 2006

• TEITAC report: April 2008

• First ANPRM and draft text: March 2010

• Public comments: March-June 2010

• Review comments

• Second ANPRM and draft text: Dec. 8, 2011

• *Harmonization draft published*

• Public Comments: Dec . 2011– March 2012

• Review comments, revise text of proposed rule

Final Steps• Develop proposed rule (NPRM):

Text, preamble & regulatory assessment

• ** Submit to OMB for review **

• Publish NPRM in the Federal Register

• Public comment period – 60 days

• Analyze comments

• Develop final rule & regulatory assessment

• Publish Final Rule in the Federal Register

Some trends in updating the 508

standards (2010 and 2011

ANPRM):1. Organize technical provisions by functions,

rather than product types –

“two way voice communication” NOT

“telephones”

2. Reference external standards –

WCAG 2.0; ANSI C63.19-2011

3. Provide technical assistance within the

document.

4. Define “covered electronic content”

2011 ANPRM• 508 Chapter 1: Application and Administration

• 508 Chapter 2: Scoping Requirements

• 255 Chapter 1: Application and Administration

• 255 Chapter 2: Scoping Requirements

• Chapter 3: Functional Performance Criteria

• Chapter 4: Hardware

• Chapter 5: Platforms and Applications

• Chapter 6: Documentation and Support

Services

To keep track of the “Refresh”

process:

Sign up for progress updates here:

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USA

CCESS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USACCE

SS_3

Contact us:

Technical assistance:

• 508@access-board.gov

• Creagan@access-board.gov

• (800) 872-2253 (voice)

• (800) 993-2822 (TTY)

Website:

• http://www.access-board.gov

V. Questions and Answers

Thank you!