The accessibility checker options dialog box is displayed. Four page guide to section 508 rules and regulations. Adobe acrobat reader does not include any accessibility validation tools and therefore it is not used to test pdfs in this test process. Invented by adobe systems over 20 years ago, portable document format pdf. This website aggregates all relevant federal guidance, checklists, and testing. Section 508 compliance goverlan systems management. How to take a scanned pdf document and make it 508 compliant. Narrative software uses the information from the accessibility table fields heading rows, columns, caption alignment and summary to produce. Omb memo about procurement solicitations attachment 1 doi section 508 contact list attachment 2 memo on section 508 training and bureau doi learn contact list attachment 3 directive 2007003 creating accessible pdf. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended section 508 requires hud to ensure, when developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology eit, that the eit allows persons with disabilities to access and use information and data comparably to those without disabilities unless an undue burden. Section 508 compliance testing 508 compliance website. For the full text of section 508, please see the official government 508 web site.
This includes website content, emails, computer software, gaming systems, apps, and pdf versions of traditionally printed assets. The forms on this page are provided in adobe acrobat portable document format. These checklists will help you ensure compliance with the guidelines. The accessibility checker is flagging a table for irregularity. Release of new section 508 awareness computerbased training. It is also used to freeze or lock content that should remain intact or in context with other information. The united states congress amended the rehabilitation act in 1998 and 2000 to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology eit products, such as software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation, accessible to people with disabilities. How to make pdfs 508 compliant a portable document format pdf is a file format created by adobe to create standard consistency when a.
If youve heard the terms section 508 or 508 compliance and wondered what they mean, youre not alone. A portable document format pdf is a file format created by adobe to create standard consistency when a document is physically printed from a standard printer. Narrative software uses the information from the accessibility table fields heading rows, columns, caption alignment and summary to produce a tooltip message for each table cell. Standard pdf tags below are the standard tag types that apply to tagged pdfs. Create and verify pdf accessibility, acrobat pro adobe support. We are committed to developing products that are accessible to the largest number of users possible and to making our products operate with popular assistive technology products. In addition to section 508 requirements, hhs has policies, standards, and requirements for electronic documents that include but are not limited to the following. This section provides references and guidance toward accomplishing. These standard tags provide assistive software and devices with semantic and structural elements to use to. A portable document format pdf is a file format created by adobe to create standard consistency when a document is physically printed. Pdf accessibility and compliance the leader in pdf accessibility. Oct 18, 2017 section 508 deals completely with providing equal access to information.
To compare the two products, check out this matrix. Refresh of the section 508 standards and the section 255 guidelines. These tips can be applied to various document formats such as microsoft word, powerpoint, and excel, as well as adobe pdf. May 25, 20 section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology. About the section 508 standards united states access board. Section 508 accessibility compliance autodesk recognizes the importance of section 508 of the rehabilitation act.
Section 508 compliance accessible document solutions. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 usc 794d requires that when u. Our pdf accessibility services team has put together a list of tips to make pdf files less time consuming to remediate for section 508 compliance and therefore less costly to our customers. The checklist from section a forward is based on the wcag 2. This section provides references and guidance toward accomplishing that goal. Cms section 508 policy 1 downloadedprinted copies may be obsolete. How to test and remediate pdfs for accessibility using adobe acrobat dc. To validate pdfs for section 508 compliance, testers must utilize the tools available in adobe acrobat professional to conduct manual and automatic section 508 compliance testing. The passfail criteria in this document represent an interpretation of section 508 web standards. The standards for ict developed, procured, maintained, or used by agencies subject to section 508 of the rehabilitation act as set forth in 508 chapters 1 and 2 36 cfr part 1194, appendix. In this document, we first define 508 compliance followed by procedures and tips for making 508 compliant the four types of documents.
Pdf files provide some benefits when used appropriately. Test and debug a pdf for 508 compliance acrobat pro test and debug a pdf for 508 compliance acrobat pro dc to determine which version you have, find the program under. Commonlooks professional services provide the commonlook report, an ironclad guarantee of compliance with section 508, wcag 2. Irs section 508 compliant pdf forms internal revenue service. The following checklist is from the united states department of health and human services hhs. This page has information about the section 508 law, and the va section 508 office. Everyone wins when information and communication technology ict reaches section 508 compliance. There is an extensive list of requirements for section 508 compliant pdf documents. The section 508 standards developed by the access board establish the minimum levels of compliance required. Section 508 and w3c guidelines adobe accessibility content often refers to section 508.
Pdf allows the publisher to ensure that a document. The united states access board discusses its responsibility for developing accessibility standards. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. These reports include information on the revised section 508 standards from january 2017 and corrections to the ict final rule from january 2018, the web content accessibility guidelines 2. Under section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to access available to others.
For the full text of section 508, please see the official government 508. Microsoft word 2010 adobe pdf microsoft powerpoint microsoft excel. Utilizing the tenants of creating a section 508 compliant document will help us to provide supporting information, provide logic and a reading order, so that individuals with disabilities can have access to the information. This issue is a violation of section 508 and wcag 2. Rehabilitation act to make their websites accessible by june 21, 2001. The resources in this section were developed by the accessible electronic documents community of practice aed cop. Guidance for creating accessible content in adobe acrobat portable document format pdf that is compliant with section 508. Keep reading to learn more about section 508 and accessibility compliance. The eit standards ensure that federal employees with disabilities have access to and can readily use information and data that is comparable to the access and use by federal employees without disabilities. While remediating an existing pdf document includes several steps previously described, a pdf which has been created from a poorly or unformatted microsoft document requires various and often timeconsuming procedures in order to achieve section 508 compliance.
To be in compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act, electronic documents must pass all of the applicable requirements on this list. Test, create, remediate and validate pdfs for accessibility and compliance with the latest ada and section 508 regulations. We deliver comprehensive, fully documented results. Using practical examples, this course explains how section 508 requirements apply to micropurchases of hardware. Users with impaired vision can see those tooltips as they hover over the cells. Hud policy on section 508 of the rehabilitation act and accessible technology 1. Section 508, an amendment to the united states workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, is a federal law mandating that all electronic and information technology developed, procured. Pdf is one of the most widely used formats for digitizing print material. Overview section 508 is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. A portable document format pdf is a file format created by adobe to create standard consistency when a.
This document provides compliance information with regards to section 508 standards for goverlans software products. Home web section 508 making files accessible required fixes for pdf files. For organizations needing to deliver section 508 or otherwise certifiably accessible pdf. May 06, 2019 the checklists are the official hhs accessibility checklists. Both sigmaplot and sigmastat have been designed and tested with section 508 standards in mind. If youve heard the terms section 508 or 508 compliance. Section 508 is an amendment of the united states rehabilitation act of 1973 that. As of january 2018, the technical requirements of section 508 have changed to incorporate wcag 2. General administrative requirements and terms for hud. These tests are for measuring compliance with section 508. Ensuring that technology will be accessible is often the most effective and least costly way to comply with section 501, mandating affirmative action in employment practices for people with disabilities, and. Borrowers certificate of compliance with the rules for producers loan.
These standard tags provide assistive software and devices with semantic and structural elements to use to interpret document structure and present content in a useful manner. Standard pdf tags section 508 document compliance services. There is an extensive list of requirements for section 508 compliant pdf. Pdf files should not be used for short documents section 508 standards. How to create accessible portable document format pdf documents that conform to the revised 508 standards guidance. Chapter 1 introduction to 508 compliance section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 section 508 requires the federal government to ensure that the electronic and information technology that it develops, procures, maintains, or uses is accessible to persons with disabilities. Section 508 requires that federal agencies electronic and information technology is accessible to people with motor, vision, or other impairments. These tests are for measuring compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. All electronic communication and documentation created by cms employees and contractors must be 508 compliant. The following standards are excerpted from section 508 of the rehabilitation act, 1194.
On january 18, 2017, the board published a final rule that updates the section 508 standards along with accessiblity guidelines for telecommunication products and equipment covered by section 255 of the communications act. In the report options section, select options for how you want to view the results. Hud policy on section 508 of the rehabilitation act and. In addition to section 508 requirements, hhs has policies, standards, and. Electronic document compliance services edcs is dedicated to helping fulfill this promise. The recent section 508 refresh brought harmonization with the wcag 2. How to create accessible portable document format pdf documents that conform to the revised 508 standards. A beginners guide to section 508 and accessibility compliance. These reports include information on the revised section 508 standards from january 2017 and corrections to the ict final rule from january 2018, the web content accessibility guidelines. Sigmaplot section 508 compliance systat software, inc. Section 508 pdf document accessibility test process. Use high color contrast background to foreground contrast, watermark to foreground contrast, etc. Dhs section 508 compliance test processes homeland security.
The color contrast ratio between the background and text should be at least 4. Currently available software is not capable of automatically tagging any pdf file for section 508 compliance and certification. Section 508 compliance commonlook pdf accessibility and. Please visit other pages on the navigation pane to the right titled resources to view more information about accessibility and obtaining conformance with section 508. Utilizing the tenants of creating a section 508 compliant document will help us to provide supporting. Acquisition planning in the event that a federal department or agency determines that compliance with the standards issued.
How to make pdf section 508 compliant agile web development. Introduction section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended, 29 u. Any and all digital communications that a company under section 508 jurisdiction creates must be 508 compliant. Acrobat tools make it easy to create accessible pdfs and check the accessibility of existing pdfs. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act level access. This includes, but is not limited to, the following. Test and debug a pdf for 508 compliance acrobat pro test and debug a pdf for 508 compliance acrobat pro dc to determine which version you have, find the program under the start menu of your computer or rightclick on the desktop icon and choose properties. You can create pdfs to meet common accessibility standards, such as web content accessibility guidelines wcag 2.
The portable document format pdf is the standard format for online electronic publication of documents. Anytime you are preparing an electronic document that will be posted online or distributed via email, whether its an internal document or an external document, you need to follow the section 508 guidelines. These pdf forms are fully accessible but there is no computation, validation, or verification of the information you enter. In addition to section 508 requirements, hhs has policies, standards, and requirements for electronic documents that include but are not. Ensure 508 compliance with an accessibility strategy. The section 508 standards are part of the federal acquisition regulation far and address access for people with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Section 508 is an important amendment to the rehabilitation act that protects the right of people with disabilities to have equal access to electronic and information technology. For accessible pdf files, the recommended format is the pdf ua format which complies with wcag 2. Department of health and human services hhs policy, sets forth the implementation of section 508 of the rehabilitation act, as amended in 2017, for. Section 508 deals completely with providing equal access to information. Federal government agencies develop, procure, or maintain, information and communication technology ict, that it is accessible to persons with disabilities. Chances are sooner or later youre going to be assigned a project requiring 508 compliant accessibility standards. Find an overview of testing methods and the tools to test websites, software, and electronic documents for conformance with the revised 508 standards. This checklist is not official section 508 documentation.
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