The Motive Internet Glossary

Section 508

Section 508 is an amendment to the United States Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Signed into law in 1998, this legislation requires that electronic and information technology developed or purchased by the US Federal Government is accessible by people with disabilities.

Related terms: accessibility

References and further reading

• Government web standards usage: USA (Peter Krantz, Standards Schmandards)
  28 Sept 2005: An automated survey of 547 US Government websites, assessing use of valid code , metadata and layout methods (i.e. use of tables).
• Section 508 Web Tutorial (Jim Thatcher)
  Methods of implementing the Section 508 legislation.
• The Rehabilitation Act Amendments [Section 508] (United States Access Board)
  The amendment. In a nutshell: Federal agencies must ensure that this [electronic communications] technology is accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities to the extent it does not pose an “undue burden” [to the agency].

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