Below is a list of each section 508 standard that is tested in each section. About the section 508 standards united states access board. Youll probably get quite a few opinions about this topic. It is organized by categories to help you easily identify applicable requirements. This module focuses on how to check the accessibility of a document with jaws. Government 508 compliance resources and information. Hisoftware cynthia says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. For the full text of section 508, please see the official government 508 web site. The term includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services including support services, and related resources. This page has information about the section 508 law, and the va section 508 office.
With 100s of accessibility audits and millions of pdf pages processes we are the experts in accessibility as it relates to software technologies. Find an overview of testing methods and the tools to test websites, software, and electronic documents for conformance with the revised 508 standards. Oct 08, 2019 section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. Tools and resources for developers and content authors to test digital products and content for conformance to section 508 accessibility. As an option, we can apply the fixes to your software section 508 remediation in order to bring it into full compliance with the section 508 standard. Tips for managing section 508 testing techrepublic. Trusted tester and ict testing baseline section508. 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, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with. This site supports training resources operated by the department of homeland security dhs office of the chief information officer ocio office of accessible systems and technology oast. Manual manual testing uses a documented, consistent, repeatable process. Tenons free checker a free tool to test your sites accessibility. In an effort to improve section 508 testing across government, theharmonized testing process for section 508 compliance.
Jaws, or job access with speech, is software that audibly reads text, and is common in the workplace. Level access has an unparalleled history in helping achieve compliance for regulations and standards such as ada, section 508, wcag, vpat, cvaa, aoda. Dhs section 508 compliance testing tools homeland security. Run your favorite accessibility testing tool and easily take a screenshot on your. Any truly comprehensive testing plan must include both automated and manual testing. This document contains information on how cms is meeting the section 508 standards and policies and how cms is organized to meet this mandate. Section 508 is an important amendment to the rehabilitation act that protects the right of people with disabilities to have equal. The ict testing baseline describes how to evaluate conformance to the revised 508 standards, which align with wcag 2. Ensure 508 compliance with an accessibility strategy. Listed below are section 508 testing tools available from nongovernment websites. Section 508 software applications and operating systems 1194. Federal agencies, private entities that receive public funding and independent software vendors are required by law to make.
Guide to the section 508 standards united states access board. Independent it assessment and security services testpros. If youve heard the terms section 508 or 508 compliance and wondered what they mean, youre not alone. Baseline tests for software and web accessibility was developed as part of. The standards themselves are in development and will be for some time in the future. It applies to all electronic and information technology eit including software.
Previously, section 508 listed a specific set of accessibility requirements that agencies and schools were required to follow for compliance. Accessibility testing for websites and software web designers, developers, and content managers play a key role in ensuring websites and digital tools are accessible, and conform to the revised 508 standards and the w3c web content accessibility guidelines wcag 2. If youre an author or developer of electronic documents, software applications, web content, operating systems, accessibility platforms, assistive technology, mobile environments, and modern development frameworks, you need to understand how the revised 508 standards. This document can also be used as 508 compliance testing. This page contains the cms section 508 policy which was approved by the cms section 508 official. The section 508 website provides a dedicated page on section 508 compliance testing, including testing guidelines for websites, software, and electronic documents. Standards and guidelines used includes section 508, web content. Accessibility management platform amp level access. Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973.
Testers who are familiar with the section 508 software and web standards and testing tools can use this as a quick reference while testing. We conduct all the applicable tests, then identify and suggest section 508 fixes for software applications and web content. This checklist is not official section 508 documentation. The original bobby was a free online tool, written by josh krieger and provided by the centre for applied special technology cast used to validate websites for wai and section 508 compliance. When states wanted to require accessible information technology, they turned to the section 508 accessibility standards to define accessibility.
Being 508 compliant makes it easier to sell your goods and services. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, open new opportunities for people with disabilities, and encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. Dhs section 508 compliance testing tools this guide provides a list of the testing tools used in the dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. Section 508 was originally added as an amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973 in 1986. With amp, you can facilitate and organize all aspects of successful digital accessibility initiatives. The voluntary product accessibility template vpat is a document which evaluates how accessible a particular product is according to the section 508 standards. Any truly comprehensive testing plan must include both automated and manual testing, preferably including testers with disabilities. Accessibility testing for websites and software section 508.
But these tips can help you breeze through compliance testing. The dhs application testing script consists of fourteen main testing sections. Web accessibility evaluation tools are software programs or online services that help you. Section 508 was updated in 2018 explicitly referencing the web content accessibility guidelines wcag 2. Ict testing baseline baseline tests are the result of an attempt to reduce ambiguity, increase consistency of results, and emphasize the methods and techniques that can reliably meet the section 508. For more information, contact a cms 508 clearance officer see downloads below. The original section 508 dealt with electronic and information technologies, in recognition of the. Compare criterions premium section 508 compliance solutions to our competitors section 508 manual accessibility testing. Testing carried out to validate section 508 is also called as web content accessibility guidelines testing wcag testing. To work toward compliance, we recommend incorporating accessibility testing into existing testing processes.
Top 25 awesome accessibility testing tools for websites. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. But 508 covers all information technology and it is the only standard that does so. Section 508 compliance approach for webbased applications. Section 508 compliance testing 508 compliance website. Apply to tester, 508 accessibility and compliance sme, software test engineer and more. Dhs section 508 compliance test processes homeland security. This guide provides a list of the testing tools used in the dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. Gsa section 508 and accessibility what is section 508. Another similar kind of testing is ada american disability act testing. 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. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. The boards section 508 standards apply to electronic and information technology procured by the federal government, including computer hardware and software, websites, phone systems, and copiers. Hybrid a combination of automated and manual testing.
This tool is designed and developed by the university. This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, the internet. The tools used in the trusted tester test process and. Cms section 508 policy 3 downloadedprinted copies may be obsolete. Accessibility testing for websites and software section508. Guide to the section 508 standards subpart a general. This tool is available to gsa federal employees only. Baseline tests for software and web accessibility was developed as part of a collaborative project between accessibility teams at the us department of homeland security dhs and the us social security administration ssa. Testing under all this types pertains to testing how information is presented within the webpages. It explains the installation steps in detail, and important information to help you download the necessary components from the host websites. Provide a common set of unified tests to measure conformance to the section 508 technical requirements for web based electronic content. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to section 508 standards andor the wcag. Gsa 508 technical tools and resources free testing tools for 508 compliance. If you already know about wcag youre in great shape.
Dec 21, 2000 section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Powerpoint document 508 checklist if you are responsible for creating or signing offclearing files, you can use this checklist as part of your process. Are designed to be used as a foundation for establishing wcag 2. Computer software, hardware, and documentation are all covered by section 508. Fireeyes a free tool for testing websites for 508 compliance. In general, all electronic content, and all hardware and software with a user interface, must be accessible. Launched in 1995, it became well known for the usage of the bobby approved icon that website authors could use to indicate they have successfully passed the bobby online test. Test for accessibility find an overview of testing methods and the tools to test websites, software, and electronic documents for conformance with the revised 508 standards. The office of the chief information officer ocio is responsible for hhs section 508 compliance. The passfail criteria in this document represent an interpretation of section 508 web standards. Guide to the section 508 standards united states access.
Which software, tools, methods, standards, and workflow should you use. This page describes how to install andi, the accessibility and section 508 compliance testing tool. The original section 508 dealt with electronic and information technologies, in recognition of the growth of this field. Top 20 accessibility testing tools for web applications software. Section 508 covers technology procured by a federal agency under contract with a private entity or produced within the agency itself. The goal is to reduce redundant testing and save agencies money. 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, maintained, or used by. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications about this document who should use this document this document has been designed for and is intended for use by dhs trusted testers. To find the actual testing tools, visit the test for accessibility page and select the type of content you want to test. Where an application permits the user to adjust color and contrast, the range of choices should be broad enough to accommodate low vision users. If youre an author or developer of electronic documents, software applications, web content, operating systems, accessibility platforms, assistive technology, mobile environments, and modern development frameworks, you need to understand how the revised 508 standards 36 c.
Web accessibility evaluation tools list world wide web consortium. The office of the chief information officer ocio is responsible for hhs section 508. Learn about the different types of accessibility testing tools artifacts developed by the federal cio council accessible electronic documents community of practice aed cop. In 1998, congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 u. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to section 508 standards.
The challenge is designing a site and software that meets different. Upon completion of this course, they will be able to identify the tools and procedures, for the process for testing web and software applications for section 508 compliance, and apply test processes to evaluate elements of web site sites and web applications for section 508. In an effort to improve section 508 testing across government, the harmonized testing process for section 508 compliance. Use automated tools, manual testing, and assistive technologybased testing examine best practices for mobile applications and web environments. Ict testing baseline baseline tests are the result of an attempt to reduce ambiguity, increase consistency of results, and emphasize the methods and techniques that can reliably meet the section 508 ict accessibility requirements, given the current state and compatibility of underlying technologies.
A trusted tester is a person certified to provide accurate and repeatable section 508 compliance test results for software. If you want to sell technology to the federal government or one of its contractors, you will need a conformance report showing your products section 508 compliance. Jul 12, 2019 section 508 compliance testing checklist. 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. Computer intelligence is a maryland based company founded in 2001 and has a long standing practice in accessibility as it relates to software technologies.
The interagency trusted tester program promotes a unified, consistent, shareable, and repeatable test and evaluation approach for section 508 standards conformance. Testpros understands that compliance is based on the premise that software, hardware and document accessibility is part of each it requirement, and should be addressed up front as part of the system development life cycle. Assistive technology helps people with disabilities use technology. Section 508 compliance a quick guide by level access. The following standards are excerpted from section 508 of the rehabilitation act, 1194. Four wcag testers, including expert endusers with disabilities and senior application developers, manually test all unique web pages not just a small sample and upload their accessibility test results to our customized online portal. Section 508 technical tools and resources for the public and government.
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