The legislation referred to as "Section 508" is actually an amendment to the
Workforce Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 508 requires that
electronic
and
information technology (IT) that is developed or purchased by the Federal
Government is accessible by people with disabilities.
* In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal
agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to
people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an
individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section
508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make
available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage
development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law
applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use
electronic and information technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. . 794d),
agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to
information that is comparable to the access available to others.
* [ Source: Section 508 Web site]
