accessibility Resources

IDB is frequently asked questions about Section 508 Compliance and Accessibility.  Below are some helpful resources to learn more about these topics.

• Creating Accessible Documents
• Web Accessibility Guidelines - What is in WCAG 2
• Building Accessibility into Your Procurement Process
• WAVE - Free Website Accessibility Testing Tool
• The Business Case for Digital Accessibility
• American Foundation for the Blind’s Workplace Technology Study

What is Section 508?

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. 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. 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. ‘794 d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to access available to others.