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Summery:
This standard applies to all federal agencies and departments, including the United States Postal Service, except for certain military functions, back-office equipment, and products owned by federal contractors incidental to a contract. This standard does not apply to State and Local governments and private industry.
All federal departments and agencies shall provide accessible electronic and information technology that provides comparable access to information and data for federal employees and members of the public with disabilities. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board will define what is electronic and information technology, and provide criteria for determining accessibility. Nothing requires a Federal agency to provide or buy equipment for any place other than where the technology is being accessed by the public. The Administrator of General Services and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board will provide technical assistance.
The Section 508 standard took full effect on June 21 2001. Any individual with a disability may file a complaint with the Federal department or agency alleged to be in noncompliance in providing access to electronic and information technology. The department or agency will apply the complaint procedures outlined in 504 to resolve the complaint. Civil action as outlined in sections 505(a)(2) and 505(b) may be invoked.
This is a small and non-comprehensive list of links for companies that provide technology that will help federal agencies comply with Section 508.
Access to Electronic Information
Adobe Systems Incorporated - Information on making Portable Document Format (PDF) files accessible to people with disabilities.
Bobby by CAST - Bobby is a free service to check your web site for compatibly with accessible technologies. After your site is scanned Bobby will tell you where problem areas may be, and it will make suggestions on how to improve accessibility.
Access to Paper Information
Arkenstone - Software to scan printed text into a computer and read it out loud, and all in one reading machines that scan and read printed material.
Blazie Engineering Inc. - Software to convert electronic text into Braille and Braille printers.
Telesensory - CCTV, scanners, and computer screen magnification products for people who are low vision or blind.
Vision Technologies CCTV video magnifiers, and MircoReaders for micro document reading.
Access to Computers and Software
AI squared - Computer screen enlargement and screen reading software for people with low vision.
Henter Joyce - Computer screen readers and screen enlargement software for people who are low vision or blind.
Microsoft Enable - Guide to accessibility features in Microsoft products, and information on other accessible products, training, and future technologies.
Miscellaneous
Ameriphone - telephones for people with physical and sensory disabilities.
Lighthouse International - Low and High Tech assistive devices for a variety of disabilities.
Coumpusult Limited - Manufactures and markets Closed Caption Display Units to provide text captions for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The units may be used with for video presentations, intercoms, and computers, or anywhere a sound message needs to be captioned.
