Section 508 Procurement Training

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Section 508 Procurement Training

• California State University
• Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) - S508PT
• Day Two Plenary Track 1040 1200
• The future of 508
• Jon Brundage, instructor

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Topics

• The work of TEITAC
• Discuss possible changes to the standards.
• Resources to find up-to-date information.

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Possible changes to the standards

• The Access Board is conducting a review and
  update of its access standards for electronic and
  information technology covered by Section 508 of
  the Rehabilitation Act first published in 2000.
  Since that time technologies have advanced, both
  in general IT and in Assistive technologies. The
  standards are due for an update.

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The work of TEITAC

• stands for Telecommunications and Electronic and
  Information Technology Advisory Committee
• TEITAC is a federal advisory committee providing
  recommendations for updates of accessibility
  standards issued under Section 508.

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The work of TEITAC

• Comprised of Committee members
  (http//teitac.org/wiki/Committee_members )
  represents over forty industry, disability
  groups, standard-setting bodies in the U.S. and
  abroad, and government agencies, among others.

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The work of TEITAC

• Charter goes to July 2008.
• First meeting was in September 2006.

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The work of TEITAC

• Subcommittees
• General interface requirements and Function
  Performance Criteria (508 Subpart C plus
  component modules)
• Software, Web, and content (508 1194.21, .22,
  plus electronic documents)
• Telecommunications (255 and 508 1194.23)
• Audio/Video (508 1194.24)
• Self contained, closed products (508 1194.25)
• Desktops, portables, peripherals, and other
  computer hardware (508 1194.26, plus other
  hardware)
• 508 Subpart A (Purpose, Application, General
  Exceptions, Definitions, Equivalent Facilitation)
  
• Documentation and technical support (508 Subpart
  D)

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Possible changes to the standards

• Move to standards that are more international,
  recognizing valuable work overseas.
• Clarification of undue burden and taking into
  account ongoing maintenance in addition to
  procurement process.

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Possible changes to the standards

• Make first responders exempt in similar fashion
  as military and security segments are at present.
• Recognition of systems that provide information
  using motion, shape, color or other
  vision-dependent attribute.
• An example would be the container inspection or
  passenger inspection systems used by U.S. Customs
  Service

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Possible changes to the standards

• New and clarified definitions.
• for example CAPTCHA Completely Automated
  Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans
  Apart
• More detail on flashing content thresholds that
  may cause seizures.

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Possible changes to the standards

• Inclusion of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
  equipment.
• Possible introduction of Functional Performance
  Criteria
• help Federal departments or agencies determine
  whether products being used, developed, procured
  or maintained meet the functional needs of
  individuals with disabilities

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Possible changes to the standards

• Introduction of standards to address cognitive
  disorders.
• probably will not be included because of the
  number of serious challenges presented for
  manufacturers and government agencies

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What to expect

• Clarification!
• current standards have room for interpretation
• aim of the 508 refresh is to make understanding
  and implementation clearer.

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When will the changes be implemented?

• Probably in late 2009

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Resources to find up-to-date information

• Teitac.org http//teitac.org/
• Information about Teitac, Subcommittees, link to
  WIKI, email list you can subscribe to, calendar
  of events.
• TEITAC WIKI http//teitac.org/wiki/TEITAC_Wiki
• interactive workspace- contains draft documents.

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Resources to find up-to-date information

• Access Board 508 Refresh
• http//www.access-board.gov/sec508/update-index.ht
  m
• Working drafts of recommendations
• http//teitac.org/wiki/TEITAC_WikiCurrent_Workin
  g_Draft