UIPL_02-16_Attachment_I.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

APPENDIX A Resources Regarding Technology for Individuals with Disabilities Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act 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. While the law applies only to Federal agencies when they develop procure maintain or use electronic and information technology the resources developed to help Federal agencies give employees and members of the public with disabilities access to information are extensive publicly available and potentially useful to state UI agencies seeking to provide comparable access. Section 508 Standards address the full range of electronic and information technologies in the Federal sector including those used for communication duplication computing storage presentation control transport and production. Specifically the information in the Section 508 Standards about software applications and operating systems web-based Intranet and Internet information and systems telecommunication products and video and multimedia products may be helpful to state UI agencies in assessing whether their technology is accessible for individuals with disabilities. These two websites contain a wealth of information regarding the Section 508 Standards http www.access-board.gov www.section508.gov For example the General Services Administration GSA hosts an online course for web developers interested in accessible web design that can be found at www.section508.gov . This program was developed in conjunction with the Access Board the Department of Justice DOJ and the Department of Education and provides an interactive demonstration of how to build accessible web pages. DOJ also included information about accessible web page design in an April 2000 report to the President. This report is available and may be located at http www.justice.gov crt 508 report content.php . Another comprehensive resource is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative. These guidelines help designers make web pages as accessible as possible to the widest range of users including users with disabilities. The Web Accessibility Initiative is a subgroup of the World Wide Web Consortium the same organization that standardizes the programming language followed by all web developers. Information for web developers including the current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and associated checklists may be found at http www.w3.org TR 2006 WD-WCAG20- 20060427 appendixB.html and information about the Web Accessibility Initiative can be found at http www.w3.org WAI . The Department of Labor s Office of Disability Employment Policy ODEP has developed extensive resources to assist in ensuring meaningful access to employment and employment- related services for people with disabilities. Its website is http www.dol.gov odep index.htm . Moreover general information on providing reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities may also be found at http www.dol.gov odep topics Accommodations.htm . For specific information the Job Assistance Network a service provided by ODEP that provides free confidential technical assistance about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act may be accessed at http askjan.org topics univdes.htm . Information on universal design and assistive technology models for individuals with disabilities may also be found on ODEP s website. 2