NTIA's policy is to work to ensure access to its Web sites for all Americans, including persons with disabilities. We will continue to work hard to achieve this goal. Your comments on this long-term goal and how to fulfill it would be appreciated. Please forward any comments to webmaster@ntia.doc.gov or call NTIA's Public Affairs Office at 202-482-7002.

Section 508 Requirements

On December 21, 2000, the Access Board published Final Rules on Standards for Electronic and Information Technology (NPRM) and on implementing Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. As amended, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that each Federal department or agency ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to and use of information and data available to persons who do not have disabilities. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Federal agencies must ensure that this data and information is accessible to both Federal employees and the public. As of July 2001, NTIA's website operations comply with the standards set by the Access Board in the December 2000 Final Rules.

Most material posted on NTIA's Web site is available in html format, in pdf format*, and/or in a word processing format suitable for use by text-to-speech devices. "ALT" tags are used to provide a textual description for images when the images are used to convey information not included in the text. Information posted in multimedia formats, such as audio and video, may not have an alternative format available. Material posted prior to July 2001 may not be available from NTIA's site in a format suitable for use by text-to-speech devices. If you would like to receive a hard copy of any of these documents, or if you do have any problem accessing any of the other pages on this Web site, please contact webmaster@ntia.doc.gov or NTIA's Public Affairs office at 202-482-7002 for assistance.

Endnotes

* http://access.adobe.com/ provides information on using pdf files by those with visual disabilities.