Accessibility

Instructions from the U.S. Department of Commerce on making on-line forms accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Information provided for Web site managers as resource material to assist in meeting the U.S. Department of Commerce policy on Web site accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Article from the National Center on Disability and Access to Education examines accessibility and usability issues for people with cognitive disabilities.

A frank discussion of Section 508 (Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998) compliance from the National Weather Service.

Effective February 17, 2009, federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations broadcast only in digital format. Some consumers have expressed concern about how the converter boxes will work and whether they will continue to receive closed captions. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules require digital-to-analog converter boxes to either pass through available analog captions or generate their own digital captions if the programming is captioned. Read more about the Digital TV Transition.

Learn how software programs like Dolphin Easy Converter and service providers such as the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind can help you produce alternative formats of print documents. This Web cast is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Learn how to prepare electronic files to more easily convert to accessible PDF, as well as the tools within Adobe Acrobat that help with accessibility. This Webcast is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Learn about the capabilities and limitations of web presentation software, especially as they apply to Section 508 and web accessibility. Find out what steps you can take to make your online presentations more universally available. This presentation is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Watch a recording of the TARGET Discovery Series from February 25, 2009 and learn how to reframe your approach to Section 508 and Web accessibility by thinking in terms of universal design, rather than simply meeting a list of requirements. Experience Web sites from the perspective of all users; including those using assistive technologies. This presentation is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Learn the basics of Web accessibility and understand the different ways that users experience your Web site. This Webcast is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's TARGET Center Discovery Series.

Learn how Section 508 applies to email, including broadcast emails and smaller group discussions, and how to ensure that the email you send is accessible to all your intended recipients. For more information on the TARGET Discovery Series and TARGET Web Connect, visit the TARGET Center Web site.

Information from the American Foundation for the Blind about how online educational tools pose significant barriers to students with vision loss.

Information about online training courses and webinars available from EASI on a variety of topics related to accessibility and information technology. Topics include Managing the Assistive Technology Process and Best Practices for Accessibility. Additional trainings are coming up in May as well.

Final rule, published in the Federal Register, issued by the U.S. Access Board on the accessibility standards for electronic and information technology covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998.

Information from the National Center on Disability and Access to Education on ways to make Web sites accessible for people with disabilities.

Information on meeting the U.S. Department of Commerce policy on Web site accessibility for persons with disabilities as it concerns downloadable software "plug-ins."

This Best Practice process is designed to help chief information officers and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) organizations ensure that DOC Web sites comply with the department's accessibility policy.

Information from the U.S. Department of Education about testing web pages to ensure they meet Section 508 standards.

Information on how the GPO intends to ensure compliance with Section 508 for its Web pages.