GSA's Redesigned Section 508 Web Site and Buy Accessible Database Debut

GSA #9868

August 30, 2001
Contact: Eleni Martin (202) 501-1231
eleni.martin@gsa.gov

Washington, DC�The U.S. General Services Administration announces the redesign of the Section 508 web site
(http://www.section508.gov) and the launch of the new Buy Accessible web page.

"Section508.gov was redesigned to be more customer friendly for agencies, vendors, and the public and to serve as a model accessible site," said Terry Weaver, Director of the Center for IT Accommodation.

The redesigned site features information on what Section 508 means to you if you a federal employee, vendor, person with a disability, member of the academic community, or if you work with a State agency. It also offers online training for web masters and in the future will include training for requiring officials/contracting officers, human resources managers, and agency Section 508 coordinators.

Weaver also said that the new Buy Accessible web page was created primarily to ease market research for federal agencies and to help federal workers conform to Section 508 by allowing them to easily find and buy the most accessible IT products and services.

Although encouraged to participate in the Buy Accessible program, vendors are not required to do so. If they choose to participate, vendors can download a product accessibility template developed by the Information Technology Industry Council. The template will be posted on vendor web sites and subsequently will be linked to the Buy Accessible database. Government purchasers who visit the Buy Accessible web site can then easily search the database by specific service or product to complete their market research and viewing the links provided by participating vendors.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended, requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology.

For additional information, contact the Center for IT Accommodation at section508@gsa.gov or at (202) 501-4906.