Update of the 508 Standards and the Telecommunications Act Guidelines

The Board is conducting a review and update of its access standards for electronic and information technology covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.  These standards, which were published in 2000, cover products and technologies procured by the Federal government, including computer hardware and software, Web sites, phone systems, fax machines, and copiers, among others.  Section 508 requires Federal departments and agencies that develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology to ensure that Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to and use of information and data, comparable to that of the employees and members of the public without disabilities.  This effort will also cover Board guidelines for telecommunications products and equipment covered by section 255 of the Telecommunications Act.

The Board has organized an advisory committee (Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee, TEITAC) to review its standards and guidelines and to recommend changes.  The committee’s membership includes representatives from industry, disability groups, standard-setting bodies in the U.S. and abroad, and government agencies, among others.  Members were selected from applications received in response to a Board notice published in April of 2006.


Advisory Committee Presents Report on Updated 508 Standards


Background Information

Meetings

  1. September 27-29, 2006   (minutes, documents)
  2. November 7-8, 2006   (minutes, documents)
  3. February 6-8, 2007   (minutes, documents)
  4. May 22-24, 2007   (minutes, documents)
  5. July 16-18, 2007   (minutes, documents)
  6. September 4-6, 2007   (minutes, documents)
  7. Teleconferences through October   (minutes)
  8. November 13-16, 2007   (minutes, documents)
  9. Teleconferences through December   (minutes)
    1. November 20 (cancelled)
    2. November 27 (1-3 EST)
    3. December  4 (1-4 EST)
    4. December 11 (1-4 EST)
    5. December 18 (1-4 EST)
  10. Teleconference January 2, 2008, 1-4 EST   (minutes)
  11. Teleconferences through March, 2008   (minutes)
    1. January 29 (1-4 EST)
    2. February  5 (1-4 EST)
    3. February 13 (1-4 EST)
    4. February 19 (1-4 EST)
    5. February 26 (1-4 EST)
    6. March  4 (1-4 EST)
    7. March 11 (1-6 EST)
    8. March 18 (1-4 EST)
    9. March 25 (1-6 EST)
    10. April  1 (cancelled)
  12. Presentation and report to Access Board, April 3, 2008

On-going Reference Highlights

For further information, please contact:

Timothy Creagan
phone:  202-272-0016
tty:  202-272-0082
e-mail:  creagan@access-board.gov
fax:  202-272-0081