{
    "version" : "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1",
    "content" : "news",
    "type" : "single",
    "title" : "Learn About the Updated IT Accessibility Standards |Digital.gov",
    "description": "Learn About the Updated IT Accessibility Standards",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2018/01/30/updated-it-accessibility-standards/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"Learn About the Updated IT Accessibility Standards","deck" : "Effective January 18, 2018, the revised 508 standards modernize the federal government’s IT accessibility standards and bring us into alignment with governments around the world.","summary" : "Effective January 18, 2018, the revised 508 standards modernize the federal government’s IT accessibility standards and bring us into alignment with governments around the world.","date" : "2018-01-30T09:32:00-04:00","date_modified" : "2025-01-27T19:42:55-05:00","authors" : {"rflagg" : "Rachel Flagg"},"topics" : {
        
            "accessibility" : "Accessibility",
            "content-strategy" : "Content strategy",
            "design" : "Design",
            "software-engineering" : "Software engineering"
            },"featured_image" : { "uid" :
  "508-refresh", "alt" :
  "Section 508 Refresh illustration" },"branch" : "bc-archive-content-3",
      "filename" :"2018-01-18-section-508-refresh.md",
      
      "filepath" :"news/2018/01/2018-01-18-section-508-refresh.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/bc-archive-content-3/content/news/2018/01/2018-01-18-section-508-refresh.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/bc-archive-content-3/content/news/2018/01/2018-01-18-section-508-refresh.md","slug" : "updated-it-accessibility-standards","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2018/01/30/updated-it-accessibility-standards/","content" :"\u003cp\u003eIn January 2017, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.access-board.gov/\"\u003eU.S. Access Board\u003c/a\u003e published a \u003ca href=\"https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-rule\"\u003efinal rule\u003c/a\u003e updating information technology (IT)accessibility requirements covered by Section 508 of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.access-board.gov/the-board/laws/rehabilitation-act-of-1973\"\u003eRehabilitation Act of 1973\u003c/a\u003e, which includes IT that is developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies. The Rehabilitation Act is a federal law which requires programs and activities funded by federal agencies to be accessible to people with disabilities, including federal employees and members of the public. \u003ca href=\"https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/overview-of-the-final-rule\"\u003eHere’s a recap of the changes\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/final-rule/text-of-the-standards-and-guidelines\"\u003eRevised 508 Standards\u003c/a\u003e went into effect on January 18, 2018. \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DKw4jEGmaXbw\"\u003eWatch this video, New Requirements: Section 508 Refresh, to learn more\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cdiv\n  class=\"video\"\n  style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; padding-top: 30px; height: 0; overflow: hidden;\"\n\u003e\n  \n  \u003ciframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kw4jEGmaXbw\" title=\"New Requirements: Section 508 Refresh\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" \u003e\u003c/iframe\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"whats-new\"\u003eWhat’s New\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable changes to the Standards include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncorporation of the \u003ca href=\"http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/\"\u003eW3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0\u003c/a\u003e, to harmonize with other accessibility standards worldwide.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRequirement that all public-facing official agency business content (and specific categories of non-public-facing content that is official agency business) must be accessible.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRequirements are now organized by functionality, instead of product type, to more easily keep pace with rapid advances in technology.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"get-started\"\u003eGet Started\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYour first stop for guidance on the new Standards is the \u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/refresh-toolkit\"\u003eRevised 508 Standards Toolkit Policy Refresh\u003c/a\u003e. Developed by GSA’s Government-wide 508 Program, the US Access Board, and the Federal CIO Council Accessibility Community of Practice, it’s the central hub for Standards implementation guidance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/refresh-toolkit\"\u003eRevised 508 Standards Toolkit Policy Refresh\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"development-and-content-creation\"\u003eDevelopment and Content Creation\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re a developer or content manager, this detailed guidance will help you create accessible systems and content, and learn how to test content for accessibility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/Accessibility-Resources-for-Developers-and-Authors\"\u003eAccessibility Resources for Developers and Authors\u003c/a\u003e - Tools and training\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/refresh-toolkit/test\"\u003eAccessibility Testing for Electronic Content\u003c/a\u003e - Testing guidance\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"procurement\"\u003eProcurement\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLearn how to define requirements and procure IT products and services that comply with the Revised 508 Standards.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"develop-requirements\"\u003eDevelop Requirements\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/sites/default/files/Revised%2520508%2520Standards%2520Applicability%2520Checklist.docx\"\u003eRevised 508 Standards Applicability Checklist\u003c/a\u003e (MS-Word, November 2017) - Checklist to help you determine whether and how the Standards apply\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/revised-508-standards-applicability-checklist\"\u003eInstructions - Revised 508 Standards Applicability Checklist\u003c/a\u003e - Step-by-step guidance on how to complete the Standards Applicability Checklist\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/applicable-508-standards-and-exceptions-chart\"\u003eApplicable 508 Standards and Exceptions Chart\u003c/a\u003e - Sample template for reporting standards and exceptions in solicitations\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"procure-accessible-technology\"\u003eProcure Accessible Technology\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/accessibility-provisions\"\u003eHow to Define Accessibility Provisions, Clauses, and Acceptance Criteria\u003c/a\u003e - Learn how to prepare solicitations, statements of work, or other procurement documents\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/how-to-request-accessibility-information-from-vendors-and-contractors\"\u003eHow to Request Accessibility Information From Vendors and Contractors\u003c/a\u003e - Learn how to communicate accessibility requirements and contract provisions to vendors\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"management\"\u003eManagement\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese tools will help your agency comply with the management responsibilities that go along with the 508 Standards Refresh.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/Build-Organizational-Support-for-Accessible-Electronic-Content\"\u003eBuilding Organizational Support for Accessible Electronic Content\u003c/a\u003e - Help content creators throughout your organization understand their responsibility to develop accessible content\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://section508.gov/revised-508-standards-roadmap\"\u003eRevised 508 Standards Roadmap\u003c/a\u003e - Learn how to manage a successful 508/IT Accessibility program\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIf you need help, connect with your \u003ca href=\"https://www.section508.gov/508-coordinator-listing\"\u003eAgency Section 508 Coordinator\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/office-of-governmentwide-policy/information-integrity-and-access\"\u003eGSA’s Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP)\u003c/a\u003e provides technical assistance to help federal agencies implement accessible IT policies and programs. \u003ca href=\"mailto:section.508@gsa.gov\"\u003eContact them by email\u003c/a\u003e with questions.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n"}
  ]
}