50th Anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and Advancing Access to Information and Communication Technology
This article is part of a series on the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act
50 years ago, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was signed into law to require access to programs and activities that are funded by federal agencies and to federal employment. Section 502 of the law created the U.S. Access Board (originally named the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board) to ensure access to federal buildings and facilities. Over the years, many amendments to the Rehabilitation Act strengthened requirements for accessibility, such as Section 508 which requires access to information and communication technology (ICT) in the federal sector.
“Accessible information and communication technology is extremely important and essential to people with disabilities for their daily lives,” remarked Board Executive Director Sachin Pavithran. “The Access Board continues to be committed to ensuring federal agencies apply our Section 508 Standards, and to providing high-quality technical assistance to members of the public and federal agencies on digital accessibility.”
Section 508 was added to the Rehabilitation Act in 1986, then amended in 1998, when President Bill Clinton signed the law on August 7th of that year. Section 508 directed the Board to develop accessibility standards for ICT which were issued in December of 2000. On January 18, 2017, the Board updated requirements and issued its Revised 508 Standards that addressed the changing landscape of various technologies, including computers, telecommunications equipment, office machines such as copiers and printers, software, websites, electronic kiosks, and digital documents. These standards include requirements that ensure ICT is compatible with Assistive Technology (AT) used by people with disabilities.
Under Section 508, the Board is also responsible for providing technical assistance on the standards. Subject matter experts are available by email 508@access-board.gov for questions on the Board’s Revised 508 Standards for ICT. The Board also offers free Section 508 Best Practices webinars, virtual and in-person training, and, in close collaboration with General Services Administration, materials and resources that are available at Section508.gov.
The Board commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act and continues to advance its mission of full access and inclusion for all by developing accessibility standards for ICT and serving the public.
Other articles in this series