These standards address access to best practices address the accessibility of information and communication technology (ICT) under in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communications Act. Researchers should consider these practices when publishing their research findings.
The term "accessible" refers to providing individuals with disabilities the same opportunity to access information, engage in interactions, and enjoy services as individuals without disabilities, in an equally effective and integrated manner, with comparable ease of use. Individuals with disabilities should be able to obtain information as fully, equally, and independently as those without disabilities (South Carolina Technical College, 2013).
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act charges assigns the responsibility to the Access Board with for developing and promulgating enforcing this ruleregulation. The statute also charges the Access Board is also tasked with providing Technical Assistance technical assistance on Section 508 , which is provided through webinars, trainingstraining sessions, and in close collaboration with GSA and materials available from the General Services Administration (GSA). Additional resources can be found on http://Section508.gov.
Section 508 requires mandates that federal agencies provide access to ICT developedthat they develop, procuredprocure, maintainedmaintain, or used by federal agenciesuse. Examples of ICT include computers, telecommunications equipment, multifunction office machines (such as copiers that also operate double as printers), software, websites, information kiosks and , transaction machines, and electronic documents. The Section 508 Standards, which are part of incorporated into the Federal Acquisition Regulation, ensure access for people individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilitiesimpairments. However, these standards are designed to benefit everyone by promoting an inclusive digital experience.
Process Overview: | Inventory your information and communication technology (ICT) Review the business requirements of your project or acquisition to identify which major components contain information and communication technology (ICT). ICT items include such things as software, hardware, electronic content, support documentation & services. When conducting a procurement, review the Revised 508 Standards Applicability Checklist for each ICT item.
Determine your ICT Exceptions Identifying whether you can claim an exception for information and communication technology (ICT) items in your Federal IT procurement or development project is the second step in determining how the Revised 508 Standards apply. This is important to ensure that any technology your agency buys or builds will be accessible. A full list of exceptions is detailed in the Standards under E202 General Exceptions. Use the Revised 508 Standards Applicability Checklist to document ICT exceptions.
Determine which standards apply To ensure that any technology your agency buys or builds will be accessible, you must determine which of the Revised 508 Standards apply to your Federal IT procurement and development project. Identify which Standards apply to each information and communication technology (ICT) item: Select the type of ICT, then answer the questions If your ICT item falls under a single category: If your ICT item spans multiple categories (e.g., a VOIP IP solution that includes both hardware and software): Record your responses in the Revised 508 Standards Applicability Checklist (MS-Word, April 2018)
Note, this step is not required if your entire ICT item is eligible for any of the exceptions (which you should have determined in Step 2), except the Best Meets exception. If only some components of the ICT item qualify for an exception, you must determine which Standards apply to the remaining components.
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Resources: | Please explore the following for further guidance: | Additional resources to learn more about accessible communication technology: HHS 508 Accessibility Conformance Checklist Creating Universally Accessible Materials: Expectations of BSPH Faculty [PDF] W3C’s Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Communications BSPH Website Help Desk Guidance:https://webhelp.jhsph.edu/support/solutions/folders/6000241212
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Training Offered by JHU Learning Solutions: Training Videos for Futher Guidance: BSPH Videos On Demand: Creating Universally Accessible Materials: Best Practices Accessibility: Considerations for Instruction at BSPH (11:53) [MP4] | transcript [txt] | presentation slides [PDF] https://ctl.jhsph.edu/blog/category/#accessibility: Accessibility Videos Creating Universally Accessible Materials:
Expectations of BSPH Faculty [PDF]WebAIM WCAG 2 Checklist WebAIM Word and PowerPoint Accessibility Checklist W3C’s Guidance on Applying WCAG 2.0 to Non-Web Communications HHS 508 Accessibility Conformance Checklist | Contacts: | Best Practices for Everybody
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Contacts: | ctlhelp@jhu.edu |
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Related Links: | Research Integrity & Oversight (Regulatory) |
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