Newsletter  to  Government  Vendors     -      Series # 1  

As a supplier to government agencies you should be aware of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments, 1998. This act requires that when Federal departments or agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they shall ensure that the technology is accessible to people with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the department or agency. What this means to you is that your Web presence and any intranet site will at some point have to be compliant with Section 508.


If you are also providing to the public via a web site or page that is not accessible to users with disabilities, you may be subject to an Americans with Disability Act (ADA) claim.

Legal and litigation risks aside, there are several other factors, which make Section 508 and ADA compliance a good move for businesses.

We live in a time where the Internet is becoming the preferred method of conducting business, where computer literacy is becoming the norm rather than the exception, and where a large segment of the population for whom computer access is the norm are now aging and facing issues of vision and mobility impairment. Insuring accessibility is socially responsible, and at the same time expands market presence. This aging population includes the decision makers at many companies. Accessibility also provides new and often more efficient methods of accessing data to all users.


So what does it take to become an accessible site?

1. Provide text equivalents for all images and multimedia such as animations, audio, and video.
2. Ensure that all information conveyed with color is also available without color.
3. Identify headers for data tables and make line-by-line reading sensible for layout tables.
4. Provide summaries of graphs and charts.
5. Identify document language and any changes of the language.
6. Organize content logically and clearly, such as with headings, list elements, meaningful links, and navigation bars.
7. Provide alternative content for features (e.g., applets or plug-ins) that may not be supported.

The first step towards compliance is accessing where your site currently stands. 

To evaluate your website without any cost or for any questions, please send an email including your website address to:  accessibility@website-solutions.ca

Ali Virjee
Website Solutions

virjee@website-solutions.ca
tel:  416.494.0100
fax: 416.494.0200
www.website-solutions.ca