Section 508

This section serves as an overview of the Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d) as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220) of August 7, 1998.  Federal compliance with the statute was required by June 21, 2001.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that institutions receiving federal funds solicit, procure, maintain and use all electronic and information technology (EIT) so that equal or alternate/comparable access is given to federal employees and members of the public with and without disabilities.  

As a recipient of federal funds, the Section 508 law applies to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS.)  CMS is committed to providing accessible technology to members of the public and its employees.  Members of the public with and without disabilities include physicians, the health care community and citizens.  CMS is also committed to granting its federal employees with and without disabilities with equal or alternate/comparable access to EIT.

In order to be 508 compliant, all CMS employees and contractors must satisfy the following requirements:

• Ensure all documentation is created in a 508 friendly format (e.g., emails, documents created in Microsoft Office).
• All software and hardware purchased must be 508 compliant.
• All applications developed for CMS must be validated for 508 compliance.
• All websites developed for CMS purposes must be validated for 508 compliance.

For more information contact a CMS 508 Clearance Officer.