GSA 508 Technical Tools and Resources
Free Online Tools and Resources to Test for 508 Compliance
1. HiSoftware Cynthia Says Portal
The HiSoftware Cynthia Says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to Section 508 standards and/or the WCAG guidelines.
2. Wave v 4.0
WAVE is a free web accessibility evaluation tool provided by WebAIM. It is used to aid humans in the web accessibility evaluation process.
Federal Resources
A. General Services Administration
Section 508 Program, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO - Central Office)
- CIO508Help@gsa.gov – for technical assistance on Section 508
- CIO 508 Coordinator (Lead) – Quentis Scott at (202) 208-4134
- Section 508 Coordinator - Dan Perkins at (816) 823-1717
The General Services Administration Section 508 website - www.section508.gov - Maintained under mandates through the Department of Justice, the OGP, IT Accommodation and Workforce Division, manages this one-stop website on 508 law, including information on 508 events, training, agency coordinators and frequently asked questions.
GSA's Center for IT Accommodation (CITA) Assistive Technology Office – GSA's central resource for assistive technology consultations, demonstrations, training and more.
The Buy Accessible Wizard – GSA's resource for identifying 508 compliant electronic and information technology products and services.
B. U.S. Access Board
• U.S. Access Board Section 508 website. - This website is of key importance in Section 508 issues, because the Access Board finalized the standards for the law. At this website, you can access the Final Standards, find a number of helpful overviews and learn about the development of the law.
• Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 - Here you can read the final version of the law, and gain an understanding of how Section 508 and the Telecommunications Act interact with and benefit each other, promoting accessibility.
C. Department of Agriculture
• The Department of Agriculture - TARGET Center - Programs and Services - The Center provides needs assessments, accessible computer workstations and demonstrations to ensure that the Department of Agriculture is adequately meeting its employees' accessibility needs.
D. Census Bureau
• The Census Bureau - Accessibility section. - This section of the Census Bureau's website gives a brief description of their standards and actions regarding web accessibility.
• The Census Bureau's Section 508 FAQs. - This page is a consolidation of acquisition-related questions posed by agencies, contractors, and members of the disability community regarding Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
E. Department of Defense
• The Department of Defense Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program - Commonly referred to as CAP, this program reflects the Department's concentrated efforts towards improving the access of it's employees and the general public toward high quality assistive technology and accessible electronic information, and provides evaluations and demonstrations to that effect.
F. Department of Education
• The Department of Education -National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
G. Department Of Energy
• The Department of Energy Headquarters Assistive Technologies Program- Implemented in 1992, the DOE Headquarters Assistive Technologies Program mission rapidly evolved from a reactive support effort for several existing "adaptive" workstations into a valued proactive Department resource for hundreds of DOE employees with a diverse collection of disabilities and impairments. The DOE Assistive Technologies Home Page is utilized by Headquarters and field site managers, employees, and others to obtain or exchange information about disability accommodations.
H. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Section 508 website.
• This site offers guidance regarding the provision of accommodations and forms for use in meeting accommodation needs.
I. Federal Communications Commission
• The Federal Communications Commission Disabilities Rights Office - This office promotes accessibility, both internal and external, to the Commission particularly in regard to telecommunications equipment by assisting disabled individuals and organizations within the private and public sectors on the required standards.
J. Department Health and Human Services
• The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS website.) - Part of the National Institutes of Health, NIEHS hosts a comprehensive website with an evaluation form, a rule list, and tools to test the accessibility of a website, including a simulated a screen reader.
• Usability.Gov: A Resource for Designing Usable, Useful and Accessible Interfaces - This National Cancer Institute project is an expansive resource with accessible web design methods, guidelines and checklists, and a general philosophy on accessible technology.
K. Department of the Interior
• The Department of Interior Accessible Technology Program - Their mission is to support employees with disabilities by determining the appropriate assistive technology and ergonomic solutions tailored to the needs of each individual. They offer classes in effective web design under Section 508.
• The National Park Service (NPS) website. - The NPS has a helpful site outlining web design tips under Section 508 for NPS web authors.
L. Department of Justice
• The Department of Justice Section 508 page. - This page outlines the law, displays the survey materials the Department is using to assess its level of Section 508 compliance, provides a copy of Janet Reno's comments on Section 508 at FOSE 2000, and links to a report with a significant connection to Section 508, entitled, "Information Technology and People with Disabilities: The Current State of Federal Accessibility."
• The Americans with Disabilities Home Page - The Americans with Disabilities Act is covered here in several ways. The website includes a view of the ADA from a personal perspective.
M. Department of Labor
• Department of Labor - Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) - Formerly known as the President's Committee on Employment for People with Disabilities, the ODEP works to increase and improve employment for individuals with disabilities. This office educates, trains, supports and informs the disability community, employers and the United States government on all aspects of the area of disability and employment.
N. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Section 508 - This site summarizes NASA's planned response to Section 508 standards.
O. National Council on Disability - (NCD)
• NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society.
P. Social Security Administration (SSA)
• The Social Security Administration (SSA) Section 508 page. - This page briefly describes the SSA's commitment to Section 508 with an adopted web page document and accessibility policy.
Q. The Department of Transportation (DOT)Section 508 website.
• Hosted by the Chief Information Officer, this site describes DOT's efforts toward Section 508 compliance, including descriptions of two newly established groups, the OST 508 Steering Committee and the DOT Information Technology Working Group.
R. Department of the Treasury
• The Department of the Treasury Section 508 Accessibility Initiative - This page contains descriptions of the Department's Section 508 Council and Charter.
S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Veterans Affairs Adaptive Training Program - This program provides computer-based adaptive equipment training, consultations and technical support to veterans and government employees with disabilities.
• The Veterans Affairs website - Serving Veterans and Employees with Accessible Electronic and Information Technology. - This VA page is hosted by the Chief Information Office and provides helpful resources. It describes the VA's commitment to universal design in compliance with Section 508 requirements. See VA's process for testing and evaluation of VA web pages .
T. Federal Agency Public URL’s on Section 508 Policy, Guidance and Best Practices
