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Section 508

Quick Reference Guide

Version 2.0

######## Table of Contents

***Introduction*** 1

***Overview*** 2

Background 2

Technical Section 3

Specific Information for each Category within a Standard 3

General Information 3

***1194.21 -- Software Standards*** 4

Overview 4

Remember That... 4

References for 1194.21 5

1194.21(a) 6

Windows Shortcut Keys 7

1194.21(b) 14

1194.21(c) 15

1194.21(d) 16

1194.21(e) 17

1194.21(f) 18

1194.21(g) 19

1194.21(h) 20

1194.21(i) 21

1194.21(j) 22

1194.21(k) 23

1194.21(l) 24

***1194.22 - Web-based Standards*** 25

Overview 25

Remember That... 25

References for 1194.22 26

1194.22(a) 27

1194.22(b) 29

1194.22(c) 30

1194.22(d) 31

1194.22(e) 32

1194.22(f) 34

1194.22(g) 35

1194.22(h) 37

1194.22(i) 38

1194.22(j) 39

1194.22(k) 40

1194.22(l) 41

1194.22(m) 43

1194.22(n) 44

1194.22(o) 46

1194.22(p) 47

General Rules for Compliant Web Pages 48

Quick Tips for Building Accessible Web Sites 49

***Telecommunications Products*** 52

Overview 52

Remember That... 52

References for 1194.23 53

1194.23 (a) 54

1194.23 (b) 56

1194.23 (c) 58

1194.23 (d) 59

1194.23 (e) 60

1194.23 (f) 62

1194.23 (g) 63

1194.23 (h) 64

1194.23 (i) 65

1194.23 (j) 66

1194.23 (k) (1) 67

1194.23 (k) (2) 68

1194.23 (k) (3) 69

1194.23 (k) (4) 70

***Video and Multimedia Products*** 71

Overview 71

Remember That... 71

References for 1194.24 72

1194.24 (a) 73

1194.24 (b) 74

1194.24 (c) 75

1194.24 (d) 76

1194.24 (e) 77

***E-Learning and Multimedia*** 78

Introduction 78

Overview 78

Technical Section 79

Remember That... 79

References for e-Learning and Multimedia 79

Equivalent Access versus Alternative access 81

Customization based on User Preference 82

Equivalent Access to Auditory and Visual Content 83

Guidelines for Accessible Delivery of Presentations 85

Guidelines for Accessible Delivery of Text 87

Guidelines for Accessible Delivery of Audio 88

Guidelines for Accessible Delivery of Images 89

Guidelines for Accessible Delivery of Multimedia 90

Guidelines for Accessible Interface Navigation 92

***Self Contained, Closed Products*** 95

Overview 95

Remember That... 95

References for 1194.25 96

1194.25 (a) 97

1194.25 (b) 98

1194.25 (c) 99

1194.25 (d) 100

1194.25 (e) 101

1194.25 (f) 102

1194.25 (g) 103

1194.25 (h) 104

1194.25 (i) 105

1194.25 (j) (1) 106

1194.25 (j) (2) 107

1194.25 (j) (3) 108

1194.25 (j) (4) 109

***Desktop and Portable Computers*** 110

Overview 110

Remember That... 110

References for 1194.26 111

1194.26 (a) 112

1194.26 (b) 113

1194.26 (c) 114

1194.26 (d) 115

***Tools to Evaluate 508 Compliance*** 116

Number of Errors Found 117

Non-compliant version of Survey Form 118

Compliant version of Survey Form 119

RAMP Evaluation of Non-compliant Form 120

RAMP Evaluation of Compliant Form 121

Bobby Evaluation of Non-compliant Form 122

Bobby Evaluation of Compliant Form 123

SSB Evaluation of Non-compliant Form 124

SSB Evaluation of Compliant Form 125

Non-compliant Table 126

Compliant Table 127

RAMP Evaluation of Non-compliant Table 128

RAMP Evaluation of Compliant Table 129

Bobby Evaluation of Non-compliant Table 130

Bobby Evaluation of Compliant Table 131

SSB Evaluation of Non-compliant Table 132

SSB Evaluation of Compliant Table 134

***Appendix A***

***Subpart C and D of Section 508***

Subpart C -- Functional Performance Criteria 136

Overview 136

Subpart D -- Information, Documentation, and Support 137

Documentation Requirements 137

Overview 137

***Appendix B***

***Information and Tips on Creating Accessible Products*** 138

General Accessibility Improvements 138

Best Practice Principles for Accessibility in e-Learning 138

E-Learning Accessibility Checkpoints 139

Tips for Designing e-Learning for...

People who are Blind 140

People with Low Vision 141

People with Color Blindness 141

People who are Hard-of-Hearing or Deaf 142

People with Mobility Impairment 142

IBM Accessibility Checklist 143

***Appendix C***

***Section 508 Evaluation of a USPTO Software System*** 145

***Appendix D***

***Glossary*** 146

***Introduction***

We have all had our share of problems determining Section 508
compliance. It is not easy.

Determining compliance is normally based on three criteria. The first is
individual interpretations of the law. Even though the law has
standards, everyone has their own interpretation of them. Within an
agency, the number of people in the process compounds this. For example,
in software development, an agency normally has the Section 508
coordinator, the software developer, the contractor and the testing
unit, each processing the product based on their interpretation of the
law.

The second criterion is the use of accessibility technology as testing
tools. This is not what they were designed for and, consequently, the
determination may be skewed. For instance, JAWS, a software program that
reads textual information on a computer display can be used to review
products, but there are certain standards that it can't evaluate (e.g.,
color and screen flicker rate).

The final criterion is the skill level of the evaluator. Using JAWS as
an example, most sighted individuals simply do not have the experience
level to accurately evaluate a product. The only truly accurate method
to evaluate products is reading the code.

To determine compliance is a daunting task. This guide is designed to
help you better navigate the task. The goal is to provide you with
techniques that will result in a 75% level of confidence that the item
tested is Section 508 compliant.

We hope you will find this Guide useful. To make the guide even more
effective, we welcome your feedback. Please provide your feedback to:
[fred.difiore@uspto.gov](mailto:forumstaff@aticorp.org).

***Overview***

######### 

######### Background

As you know, Section 508 became effective June 21, 2001. This version of
the law requires Federal departments and agencies to develop, procure,
maintain, or use electronic and information technologies (EIT) that
provide the same level of EIT access to people with disabilities as to
those without. Unlike the previous version of the law, the new version
includes technology standards and has a legal bite for
procurement-related noncompliant products.

This Quick Reference Guide was originally created by the Accessibility
Forum, a program within the General Service Administration's (GSA)
Office of Government wide Policy, Center for Accommodation (CITA). In
January 2003 the Forum published Resource Documents that included
background material on technologies and accessibility embodied in the
Section 508 Standard. The Access Board staff and the Office of Federal
Procurement Policy's Section 508 Working Group reviewed the document.
The Working Group requested that the documents be easier to use. This
version of the Guide represents an attempt by the US Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) to simplify the Section 508 Subpart B
requirements.

Please keep in mind that all organizations are different and how we have
interpreted the law and created our business processes may or may not
work at your organization. Also, this guide is provided as an indicator
towards compliance, not a definitive testing means for ensuring that
Section 508 requirements are met in a particular EIT product.

## Technical Section 

The specific technical requirements of Section 508 Standards are grouped
into six broad product categories:

-   Software applications and operating systems

-   Web based information and applications

-   Telecommunications products

-   Video and multimedia products

-   Self contained, closed products

-   Desktop and portable computers

Any EIT procured product or service that has functionality or
characteristics in one or more of the above categories must meet the
standards associated with the category. If the product or service does
not fall into one of the six categories, the agency must meet Subpart C,
1194.31, *Functional performance criteria*.

All EIT procurements must meet Subpart D, 1194.41, *Information,
documentation and support*. Detailed information on Subpart C and D is
provided in an Appendix A of this Guide.

## Specific Information for Each Standard Within a Category

The Guide has three technical sections. Each section begins with a
general information summary on the category. The section also includes
information on each standard within the category. The information
includes:

-   The standard as it appears in the law.

-   *In other words...* a simplified explanation of the standard

-   *Terms*... when applicable, definitions for specific terms

-   *Determine compliance...* explanation and quick evaluation
    techniques to determine if the product is compliant to the specific
    standard

***General Information***

Each technical section includes sources for additional information on
that category. Below are other general information sources:

-   Access Board (<http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm>)

-   Federal Acquisition Regulations (<http://www.arnet.gov/far>)

-   CITA Section 508.gov
    ([http://www.section508.gov](http://www.section508.gov/))

-   Accessibility Forum (http://accessibilityforum.org)

-   Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center
    (http://www.ittatc.org)