# 508 COMPLIANCE

Section 508 requires that Federal employees who are individuals with
disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is
comparable to the access to and use of information and data by Federal
employees who are not individuals with disabilities. CPAIS must
incorporate these standards to make their electronic and information
technology accessible to individuals with disabilities. This chapter
provides information on 508 Compliance issues. The following sections
provide technical specifications and performance-based requirements, in
which CPAIS must comply

## 8.1 Software Applications and Operating Systems (1194.21) {#software-applications-and-operating-systems-1194.21 .unnumbered}

-   When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard,
    product functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the
    function itself or the result of performing a function can be
    discerned textually.

-   Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of
    other products that are identified as accessibility features, where
    those features are developed and documented according to industry
    standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated
    features of any operating system that are identified as
    accessibility features where the application programming interface
    for those accessibility features has been documented by the
    manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the product
    developer.

-   A well defined on-screen indication of the current focus shall be
    provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the
    input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so
    that assistive technology can track changes.

-   Sufficient information about a user interface element including the
    identity, operation, and state of the element shall be available to
    assistive technology. When an image represents a program element,
    the information conveyed by the image must also be available in
    text.

-   When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators,
    or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images
    shall be consistent throughout an application\'s performance.

-   Textual information shall be provided through operating system
    functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be
    made available is text content, text input caret location, and text
    attributes.

-   Applications shall not override user selected contrast and color
    selections and other individual display attributes.

-   When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in
    at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the
    user.

-   Color-coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying
    information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or
    distinguishing a visual element.

-   When a product permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings,
    a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of
    contrast levels shall be provided.

-   Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other
    elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2 Hz and
    lower than 55 Hz.

-   When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow people using
    assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and
    functionality required for completion and submission of the form,
    including all directions and cues.

## 8.2 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications (1194.22) {#web-based-intranet-and-internet-information-and-applications-1194.22 .unnumbered}

-   A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided
    (e.g., via \"alt\", \"longdesc\", or in element content).

-   Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be
    synchronized with the presentation.

-   Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with
    color is also available without color, for example from context or
    markup.

-   Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring
    an associated style sheet.

-   Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a
    server-side image map.

-   Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side
    image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an
    available geometric shape.

-   Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.

-   Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for
    data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column
    headers.

-   Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame
    identification and navigation.

-   Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with
    a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.

-   A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality,
    shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of
    this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way.
    The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the
    primary page changes.

-   When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to
    create interface elements, the information provided by the script
    shall be identified with functional text that can be read by
    assistive technology.

-   When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other
    application be present on the client system to interpret page
    content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that
    complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).

-   When electronic forms are designed for on-line completion, the form
    shall allow people using assistive technology to access the
    information, field elements, and functionality required for
    completion and submission of the form, including all directions and
    cues.

-   A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive
    navigation links.

-   When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and
    given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

## 8.3 Functional Performance Criteria (1194.31) {#functional-performance-criteria-1194.31 .unnumbered}

-   At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does
    not require user vision shall be provided, or support for assistive
    technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall
    be provided.

-   At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does
    not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in
    audio and enlarged print output working together or independently,
    or support for assistive technology used by people who are visually
    impaired shall be provided.

-   At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does
    not require user hearing shall be provided, or support for assistive
    technology used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing shall be
    provided.

-   Where audio information is important for the use of a product, at
    least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be
    provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive
    hearing devices shall be provided.

-   At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does
    not require user speech shall be provided, or support for assistive
    technology used by people with disabilities shall be provided.

-   At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does
    not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is
    operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided.