# Presentation: 415695

## Section 508 Web Compliance: Overview of New GPR

- Courtney Smith
- GSFC Section 508 Web Coordinator
- January 25, 2006

## GPR2800.1 GSFC Section 508 Web Compliance

- Signed Oct 6, 2005
- Applies to all public and internal GSFC Web sites and Web applications hosted on the nasa.gov network by, or for, GSFC under contracts, grants, or other agreements.
- Enables better enforcement of this Federal requirement.
- Gives GSFC a formal process for web sites or web applications to be reviewed or tested for Section 508compliance.
- Provides metrics by which GSFC's degree of Section 508 compliance can be measured.
- Improves communication between the Web Accessibility Coordinator and those responsible for GSFC Web sites and Web applications.

## ResponsibilitiesWeb developer:

- Shall perform Section 508 Web Compliance Tests for new or redesigned Web sites
- Shall correct any Section 508 compliance problems found in new or existing sites.
- Shall ensure a Web site passes a Section 508 Web Compliance Test before it is made available to users.
- Is accountable to the Responsible NASA Official (RNO).

## ResponsibilitiesWeb curator:

- Should test existing and updated Web pages for Section 508 compliance.
- Shall correct any Section 508 compliance problems found in new or existing sites.
- Shall ensure an updated Web page is Section 508 compliant before it is made available to users.
- Is accountable to the RNO.

## ResponsibilitiesResponsible NASA Official (RNO)

- Shall ensure a successful Section 508 Compliance Test is performed before a new or
- Redesigned Web site is made available to users.
- Shall notify the SDB when a Web site has passed and is ready for use.
- If the Web site is public or internal with significant impact, the RNO or designee shall receive approval from the GSFC Web Accessibility Coordinator before the Web site is made available to users.
- Shall ensure problems found in existing Web pages  are corrected within the timeframe
- Agreed upon by the RNO and the Web Accessibility Coordinator.

## ResponsibilitiesWeb Accessibility Coordinator

- shall notify the RNO when a Web site (both public and internal with significant impact) has been found to be Section 508 compliant.
- shall follow up by granting approval to make it available to users.
- shall assist developers and curators to bring their Web sites into Section 508 compliance.
- may remove an existing Web site with an uncorrected Section 508 compliance problem from the network.
- shall approve Section 508 Web accessibility testing tools.

## ResponsibilitiesSystems Development Branch 

- shall notify the Web Accessibility Coordinator when a RNO or designee has requested approval to make a Public Web site or an internal Web site with significant impact available to users.
- shall periodically review existing Web sites and Web applications for Section 508 compliance.
- determines the schedule of reviews for existing Web sites.
- shall notify the RNO and curator of any Section 508 compliance issues discovered in these reviews.
- develops and maintains the GSFC Section 508 Web accessibility checklist found on the GSFC Section 508 Web site.

## Procedures - Existing Web Sites and Web Applications

- SDB shall review existing Web sites for Section 508 compliance.
- SDB shall notify the RNO and curator of any Section 508 compliance problems.
- Developer or curator shall correct  identified problems.
- Assistance is readily available if problems cannot be immediately corrected.
- A timeframe will be mutually agreed upon in which compliance will be reached.
- The site may be taken off-line if:
- No effort is made to correct the problems.
- Changes are not made within the agreed upon timeframe.
- Taking a site off-line:
- Will not occur prior to CSO, RNO, and Curator notification
- Is likely done at the server level
- May bring down other sites on that server as well
- Is only used as a last resort

## Procedures - New Web Sites 

- Two types of internal Web sites
- low impact (fewer than 500 users per year);
- significant impact (500 or more users per year).
- New public Web sites and new internal Web sites with significant impact shall be Section 508 compliant
- Need GSFC Web Accessibility Coordinator's approval before being made available to users.
- If a Web site needs public access during development, a timeframe can be agreed upon in which it shall be brought into compliance.
- If compliance is not reached within that timeframe, public access shall be revoked.

## Procedures - New internal Web sites and Web applications with low impact 

- shall be Section 508 compliant
- do not need GSFC Web Accessibility Coordinator's approval before being made available to users.
- Developers shall use the following before new Web sites can be made available to users:
-   GSFC Section 508 Web Accessibility Checklist
-   an approved evaluation tool
- Certification of compliance:
- the RNO or designee shall send an e-mail message to access@webmaster.gsfc.nasa.gov
- The RNO must request GSFC Web Accessibility Coordinator's approval for  Web sites which are public or internal with significant impact.

## Procedures - Web Site Redesigns and Updates

- Whenever a Web site undergoes a redesign:
- Developer should use checklist and evaluation tool to find and fix problems.
- RNO or designee shall certify Section 508 compliance

## Section 508 Exemptions and Waivers

- Section 508 provides four exemptions for electronic and information technology:
- Electronic and information technology acquired by a contractor incidental to a Federal contract.
- Electronic and information technology for a national security system (defined by Clinger-Cohen Act).
- Electronic and information technology located in spaces frequented only by service personnel for maintenance, repair or occasional monitoring of equipment.
- Electronic and information technology that would impose an undue burden on the agency.
- None of these exemptions are applicable to GSFC Web sites or Web applications.
- Machine-to-machine Web sites or - Web applications with no human users are not covered by Section 508.
- There are no waivers for Section 508 compliance.

## Best Practices

- Start using 508 resources from the beginning.
- Familiarize yourself with the Section 508 guidelines (access-board.gov, ETC.)
- Consider how you want your site to work and how these rules impact that.
- The 508 checklist (at http://web508.gsfc.nasa.gov) will be a useful tool from now through the development process.
- With a representative sampling of pages, use an evaluation tool (listed at http://web508.gsfc.nasa.gov (some are free).
- Continue using checklist and evaluation tools throughout development.
- Remember:  Changes to a site's design may change how compliant it is.
- GSFC Web Accessibility Coordinator is always available for questions..
- Make sure compliance is tested rigorously; it's the law, like IT security, privacy, export control, ETC.
- Contact the CASB help desk for an official Section 508 review when beginning test phase.
- The goal is to have a compliant and accessible site by the time you reach your set go-live deadline.
- Please do not wait until the last minute to have a site examined.
- It's much easier and cost effective to make changes ahead of time.

## Review process

- - Contact CASB Helpdesk at 6-9508 or adb-support@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov to request an official 508 review
- Please provide the following information:
- Site URL
- username / password if needed
- adequate contact info
- The reviewer will:
- contact  the customer informing him/her that the request has been received.
- familiarize him/herself with the site,
- begin testing, using assistive technology and evaluation tools.
- keep in contact with the customer as testing progresses.
- will pass along any compliance problems found and suggested remedies.
- The developer or curator shall correct identified problems.
- Assistance is readily available if problems cannot be immediately corrected.
- A timeframe will be mutually agreed upon in which compliance will be reached.
- To complete the review, the reviewer will:
- notify all concerned when the site has been found to be Section 508 compliant.
- follow up by granting approval to make it available to users.

## Resources

- GPR2800.1 GSFC Section 508 Web Compliance
- http://gdms.gsfc.nasa.gov
- http:///web508.gsfc.nasa.gov
- Agency Section 508 Web site:
- www.section508.nasa.gov
- General Section 508 info:
- www.access-board.gov
- www.section508.gov

## Contact Info

- Courtney Smith, GSFC Web Accessibility Coordinator
- Phone: 301-286-7946
- E-mail: Courtney.L.Smith@nasa.gov
- Web Site: http://web508.gsfc.nasa.gov