Section 508 Is Only the Start of Accessibility
Section 508 requires that all government communications and information are accessible to people with disabilities. But what happens outside official communications is also crucial for accessibility.
Posts Tagged: Section 508
Equal Accessibility: The New White House Memorandum Impacting All Federal IT Systems
Ensuring accessibility should be a priority for every stakeholder involved in government technology development, operation and maintenance. A new federal memorandum highlights what’s required — so the American Dream is attainable for everyone, regardless of their physical ability.
Navigating Accessibility Responsibilities: A Role-Based Approach
Digital accessibility is complex. Having a clear sense of the responsibilities of each of the multiple roles involved can keep important aspects from falling through the cracks.
Seniors, Accessibility and CMS
Older Americans often have sight, hearing, mobility and cognition disabilities that make internet use difficult. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making its web presence more senior citizen-accessible.
How to Use Alt Text on Images in Your Communications
What if someone can’t access the important information your organization shares on your website, blog, social media, or digital documents simply because they can’t see or download images? There’s a simple solution to this problem called alt text.
How–and Why–to Use Descriptive Link Language
You’d think that people would know better by now than to use “Click here” for links. It’s not like they haven’t been told.
Talkin’ Pretty: Design and Accessibility
We’ve got a new twist this week, folks. Since I’ve been blogging mostly about accessibility, I wanted to talk with someone who approaches accessibility from a different perspective than a subject matter expert. I met with a designer who works for a federal government agency and has a refreshing outlook on design and accessibility. SheRead… Read more »
Reality TV and Accessibility Have a Lot in Common
How many times have you heard people say, “I hate reality TV! I want real shows. I wish they’d make something else.”? I don’t understand why people remained glued to reality TV shows despite their professed hatred of them. “But there’s nothing else on,” people say. “I’ve gotta watch something!” Hold out, I say, holdRead… Read more »
We Still Need to Convince People About Accessibility
I just read a blog post about the benefits of an accessible site. Despite working in accessibility for the past 15 years, sometimes I still get surprised that we even need to have the conversation about accessibility being necessary and the right thing to do–particularly in government where we’re required to comply with Section 508.Read… Read more »
5 Ways to Prepare for the Section 508 Refresh
We govies have been waiting for the Section 508 refresh for almost seven years. It was April 2008 when an advisory committee presented the first draft of the refresh to the U.S. Access Board. Section 508 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 1998. The amendment includes accessibility requirements for government agenciesRead… Read more »