Section 508
In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act. These changes requires Federal departments or agencies, when they develop, procure, maintain, or use Electronic and Information Technology (EIT), must ensure that the EIT allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by other Federal employees. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal department or agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public without
disabilities.
Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual’s ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, facilitating new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.
The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Final Rule in compliance with Section 508 was published on April 25, 2001, amending the FAR to incorporate the Section 508 accessibility standards. With only a few special exceptions, vendors wishing to sell to the Government must ensure all their products and services are compliant with the 508 standards.
Competitive Innovations fully supports this effort to provide access for all users of electronics and information technology. Faster, cheaper, and better access to information is the cornerstone of our business philosophy. Accessible information doesn’t just happen, however; it must be integral major factor in all facets of development. By ensuring our products and services are 508 compliant, we believe we also improve the information’s overall usability to its entire audience.
Competitive Innovations is a recognized leader in the field of Section 508 testing and compliance having consulted on numerous Federal and commercial projects . Our broad experience and capabilities in the world of systems integration and software development include:
- Inclusive understanding of Section 508 standards and end user experience
- Software and hardware expertise required to identify the 508 violations
- Expertise to introduce into and use assistive technologies with integrated systems solutions
- Experience with legacy systems to ensure the successful integration of new assistive tools and processes into that environment
For additional information on Section 508, please visit