Section 508
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires electronic and information technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by the Federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 was added to the Rehabilitation Act in 1986. In 1998, additional amendments significantly expanded the Act’s scope.
Section 508 requires that, when a Federal agency develops, procures, maintains, or uses electronic and information technology, it will ensure that the electronic and information technology 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 Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed upon the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed upon the agency.
CGS’s website (chugachgov.com) products and/or services, including those provided by its subsidiaries, are in compliance with Section 508 technical standards. This website outlines the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent qualifications, which ultimately becomes the Government Product Accessibility Template (GPAT). The purpose of the VPAT is to assist Federal contracting officials and other buyers in making preliminary assessments regarding the availability of commercial EIT products and services with features that support accessibility.
CGS will comply with all required Federal or agency standards as specified in the Scope of Work for each government Task Order, including Section 508, the Federal Information Technology Accessibility Initiative. See 36 C.F.R. 1194.
All EIT deliverables that CGS produces resulting from task orders, inclusive of electronic documents, will meet, at a minimum, all threshold accessibility requirements as well as Section 508 technical standards. CGS will adhere to the following Section 508 technical standards as a resource to prepare and submit compliant deliverables:
1194.21 Software applications and operating systems
1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications
1194.23 Telecommunications Products
1194.24 Video and multimedia products
1194.25 Self-contained, closed products
1194.26 Desktop and portable computers
1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria
1194.41 Information, Documentation and Support
The EIT standard can be found at: http://www.Section508.gov
