Section 508 tester jobs, employment skip to job postings, search close. Accessibility focuses on how a disabled person accesses or benefits from a site, system or application. Baseline tests for software and web accessibility was developed as part of a collaborative project between accessibility teams at the us department of homeland security dhs and the us social security administration ssa. Testing tools to validate pdfs for section 508 compliance, testers must utilize the tools available in adobe acrobat professional to conduct manual and automatic section 508 compliance testing.
It is designed to identify errors in your content related to section 508 standards andor the wcag. This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, the internet. Provide automated detection of accessibility issues. Aug 09, 2019 this repository contains updates to the trusted tester process, while in draft, to align to the revised section 508 standards.
Any accessibility testing must be viewed as a process that combines automated software tools with human judgment. Testing for web accessibility compliance under section 508. No tool exists that you can run against your web site or web page for that matter in order to assert that it is accessible andor complies with the section 508 provisions or the web content accessibility guidelines, however much. In an effort to standardize their approach to section 508 agency wide, dhs. May 26, 2017 achieving complete 508 compliance can be a complicated process to try and undertake on your own.
Our clients include large healthcare and technology companies that look to us to provide the right mix of accessibility knowledge and practicality. Section 508 covers technology procured by a federal agency under contract with a private entity or produced within the agency itself. Monitoring compliance for section 508, american with disabilities act ada, and the web content accessibility. Pioneering the automation of section 508 compliance testing. Dhs section 508 compliance test processes homeland security. United states federal chief information officers council cioc accessibility community of practice acop june 2019 version 5. Test for accessibility find an overview of testing methods and the tools to test websites, software, and electronic documents for conformance with the revised 508 standards. Achieving complete 508 compliance can be a complicated process to try and undertake on your own. Independent it assessment and security services testpros. But 508 covers all information technology and it is the only standard that does so.
Overview of testing methods for 508 conformance section508. Baseline tests for software and web accessibility version 1. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. To further streamline the manual testing process, the dhs section 508 testing process begins with evaluating the interface elements where both software and web standards apply. Manual manual testing uses a documented, consistent, repeatable process hybrid a combination of automated and manual testing. Dhs developed test processes for evaluating section 508 compliance for ios and android applications, largely based upon section 508 s functional performance criteria fpc. Achieve section 508 and wcag compliance for digital publications and prerecorded media. Provide technical guidance, tools and resources to assist with section 508 compliance throughout the agency. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973. It applies to all electronic and information technology eit including software, web sites, web applications, and hardware applications such as computers, networks, peripherals, and other types of electronic office equipment. Section 508 application test process accessibility dc.
The department of educations assistive technology program, the access board publishers of the section 508 standards, and other agencies in the forefront of accessibility testing, have been inundated with 508 related questions, especially as they relate to web development and accessibility. If additional information is needed, the 508 coordinator will contact the cms application owner. Thats why we designed software to be simple, elegant, and optimized for realworld use. The section 508 website provides a dedicated page on section 508 compliance testing, including testing guidelines for websites, software, and electronic documents. Section 508 pdf document accessibility test process. When states wanted to require accessible information technology, they turned to the section 508 accessibility standards to define accessibility. Section 508 compliance is achievable with the right help. During the past 20 years, criterion has assisted more than 2,000 government agencies and contractors to obtain longterm section 508 compliance via our premium section 508 compliance services. Hisoftware cynthia says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution.
Powerpoint document 508 checklist if you are responsible for creating or signing offclearing files, you can use this checklist as part of your process. Criterion offers section 508 testing from a real world perspective by including expert wcag testers with disabilities on every audit team. More details of that effort and outcome are available in the harmonized testing process for section 508 compliance. They are powerful alone, but even more powerful when used together. The law applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Automated tests can process large quantities of content extremely. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act requires that institutions receiving federal funds solicit, procure, maintain and use all information and communication technology ict so that equal or alternatecomparable access is given to federal employees and. Dhs section 508 compliance application test process and using approved testing tools.
As an option, we can apply the fixes to your software section 508 remediation in order to bring it into full compliance with the section 508 standard authorization to use the testpros tested 508 compliance logo the terms and conditions of the 508 compliance testpros tested logo agreement we. Oct 04, 2019 dhs developed test processes for evaluating section 508 compliance for ios and android applications, largely based upon section 508 s functional performance criteria fpc. Section 508 office of the chief information officer. Feb 23, 2015 learn how to make your documents 508 compliant in nexights stepbystep video tutorial. Section 508 compliance section 508 is a law that must be followed by federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain or use eit. Section 508 is the governing principle and it requires that all government information be accessible to disabled users. No tool exists that you can run against your web site or web page for that matter in order to assert that it is accessible andor complies with the section 508 provisions or the web content accessibility guidelines, however much you are willing to pay. Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. About the section 508 standards united states access board. Hybrid apps are native apps that integrate web content. Provide training to employees on the section 508 standards, and how to develop and buy accessible technology. The trusted tester process incorporates the harmonized processes for section 508 testing. The tools used in the trusted tester test process and ict testing baseline tests have been chosen based on several factors including.
If additional information is needed, the 508 coordinator will. These tests can be incorporated in distinct, practical, and systematic processes for pdf documents. Section 508 was originally added to the rehabilitation act in 1986. Reveal what a screen reader should say for interactive elements. Accessibility testing isperformed to ensure that the software application, its content and functionality are accessible and usable by people with different types of disabilities. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. The office of the chief information officer ocio is responsible for hhs section 508 compliance. The document incorporates the harmonized testing processes for section 508 compliance. Alphabetical ordering of the standards requires additional repetitive testing effort over the dhs streamlined sequence. In an effort to improve section 508 testing across government, the harmonized testing process for section 508 compliance. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications version. Trusted tester and ict testing baseline section508. Please visit other pages on the navigation pane to the right titled resources to view more information about accessibility and obtaining conformance with section 508. Section 508 is an important amendment to the rehabilitation act that protects the right of people with disabilities to have equal access to electronic and information technology.
Section 508 also means that a person with a disability applying for a job with the federal government or a person who is using an agencys website to get information about a program, or completing an online form has access to the same accessible information and resources available to anyone. Therefore, testing is needed to reduce the risk of unknowingly implementing. Section 508 is the federal requirement for software to be accessible for people with disabilities. During the audit process, there will be automated testing, manual testing, and. Eas section 508 team our enterprise applications services eas section 508 team works closely with the usda section 508 program office to ensure quality and continuity in our testing efforts. The test processes cover testing of native or hybrid apps. Section 508 compliance a quick guide by level access. Baseline tests for software and web accessibility ver 1. Accessibility is an important part of the designing your site and should be considered throughout the development process. Advancing the industry of digital media accessibility services for over a decade, word wizards has the knowledge and experience to make your content 508 compliant. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications a logical order and groupings of interface s is normally a given in the design of component software applications and web content. Gsa 508 technical tools and resources free testing tools for 508 compliance. On august 7, 1998, the president signed into law the workforce investment act of 1998, which includes the rehabilitation act amendments of 1998. Many people within an organization are responsible for documents and communications that fall under section 508, as well as hiring or conducting business with contractors which must also be compliant.
Any truly comprehensive testing plan must include both automated and manual testing, preferably including testers with disabilities. Listed below are section 508 testing tools available from nongovernment websites. When software is deployed, government it staff use a 508 toolbar to manually test and identify areas of the application that appear to be out of compliance. The boards section 508 standards apply to electronic and information technology procured by the federal government, including computer hardware and software, websites, phone systems, and copiers. May 06, 2019 hhs section 508 accessibility checklists the below checklists are the official hhs accessibility checklists. The original section 508 dealt with electronic and information technologies, in recognition of the growth of this field. Many people within an organization are responsible for documents and communications that fall under section 508, as well as hiring or conducting business with contractors which must also be. There are several ways to validate conformance to the revised 508 standards. Section 508 compliance is required for federal agencies and contractors. Automated high volume 508 conformance testing tools automatically scan and test electronic content. This document contains a set of tests that cover section 508 standards and align with applicable wcag 2.
If you already know about wcag youre in great shape. To work toward compliance, we recommend incorporating accessibility testing into existing testing processes. The first version of the harmonized baseline was developed in 2009 to establish consistency in section 508 conformance testing within the federal government. Section 508, an amendment to the united states workforce rehabilitation act of 1973, is a federal law mandating that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to section 508 standards andor the wcag guidelines. In 1997, the federal electronic and information technology accessibility and compliance act was proposed in the u. This page contains the cms section 508 policy which was approved by the cms section 508 official. Adobe acrobat reader does not include any accessibility validation tools and therefore it is not used to test pdfs in this test process. The baseline was developed as part of a collaborative project between the.
The following standards are excerpted from section 508 of the rehabilitation act, 1194. Pdf icon harmonized testing process for section 508 compliance. This page has information about the section 508 law, and the va section 508 office. As per section 508 of the amended united states rehabilitation act of 1973, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information. Manual manual testing uses a documented, consistent, repeatable process.
For more information, contact a cms 508 clearance officer see downloads below. We use detailed dhs section 508 compliance testing process for both. This repository contains updates to the trusted tester process, while in draft, to align to the revised section 508 standards. Section 508 compliance testing 508 compliance website. Accessibility testing for websites and software section508. Solid experience in software quality assurance process, software testing using various methodologies like agile, waterfall and iterative. Section 508 was updated in 2018 explicitly referencing the web content accessibility guidelines wcag 2. Computer software, hardware, and documentation are all covered by section 508. Section 508 trusted tester certification level access. Hybrid a combination of automated and manual testing.
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