This website was prepared by the Mid-America Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) under the cooperative agreement from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing on this website is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from CSAT or the authors. Citation of the source is appreciated.

The opinions expressed herein are the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of CSAT or any other part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Reference from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by CSAT to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Department or any of its agencies or employees. We are not responsible for the contents of any "off-site" web pages referenced from this server. Although our page includes links to sites including or referencing good collections of information, CSAT does not endorse ANY specific products or services provided by public or private organizations. In addition, CSAT does not necessarily endorse the views expressed by such sites, nor does CSAT warrant the validity of any site's information or its fitness for any particular purpose.

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Site Accessibility

Section 508 Web Alternate Format
For Alternative Access to Web Documents:
Email: contact our offices at (816) 482-1100.

Synopsis of Section 508 Accessibility Requirements:

Section 508 requires that when federally funded agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology (EIT), Federal employees with disabilities have comparable access to and use of information and data as Federal employees who have no disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a federally funded agency, have comparable access to and use of information and data as the public without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

Although federally funded agencies have an explicit statutory obligation to make all EIT that they develop, maintain or use compliant with Section 508, the current emphasis is on newly procured EIT because it is the category that is explicitly enforceable by legal action. Procurement awards made on or after June 25, 2001, are subject to Section 508 (see FAR Final Rule).

According to the Access Board, the Section 508 requirements do not apply retroactively to pre-existing EIT. Specifically, the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards: Economic Assessment," states that

"The standards are to be applied prospectively and do not require Federal agencies to retrofit existing electronic and information technology. As agencies upgrade and change their electronic and information technology, they must comply with the standards."
(See Chapter 2.1 Final Standards)

It should be noted, however, that other Federal regulations and guidelines (e.g., Section 501 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) require equal access for individuals with disabilities. Therefore, federally funded agencies are required, upon request, to provide information and data to individuals with disabilities through an alternative means of access that can be used by the individuals.