[Foundation-l] VPAT

[Huib Laurens]

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. Technology is deemed
to be "accessible" if it can be used as effectively by people with
disabilities as by those without. To demonstate that a product or Web
service is in compliance with Section 508, the creator completes a Voluntary
Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), an "informational tool" that
describes exactly how the product or service does or does not meet Section
508 standards. The completed VPAT gets posted on the creator's Web site to
provide government officials and consumers with access to the information.

The scope of Section 508 is limited to the federal sector. It includes
binding, enforceable standards, as well as compliance reporting requirements
and a complaint procedure. Section 508 doesn't apply to the private sector,
nor does it impose requirements on the recipients of federal funding.
Because the federal government has so much purchasing power, however, it is
hoped that Section 508 will encourage the developement of products and
Web-based services that meet accessibility standards. To that end, the
United Stated Department of Education now requires states funded by the
Assistive Technology Act State Grant program (a grant program that supports
consumer-driven state projects to improve access to assistive
technology<http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci914775,00.html>devices
and services) to comply with Section 508.