New Recommendations for Section 508
Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC)
Usability – Interoperability – Harmonization
This page provides a summary of the new Section 508 recommendations, with links to the original.
The summary below was taken directly from a handout distributed by Mike Paciello, co-chair of the Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC), at a presentation about the Section 508 Refresh at the Boston-IA meeting on October 22, 2008.
The handout includes a table of the TEITAC recommendations for the refresh of Section 508 as presented to the U.S. Access Board for approval in April 2008.
This summary is divided into the following sections:
The handout was sponsored by:
- UPA: Usability in Civic Life
- TPG: The Paciello Group
- TEITAC: United States Access Board
- Michigan State University: Usability & Accessibility Center (Outreach & Engagement)
TEITAC
Who: The Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC): 41 members from industry, government, international, and disabilities advocacy groups.
What: Recommendations for how the U.S. Access Board should update Section 508 and Section 255 regulations.
Why: To make ICT products accessible to as wide a range of people with disabilities as possible.
When: July 2006 – April 2008
What's New?
Requirements based on product characteristics rather than product types. How do we classify products that have so many features?
Section 508 v1: Hardware… Telecom… Software/OS… Web… Video/Multi-media… Self-contained, closed product… Portable Computer?
Proposed Performance Criteria
- Without Vision
- With Limited Vision
- With Color Deficits
- Without Hearing
- With Limited Hearing
- Without Speech
- With Limited Reach, Manipulation
- Without Physical Contact
- With Cognitive, Language, or Learning Limitations
Proposed Requirements
- Hardware with touch, speech output / throughput
- Electronic content
- Audio-video content, player, display
- Closed functionality
- Real-time voice
- Color
- Text size
Themes
Harmonization – Can we create standards that are harmonized with international & industry standards?
Testability – Can we create standards that are precise and unambiguous enough to easily determine if products meet the requirements, but open enough so that the provisions do not stifle innovation?
Interoperability – Can we promote interoperability between AT and IT?
Cognitive Disabilities – How do we meet their needs?
Usability of the Standards and Guidelines – How can we make technical requirements clear?
The Recommendations
Subpart B: Functional Performance Criteria
Functional Performance Criteria (FPC) refer to different disability categories and the necessity of providing access to the functionality of products. The FPC have been modified from the previous version to include a note on the role of assistive technology in meeting the FPC.
Products must provide at least one mode that allows access to all functionality of the product:
- A – Without Vision
- B – With Limited Vision
- C – With Color Deficits
- D – Without Hearing
- E – With Limited Hearing
- G – Without Speech
- H – With Limited Reach, Manipulation
- I – Without Physical Contact
- J – With Cognitive, Language, or Learning Limitations
Subpart C: Technical Provisions
- General Technical Requirements
- Requirements for Hardware Aspects of Products
- Requirements for User Interface and Electronic Content
- Additional Requirements for Audio-Visual Players or Displays
- Requirements for Audio and/or Video Content
- Additional Requirements for Real-Time Voice Conversation Functionality
- Additional Requirements for Authoring Tools
Subpart D: Support and Implementation
| TEITAC Recommendations | Section 508 Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Subpart C | ||
| 1 | General Technical Requirements | |
| 1-A | Closed Functionality | 1194.25(a) |
| 1-B | Biometric ID | 1194.25(d), 1194.26(c) |
| 1-C | Pass Through | 1194.23(j) |
| 1-D | Audio Information | |
| 1-E | Visual Information | |
| 1-F | Color | 1194.21(i), 1194.25(g) |
| 1-G | Text Size | |
| 1-H | Speech Operation | 1194.23(e) |
| 2 | Requirements for Hardware Aspects of Products | |
| 2.1 | All Products with Hardware | |
| 2.1-A | Reflectance Contrast for Legends and Passive Displays | 1194.21(j), 1194.25(h) |
| 2.1-B | Flashing | 1194.21(i), 1194.25(j), 1194.25(k) |
| 2.1-C | Mechanical Controls | 1194.23(k), 1194.26(a) |
| 2.1-D | Touch Operated Controls | 1194.25(c), 1194.26(b) |
| 2.1-E | Standard User Interface Connection | 1194.26(d) |
| 2.1-F | Installed or Free-Standing Products | 1194.25(j) |
| 2.2 | If the Product has Speech Output or Throughput | |
| 2.2-A | Magnetic Coupling | 1194.23(h) |
| 2.2-B | Interference with Hearing Device | 1194.23(i) |
| 2.2-C | Audio Connection | 1194.25(e) |
| 2.2-D | Volume | 1194.25(f) |
| 2.2-E | Volume (Gain) | 1194.23(f) |
| 2.2-F | Volume Reset | 1194.23(g) |
| 3 | Requirements for User Interface and Electronic Content | |
| 3-A | Color | 1194.21(i), 1194.22(c), 1194.25(h) |
| 3-B | Contrast | 1194.21(j) |
| 3-C | Size, Shape, Location | |
| 3-D | User Preferences | 1194.21(g) |
| 3-E | Color Adjustment | 1194.21(j) |
| 3-F | Non-text Objects | 1194.22(a) |
| 3-G | Human Language | |
| 3-H | Language of Parts | |
| 3-I | Pausing | 1194.21(h) |
| 3-J | Flashing (Content and User Interfaces) | 1194.21(k), 1194.22(j), 1194.25(i) |
| 3-K | Consistent Identification | 1194.21(e) |
| 3-L | Audio Turnoff | 1194.25(e) |
| 3-M | Reading Sequence | 1194.22(d) |
| 3-N | Link Purpose | |
| 3-O | Information and Relationships | 1194.22(g), 1194.22(h), 1194.22 (i), 1194.22(n), 1194.22(o), 1194.21(l) |
| 3-P | User Interface Components | 1194.21(l), 1194.22(l), 1194.22(n) |
| 3-Q | Disruption of Access Features | 1194.21(b) |
| 3-R | Timing | 1194.22(p), 1194.23(d), 1194.25(b) |
| 3-S | Keyboard Operation | 1194.21(a), 1194.21(e), 1194.21(f), 1194.21(k), 1194.21(l), 1194.21(m) |
| 3-SS | Visual Indication of Keyboard Shortcuts | |
| 3-T | Focus Indicator | 1194.21(c) |
| 3-U | AT Interoperability | 1194.21(d), 1194.21(c), 1194.21(f), 1194.21(m) |
| 3-V | Accessibility Services | |
| 3-VV | Assistive Technology | |
| 3-W | Multiple Ways | |
| 3-X | Labels or Instructions | |
| 3-Y | On Focus | |
| 3-Z | On Input | |
| 3-AA | Error Identification | |
| 3-BB | Headings and Labels | |
| 4 | Additional Requirements for Audio-Visual Players or Displays | |
| 4-A | Caption Processing | 1194.24(a) |
| 4-B | Supplemental Audio Process | 1194.24(b) |
| 4-C | Access to Caption and Video Controls | |
| 5 | Requirements for Audio and/or Video Content | |
| 5-A | Captions and Transcripts | 1194.24(c) |
| 5-B | Video Description | 1194.24(d) |
| 5-C | Interactive Elements | 1194.24(d), 1194.22(b) |
| 6 | Additional Requirements for Real-Time Voice Conversation Functionality | |
| 6-A | Real-Time Text Reliability and Interoperability | 1194.23(b) |
| 6-B | Voice Terminal Hardware and Software | 1194.23(a) |
| 6-C | IVR, Auto-Attendant and Messaging | 1194.23(c) |
| 6-D | Caller and Status Information | |
| 6-E | Video Support | |
| 6-F | Audio Clarity for Interconnected VoIP | |
| 6-G | External Alerting Devices | |
| 7 | Additional Requirements for Authoring Tools | |
| 7-A | Accessible Output | |
| 7-B | Preserve Accessibility Information | |
| 7-C | Prompts | |
| 7-D | Accessible Templates | |
| Subpart D | ||
| 1 | Information, Documentation & Support | |
| 1.1 | Product Documentation and Help | |
| 1.1-A | Accessible Documentation and Features | 1194.41(a), 1194.41(b) |
| 1.1-B | Keyboard Shortcuts | |
| 1.2 | Support and E&IT Related Services | |
| 1.2-A | Support Services | 1194.41(c) |
| 1.2-B | Manufacturer Contact | |
| 1.2-C | Training | |
| 2 | Implementation, Operation, and Maintenance | |
| 2-A | Relay Services Accessibility | |
| 2-B | Video Support | |
| 2-C | Accessibility Configuration | |
| 2-D | Accessible Content | |
© 2008 Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee. All rights reserved. Used with permission.