In 1998 united states congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 to mandate federal agencies to make all of their digital and electronic information accessible to individuals with disabilities. Section 504 of the 1973 rehabilitation act washington, d. The following questions and answers are intended to assist tcap grantees and project owners to understand and comply with the nondiscrimination requirements established by section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 and promulgated at. The nondiscrimination requirements of the law apply to employers. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 definition of disability under section 504 a person is considered to have a disability if that person 29 u. In 1998, congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 to require federal agencies to make their electronic. Section 508 electronic and information technology a requirements for federal departments and agencies. Office of the state superintendent of education 810 first st. Dec 04, 2017 when originally drafted, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 mandated that all electronic and information technology used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities.
Find out more about this topic, read articles and blogs or research legal issues, cases, and codes on. Jefferson county public schools district guide for. Section 504 of the 1973 rehabilitation act was the first disability civil rights law to be enacted in the united states. The law strengthens section 508 of the rehabilitation act and requires access to electronic and information technology provided by the federal government. For additional information contact your childs school principal or school section section 504 district coordinator vision, mission, purpose. Rehabilitation act of 1973 national association of the deaf. Rehabilitation act section 508 the rehabilitation act of 1973 requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology eit accessible to people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in. There have been a number of changes to the rehabilitation act of 1973 over the years. Over the course of time, both the scope and the specificity of section 508 have changed through revisions and court interpretations.
Section 508 and section 501 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 are often confused with each other. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act 1973, as amended 1998 requires that any electronic and information technology eit procured, developed, used or maintained by federal agencies must be accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 julie j. In 1998, congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology eit accessible to people with disabilities. This law became what is now known as section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. Section 508 requires that electronic and information technology eit acquired by the federal government be accessible by people with disabilities. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 it is the policy of the ceres unified school district to provide a free and appropriate public education to each disabled student within the district, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability. Section 508 also does not require that an agency purchase equipment to provide information for persons with disabilities at locations other than where that information is provided to others.
In the end, this federal electronic and information technology accessibility and compliance act, with revisions, was enacted as the new section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, in 1998. Although pdfua1 was considered as a standard, it was ultimately not. In 1974, congress amended the act and broadened the definition of handicapped individual under section 504. Compliance with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. Section 503 prohibits employment discrimination based on disability by federal. A free and appropriate public education is the provision of regular or special education. Effective 2 years after the date of enactment of the rehabilitation act amendments of 1998, any individual with a disability may file a complaint.
Are mobileready pdf files created with acrobat xi pro compliant with section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended 29 u. Ne, washington, dc 20002 section 504 of the 1973 rehabilitation act local education agency toolkit. The law strengthens section 508 of the rehabilitation act and requires access to electronic and information technology provided. The rehabilitation act amendments of 1992 amended the rehabilitation act of 1973, 29 u. Two sections within the rehabilitation act, as amended, have impact on accessible web design. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 section 504 is one of several federal and state laws that protect students with disabilities. Section 508 addresses legal compliance through the process of market research and government procurement and also has technical standards against which. Accessible pdf ensures that the document or forms in pdf format are. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973 is within the scope of wikiproject disability. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended the act requires that individuals with disabilities, who are federal employees or members of the public seeking information or services from a federal agency, be provided access to and use. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 definition of.
Section 508 of the rehabilitation act federal communications. Xml rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended through p. In addition to section 508, the rehabilitation act of 1973 has several other sections section 501 and 505 prohibits federal employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act level access. Iv 1992, to apply the substantive standards of title i of the ada to sections 501, 503, and 504 of the rehabilitation act for nonaffirmative action employment discrimination cases pub. Summary of section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. This checklist is not official section 508 documentation.
The rehabilitation act of 1973 is the federal law that approves grants to states for vocational rehabilitation services, supported employment, independent living, and client assistance. When originally drafted, section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 mandated that all electronic and information technology used by the federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. The section 508 refresh and what it means for higher. Learn about section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended in 1998 29. The federal government increasingly relies on technology to carry out its business and deliver information to.
Section 504 rehabilitation act of 1973 amazon web services. Usaid implementation of section 508 of the rehabilitation. The passfail criteria in this document represent an interpretation of section 508 web standards. It is important to understand section 508 in the context of other laws related to federal disability policy. Section 508 amendment to the rehabilitation act of 1973. Sections 501 and 504 of the rehabilitation act may require specific modifications as reasonable accommodations in particular instances. This page has links to files containing ascii text copies of the rehabilitation act. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, the individual or group of individuals may file a complaint with the department. Ict shall be exempt from compliance with the revised 508 standards to the extent specified by e202.
Rehabilitation act of 1973 how is rehabilitation act of. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability. Section 504 is part of the rehabilitation act of 1973. Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such persons major life activities. If you are a federal employee who has a qualified disability, then your employee rights under section 501 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 prohibit your federal employer from discriminating against you on the basis of your disability. A development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic and information technology.
A written complaint should be filed using the departments section 508 complaint form form 50801. Usaid implementation of section 508 of the rehabilitation act. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, pub. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 disability.
Section 508 covers technology procured by a federal agency under contract with a private entity or produced within the agency itself. The rehabilitation act of 1973 as amended by wioa pdf. The department of justice is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking to revise its regulation implementing section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as applicable to programs and activities receiving financial assistance from the department, in order to incorporate amendments to the statute. The federal acquisition regulation far micropurchase exemption to section 508 of the rehabilitation act will expire on april 1, 2005. The rehabilitation services administration rsa administers the act.
Aug 06, 2015 section 508 also does not require that an agency purchase equipment to provide information for persons with disabilities at locations other than where that information is provided to others. On august 7, 1998, president clinton signed into law the rehabilitation act amendments of 1998 which covers access to federally funded programs and services. An act to replace the vocational rehabilitation act, to extend and revise the authorization of grants to states for vocational rehabilitation services, with special emphasis on services to those with the most severe disabilities, to expand special federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to individuals with disabilities. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs that receive federal financial assistance, and set the stage for enactment of the americans with disabilities act. When developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology, each federal. The rehabilitation act of 1973 and amendments blind.
Federal register amendment of regulations implementing. It is the policy of the pemberton township board of education to provide a free and appropriate public education fape to all students within its jurisdiction who are handicapped consistent with the definitions set forth in section 504 of the rehabilitation act. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act the standards, which have been in place for over 15 years, promote ict that can be accessed by the public and employees with disabilities. The process for filing a section 508 complaint will be as follows. The rehabilitation act of 1973 requires access to programs and activities that are funded by federal agencies and to federal employment. However, implementation of section 508 across agencies is. Nearly everyone plays a role in carrying out section 508. Section 508 of the act, as now amended, provides for. This page has links to files containing ascii text copies of the rehabilitation act and some of the subsequent changes to it. C this article has been rated as cclass on the projects quality scale.
Section 504 is a federal civil rights statute prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. In 1998, congress amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 to require. Section 508 of the act, as now amended, provides for us a blueprint of just what is intended in section 504. Y ou specifically asked us to consider this subject in light of school board ofnassau county v. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act legitimate online. Nov 02, 2015 section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. Section 794d and web content accessibility guildeines wcag 2. Section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities conducted by hud or that receive financial assistance from hud. Information regarding section 508 of the rehabilitation act. Improvements in hardware, operating system software, assistive technology, or. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 states that electronic and. The law also established the access board section 502.
What is title ii of the americans with disabilities act. Under this law, individuals with disabilities may not be excluded from or denied the opportunity to receive benefits and services from certain programs. Video for creating accessible ms word and pdf documents is available. Rehabilitation act of 1973 united states access board. An act to replace the vocational rehabilitation act, to extend and revise the authorization of grants to states for vocational rehabilitation services, with special emphasis on services to those with the most severe handicaps, to expand special federal responsibilities and research and training programs with respect to handicapped individuals, to.
Electronic and information technology a requirements for federal departments and agencies 1 accessibility a development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic and information technology. The law applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Application of section 504 of the rehabilitation act to hiv. Reference sites for section 508 information technology u. C 794 d applies to all federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. The funds reserved must be used solely for the provision of preemployment transition services and preemployment transition coordination activities described in section 1b through d of the rehabilitation act 361. For more section 508 information, please go to the following. For more information, visit the project page, where you can join the project andor contribute to the discussion. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 29 usc 794d requires that when u. Section 508 standards in 1998, congress decoded amended the rehabilitation act of 1973 to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. In addition to its responsibility for enforcing other federal statutes prohibiting discrimination in housing, hud has a statutory responsibility under.
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