What is section 508?

In 1998 the US Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

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. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. § 794d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others. The law became enforceable on June 25, 2001.

Each state is allowed to decide how to enforce it: either observe it and hope everyone joins in or mandate it and require compliance.

Why Mandate 508?

Oregon does not have an active compliance and monitoring policy for Web accessibility. This means state and local agencies are not required to legally make their websites accessible.

Since Website accessibility is vital to job-seeking, information searches and economic growth in Oregon, it's time we re-work how Oregon observes Section 508 and join the states who mandate 508 compliance.

Learn more about Oregon Web Accessibility status
http://accessibility.gtri.gatech.edu/sitid/state_prototype.php?state=37#...