Handbook AS-508-A - Section 508 Technical Reference Guide

1 Section 508 Technical Reference GuideHandbook AS-508-ASeptember 2004 Transmittal Using technology to enhance value is an integral part of the Postal Servicet sTransformation Plan. As we increase our reliance on electronic information systems tohelp us manage information and costs, improve service, and carry out our mission moreefficiently, we have an even greater responsibility to provide full access for ourcustomers, our employees, and those with whom we do business. This handbookprovides the tools to help each of us do that. All functional organizations should use theinformation in this Handbook to understand, achieve, and maintain Section 508compliance. By achieving the goals of this law, we fulfill our mission of binding the nationtogether in the 21st is a Technical Reference Guide in support of Handbook AS-508. It breaks out thedetails of each of the sections of that Handbook and how they are tied to the Providing access to electronic forms of Postal Service information, products, andservices is both efficient and economic.

2 The techniques in this Handbook have an effecton employees, customers, suppliers. and business partners. Given the broad scope ofthe 508 law and its pervasive impact on information technology, collaborative efforts areneeded to successfully achieve organization-wide compliance. Consequently, theaudience for this Handbook spans the entire corporation. Although managers offunctional organizations within the Postal Service have direct responsibility for theconformance of their area, the coordinated efforts of cross-functional teams are vital torealize the mandates of the Section 508 This Handbook is available online and may be accessed both from theInternet and from the Postal Service the homepage, click on All Products & Services, then on Publications,then on Postal Periodicals and Publications. Choose is also available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Intranet Web site:GGo to Essential Links in the left-hand column, click on References in the right-hand column, PolicyNet click on Comments and Questions.

3 Send comments via email to: AS-508 in Effective Date. This Handbook is effective L. OttoVice PresidentInformation TechnologyContentsiiiSeptember 2004 Contents1 Introduction1.. 1-1 Policy1.. 1-2 History of Section 5081.. of the Law1.. of the Law: Technical Standards and Functional Performance Criteria2.. 1-3 Compliance3.. of Compliance3.. of Justice4.. Service4.. Organizations4.. 1-4 Scope4.. Service Employees4.. Architecture and Information Infrastructure5.. 1-5 About This Handbook5.. Speaking5.. Chapters (1 4)5.. Chapters (5 11)5.. 1-6 Additional Sources for Accessibility6.. 2 Roles and Responsibilities7.. 2-1 Vice President/Chief Technology Officer7.. 2-2 Section 508 Program Manager, Information Technology7.. 2-3 Section 508 Technical Stewards9.. 2-4IT Portfolio Managers10.. 2-5 Vice President, Labor Relations10.. 2-6 Vice President, Supply Management10.. 2-7 Vice President, General Counsel11.

4 2-8 Vice President, Consumer Affairs11.. 2-9 Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications11.. 2-10 All Postal Service Officers11.. 2-11 All Functional Organizations12.. 2-12 Section 508 Stewards Liaisons for Accessibility12.. 2-13 Importance of Compliance13.. Section 508 Technical Reference GuideivHandbook AS-508-A3 Section 508 Overview of Accessibility15.. 3-1 What the Law Covers15.. Requirements15.. of Standards: Classes of Technology, Classes of Disability15.. 3-2 Rationale16.. 3-3 Assistive Technologies17.. Service Standards17.. 3-4 Guiding Principles18.. multiple Technical standards18.. both information itself and authoring tools that create information18.. all available techniques for access18.. 3-5 What is Compliance?19.. 4 Section 508 Postal Service Processes to Comply21.. 4-1 Background for Purchasing Compliant EIT21.. 4-2 Processes to Comply With Section 50822.. Standards and Functional Performance Criteria22.

5 And Buy22.. Procuring an EIT Solution22.. Developing or Maintaining an EIT Solution23.. Systems23.. 4-3 Policy24.. 4-4 Guiding Steps for the Purchase of an EIT Business Solution24.. 4-5 Integrated Systems Methodology (ISM) Overview27.. 4-6 About Exceptions and Undue Burden32.. Exceptions32.. Exceptions32.. Burden Exception33.. 4-7 Documentation of Exceptions33.. 4-8 Roles and Responsibilities33.. 4-9 Exception Documentation34.. 4-10 Preparing Undue Burden Justification34.. Appendix 4-A Template for Undue Burden Justification Documentation35.. 5 Software Applications and Operating Systems37.. 5-1 Overview37.. ContentsvSeptember and Use38.. to Software Accessibility39.. Requirements39.. for Compliance41.. 5-2 Keyboard Access41.. Keyboard Access to Menus42.. Keyboard Access to Toolbars42.. Keyboard Access to Window Elements43.. Keyboard Access to Controls44.. Keyboard Access to Commonly Used Functions45.

6 Latched and Locked Keyboard Access47.. 5-3 Activated Accessibility Features50.. Operating System Accessibility Features51.. Accessibility Features Through Use of Standard Controls, Frameworks, and APIs51.. Audio Accessibility Features51.. 5-4On-Screen Focus53.. Standard Controls to Expose Focus Information54.. Information for Associated Controls55.. 5-5 User Interface and Programmatic Elements58.. Standard UI Controls58.. Reliable Accessibility Frameworks for Nonstandard Controls59.. Other Key UI Objects Accessible59.. Information About Changed Images Accessible60.. Caution with Timeouts, Automatic Updates, and Refreshes61.. Section 508 Technical Reference GuideviHandbook AS-508-A5-6 Consistent Use of Images63.. 5-7 Textual Information65.. Standard OS Functions to Provide Textual Information66.. Text Cursor Information Accessible67.. 5-8 User-Selected Display Attributes, Color, and Contrast69.

7 And Application Display Settings70.. Appropriate Color Combinations71.. 5-9 Animation74.. Alternate Formats or Access Methods for Animated Elements75.. User Preferences for Animation75.. 5-10 Color Coding78.. Combine Color With an Alternate Format78.. 5-11 Video Frequency80.. Only Acceptable Flashing and Contrast Ranges80.. 5-12 Forms83.. ContentsviiSeptember .. Textual Information About Controls83.. Keyboard Access to Controls84.. On-Screen Input Focus85.. Labels with Controls86.. Response Time and Timeouts87.. User Scanning of Forms and Confirmation of Input89.. Forms89.. Appendix 5-A Software Applications and Operating Systems Accessibility Checklist93.. Appendix 5-B Summary of Software Applications and Operating Systems Testing Methods97.. 6 Web-Based Information and Applications Accessibility Guidelines99.. 6-1 Overview99.. and Use100.. Requirements101.. for Compliance102.

8 6-2 Non-Text Elements103.. Alternate Descriptive Text for Non-Text Elements103.. Alternate Text for Images106.. Long Descriptions in Addition to Alternate Text106.. Descriptive Links109.. Use of Blank Alternates110.. 6-3 Multimedia111.. Section 508 Technical Reference GuideviiiHandbook AS-508-A6-4 Color113.. 6-5 Style Sheets114.. So That Alternate Style Sheets Can Be Applied114.. 6-6 Image Maps117.. 6-7 Tables119.. Tables120.. Tables123.. 6-8 Frames127.. Using Frames127.. Frame Titles127.. 6-9 Screen Flicker129.. 6-10 Equivalent Text Content131.. Standard Accessible Formats131.. Hyperlinks132.. ContentsixSeptember .. 6-11 Scripting Languages133.. Accessibility134.. 6-12 Plug-ins and Applets136.. 6-13 Forms137.. 6-14 Portable Document Format (PDF) Files141.. 6-15 Repetitive Navigation144.. 6-16 Timed Responses145.. : When Applications Can Allow Users More Time145.. Time Limit: When Applications Do Not Allow More Time145.

9 Users That A Change Has Occurred146.. Updating of Web content146.. Appendix 6-A Web-Based Information and Applications Accessibility Checklist149.. Section 508 Technical Reference GuidexHandbook AS-508-A7 Telecommunications Products151.. 7-1 Overview151.. and Use153.. to Telecommunications Accessibility154.. Requirements155.. for Compliance156.. 7-2 TTY Connections and Microphones157.. Telephone Systems Must Provide TTY Connections159.. Signal Must Be Passed to TTY160.. Must Be Able to Turn Microphone On and Off160.. With Telecommunications Functions Must Support or Emulate TTYs161.. 7-3 TTY Signal Protocols163.. 7-4 Voice Mail, Auto-Attendant, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Systems165.. Mail, Auto-Attendant, and IVR Systems Must Be Accessible to TTY Callers166.. Must Offer Access In a Way That Does Not Require User Speech167.. User When Touch-Tone Response Is Required168.

10 Users Must Have Full Access to Voice Mail168.. 7-5 Time Interval Alerts for IVR Systems170.. Warning Before Response Period TImeouts and Preserve User Input171.. Control of Playback of IVR Messages171.. ContentsxiSeptember Both Visual and Audible Alerts171.. 7-6 Caller ID and Similar Functions173.. Talking Caller ID Functions174.. Access to Telephone Information Through Assistive Technology174.. Time-Sensitive Telephone Information Immediately175.. 7-7 Volume Control176.. 7-8 Automatic Volume Reset178.. Acceptable, In-Range Default Volume Settings179.. Automatic Reset of Volume Level and User Override Functions179.. Visual Indicator of Volume Setting180.. 7-9 Hearing Aid Compatibility181.. Support for Inductive Coupling182.. Telephones Must Support Hearing Aid Compatibility183.. 7-10 Minimized Interference185.. 7-11 Transmission/Conducting Information188.. Section 508 Technical Reference GuidexiiHandbook AS-508-A7-12 Controls and Keys191.