Handbook AS-508 - Section 508 - USPS

1 Section 508 Handbook AS-508 June 2004 Transmittal LetterA. Purpose. Using technology to enhance value is an integral part of the Postal Service sTransformation Plan. As we increase our reliance on information systems to help usmanage information, improve service, manage costs, and carry out our mission moreefficiently, we have a greater responsibility than ever to provide full access for ourcustomers, our employees, and those we do business with including people Handbook explains the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act andsets forth, in broad outline, the Postal Service s policies on how to comply with them. Allfunctional organizations can use the information in this Handbook to understand,achieve, and maintain Section 508 AS-508 -A, Section 508 Technical Reference Guide, presents these policies ingreater technical Scope.

2 The guidelines in this Handbook affect Postal Service employees, customers,suppliers, and business partners. Given the broad scope of this law and its pervasiveimpact on information technology, collaborative efforts are needed for its , the audience for this Handbook spans the entire corporation. Althoughmanagers of functional organizations within the Postal Service have direct responsibilityfor complying with Section 508 within their areas of responsibility, the coordinated effortsof cross-functional teams are vital to realize the mandates of the Availability. This Handbook is available online only 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.

3 Choose is also available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Intranet Web site: Go to Under Essential Links in the left-hand column, click on References. Under References in the right-hand column, click on PolicyNet Text. Then click on Comments and Questions. Send your comments, questions, or additional informationabout the Handbook via e-mail Use AS-508 in Effective Date. This Handbook is effective L. OttoVice PresidentInformation TechnologyContentsiiiJune 2004 Contents1 Introduction1.. 1-1 The Postal Service s Mission in the 21st Century1.. 1-2 Removing Barriers1.. 1-3An Ongoing Postal Service Commitment2.. 2 About This Handbook3.. 2-1 Policy3.. 2-2 Postal Service Functional Organizations and Personnel3.

4 2-3 Suppliers4.. 2-4 Enterprise Architecture and Information Infrastructure4.. 3 Full Integration: The Steward Model5.. 3-1 Roles and Responsibilities5.. 3-2 Vice President/Chief Technology Officer5.. 3-3 Section 508 Program Manager, Information Technology6.. 3-4508 Technical Stewards7.. 3-5IT Portfolio Managers8.. 3-6 Vice President, Labor Relations8.. 3-7 Vice President, Supply Management8.. 3-8 Vice President, General Counsel9.. 3-9 Vice President, Consumer Affairs9.. 3-10 Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications9.. 3-11 All Postal Service Officers9.. 3-12 All Functional Organizations9.. 3-13 Section 508 Stewards Liaisons for Accessibility10.. 3-14 Importance of Compliance10.

5 4 Guiding Steps for the Purchase of an EIT Business Solution13.. 4-1 The Six Steps13.. 4-2 Technical Standards and Functional Performance Criteria15.. 4-3 About Exceptions and Undue Burden16.. 5 About the Section 508 Technical Standards17.. 5-1 Software and Operating Systems Accessibility17.. Technical Steward17.. General Requirements17.. 5-2 Web-based Information and Application Accessibility19.. Technical Steward19.. Section 508ivHandbook General Requirements19.. 5-3 Telecommunications Products Accessibility21.. Technical Steward21.. General Requirements21.. 5-4 Video and Multimedia Products Accessibility22.. Technical Steward22.. General Requirements23.. 5-5 Self-Contained, Closed Products Accessibility23.

6 Technical Steward23.. General Requirements24.. 5-6 Desktop and Portable Computers Accessibility25.. Technical Steward25.. General Requirements25.. 5-7 Information, Documentation, and Support Accessibility26.. General Requirements26.. 6 Summary of Section 508 Resources27.. 1-21 June 20041 Introduction1-1 The Postal Service s Mission in the 21st CenturyThe core mission of the Postal Service is to bind the nation togetherthrough the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence ofits people. Aided by technology, electronic communication has become botha supplement to the traditional paper-based exchange of ideas and acommunication channel for access to the Postal Service itself.

7 In light of theneed to include people with disabilities in the work of the Postal Service, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that all Postal Serviceinformation be accessible to all citizens and to all Postal Service an age where technology is opening new doors for everyone, persons withdisabilities should not encounter technology as a barrier. Technology must beof assistance to all people and provide uniform communication to Removing BarriersDespite the general goodwill of technology designers, some sophisticateddevices that have been developed to enhance communication haveinadvertently become barriers for people with disabilities. For example, Websites with unexplained graphics can be incomprehensible to blind print intended to reduce the size of documents is hard to read forpeople with limited vision.

8 Complex phones intended to simplify a job do notalways support TTY (teletypewriter) access for deaf people and mayrepresent a barrier for someone with dexterity or cognitive techniques that enable video to travel through the Internet candisrupt the synchronization needed for captioning for people who are 508 gives guidance to create accessibility by providing both clearstatements of the challenges posed by different types or classes oftechnology and the approaches needed for universal access. Some of theguidance is clear and easy to accomplish. Some of the approaches requiredeep awareness of disability issues and a sophisticated understanding ofboth traditional technology and assistive device technology.

9 And, in someinstances, best practices that enable full access require a fresh approach toestablished 5082 Handbook AS-5081-3 An Ongoing Postal Service CommitmentBefore June 2001, when Section 508 took effect, the Postal Service formed aProgram team to define our strategy, to create guidance that specified ourtechniques to build accessible technology, and to begin the process ofinstitutionalizing the knowledge and skills needed to insure compliance withthe as the physical environment required legislation to make wheelchairaccess a part of building codes, the clear mandate for accessible electronictechnology has required Section 508. Just as builders took several years togain a functional understanding of physical accessibility, a period of transitionhas been part of our conversion to full information technology software purchased or created by the Postal Service since the law tookeffect is as compliant with Section 508 standards as possible.

10 3 June 20042 About This HandbookThe intent of this Handbook is to help you to understand and implementSection 508 accessibility standards. In the absence of explicit Postal Servicedirection or policy related to a general requirement or technical standards,refer to Section 508 Handbook helps you do the following: Gain a better understanding of the general requirements ofSection 508. Know the specific technical requirements of electronic and informationtechnology (EIT) standards and related provisions. Know how they translate into Postal Service agencies, industry, and the general public interested in PostalService Section 508 activities may also find this book PolicyThe Postal Service complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.