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IT Accessibility Review
Volume 1, Number 10
´Best Practice´ in Motion
Everyone Wins with Section 508
By Fred DiFiore, Director of Section 508 & 504 Compliance.
On June 21st, 2001, Federal agencies faced the daunting task of implementing Section 508 law. Section 508 requires strict compliance with specific automation standards that dramatically increase accessibility for the disabled. In 2001, many experts projected the cost for Section 508 compliance could cost the Federal government hundreds of millions of dollars. Fortunately for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), these grim cost projections never materialized. In fact, Section 508 has become a rewarding benefit at no additional cost.
This success stems from the USPTO´s approach to integrating Section 508 into the way it does business. USPTO incorporated Section 508 standards into the development of its software and web based products at the beginning of the process, rather than "retrofit" products. At the USPTO, Section 508 compliance is strictly enforced. Employees and contractors are trained on how to create compliant products. As employees and contractors have appreciated that compliance is mandatory, they have developed creative ways to build compliant products within both budget constraints and production schedules. The realization that USPTO will strictly enforce Section 508 compliance was really the critical turning point in IT product development.
According to one private-sector program manager working with USPTO, the USPTO Section 508 program provided them for the first time with clearly defined standards for software and web development. The USPTO´s Web Master collaborated with contractors to develop compliant templates for web-based applications. In addition, USPTO´s contractors built components for creating compliant software. These standardized approaches ensured compliant products.
Contractors, the Web Master, and the USPTO discovered even more advantages to Section 508 compliance. For example, the templates and components:
- Allow anyone to create compliant web products or interfaces. For example, a contractor estimated that a task would cost $30,000. Using a template, the USPTO was able to do the task internally for only $4000.
- Are reusable, thus enabling users to create products faster, cheaper and better.
- Are proven to be compliant, thus reducing the time for quality inspections.
- Result in more consistent products.
- Are usable on different types of technologies. Since the standards are not written for a specific technology, the templates and components are effective on any application, task or product.
- Result in faster and more effective training of employees and contractor personnel.
- Enable users to more easily adapt to other mandatory coding requirements (e.g., Department of Commerce web standards).
The most important benefit of Section 508 is the proven enhanced support to the USPTO employees with disabilities. With a Section 508 compliant infrastructure, the USPTO can provide faster and more effective accessibility solutions and support. In addition to these benefits, Section 508 saves the USPTO an estimated $1+ million annually in maintaining accessibility to its 61 employees with IT-related disabilities.
Do you know a company, agency, or individual who strives to put ´Best Practice´ in Motion through their work or actions? In about 250 words, tell us about them by submitting your piece to rriggs@tecaccess.net. Please place your submission directly into the body of the email and in the subject line write: Best Practice in Motion. (Sorry, attached submissions cannot be accepted.) We look forward to hearing from you and spreading the news of your choice of ´Best Practice´ in Motion!
