PEMCCO
Section 508 Compliancy
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template
Section 508 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which requires that electronic and information technology (EIT) developed, procured, maintained, or used by the Federal government be accessible to people with disabilities. On August 7, 1998, the President signed into law the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which includes the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. Section 508 was originally added to the Rehabilitation Act in 1986; the 1998 amendments significantly expand and strengthen the technology access requirements in Section 508.
Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, they shall ensure that the electronic and information technology allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.
PEMCCO’s products and/or services are in compliance with Section 508 technical standards. This website outlines the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent qualification, which ultimately becomes the Government Product Accessibility Template (GPAT). The purpose of the VPAT is to assist Federal contracting officials and other buyers in making preliminary assessments regarding the availability of commercial EIT products and services with features that support accessibility.
PEMCCO will comply with all required Federal or agency standards as specified in the Scope of Work for each government Task Order, including Section 508, the Federal Information Technology Accessibility Initiative (36 CFR 1194).
All EIT deliverables that PEMCCO produces resulting from task orders, inclusive of electronic documents, will meet all minimum accessibility requirements as well as Section 508 technical standards at a minimum. PEMCCO will adhere to the following Section 508 technical standards as a resource to prepare and submit compliant deliverables:
1194.21 Software applications and operating systems
1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications
1194.23 Telecommunications Products
1194.24 Video and multimedia products
1194.25 Self-contained, closed products
1194.26 Desktop and portable computers
1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria
1194.41 Information, Documentation and Support
The EIT standard can be found at: http://www.Section508.gov/.