Section 508 Glossary

Access Board. An independent Federal agency that develops and maintains accessibility requirements for the built environment and for electronic and information technology. Official name is the "Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board."

Alternate formats. Alternate formats usable by people with disabilities may include, but are not limited to, Braille, ASCII text, large print, recorded audio, tactile graphics, and electronic formats that comply with this part.

Alternate methods. Different means of providing information, including product documentation, to people with disabilities. Alternate methods may include, but are not limited to, voice, fax, relay service, TTY, Internet posting, captioning, text-to-speech synthesis, and audio description. Assistive technology. Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

California Government Code 11135. State of California statute that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in any program or activity that is conducted, funded directly by, or receives any financial assistance from the State. This section brings into State law the protection of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act which ensures accessibility to programs; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which requires the procurement of accessible electronic and information technology. Requires that any entity that contracts to provide electronic and information technology products or services shall agree to respond to and resolve any complaint regarding the accessibility of products or services provided.

Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT). Includes information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, World Wide Web sites, multimedia, and office equipment such as copiers and fax machines. The term does not include any equipment that contains embedded information technology that is used as an integral part of the product, but the principal function of which is not the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. For example, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment such as thermostats or temperature control devices, and medical equipment where information technology is integral to its operation, are not information technology.

Information Technology. Any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. The term information technology includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources.

Operable controls. A component of a product that requires physical contact for normal operation. Operable controls include, but are not limited to, mechanically operated controls, input and output trays, card slots, keyboards, or keypads.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. This law applies to programs conducted by Federal agencies, entities receiving Federal funds (such as colleges participating in Federal student loan programs), Federal employment, and employment practices of businesses with Federal contracts.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in programs that receive Federal funds. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that was expanded and strengthened in 1998 by creating binding, enforceable standards for the accessible design of technology; requires electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained or used by Federal government to be accessible to persons with disabilities.

Self Contained, Closed Products. Products that generally have embedded software and are commonly designed in such a fashion that a user cannot easily attach or install assistive technology. These products include, but are not limited to, information kiosks and information transaction machines, copiers, printers, calculators, fax machines, and other similar types of products.

Telecommunications. The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.

TTY. An abbreviation for teletypewriter. Machinery or equipment that employs interactive text based communications through the transmission of coded signals across the telephone network. TTYs may include, for example, devices known as TDDs (telecommunication display devices or telecommunication devices for deaf persons) or computers with special modems. TTYs are also called text telephones.

Undue burden. Undue burden means significant difficulty or expense. In determining whether an action would result in an undue burden, an agency shall consider all resources available to the program for which the product is being developed, procured, maintained, or used.