Note

This archival content is maintained by WebAIM and NCDAE on behalf of TEITAC and the U.S. Access Board . Additional and up-to-date details on the updates to section 508 and section 255 can be found at the Access Board web site.

Subpart A:Definitions

Contents

Overview

This article contains definitions from Section 508 §1194.4, Section 255 §1193.3, and terms of art that warrant consideration for definitions based on subcommittee conversations.

  • (Additions are shown in CAPS. Deleted text is marked by [brackets].)

Definitions

Accessible

It was determined that a definition was not required.

Accessibility API

It was determined that this term should not be used. See "Accessibility Services."

Accessibility Services

  • New term to be defined by the Web and Software Subcommittee

Agency

Any Federal department or agency, including the United States Postal Service.

Alternate Formats

Alternate Methods

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology means 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. AS USED IN THIS PART, THE TERM INCLUDES TRADITIONAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ALONG WITH VIRTUAL ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DELIVERED AS A WEB SERVICE AND INTEGRATION OF PRODUCTS INTO A SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONS WHICH ALLOW INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO ACCESS ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

  • Rationale: Added language clarifying that assistive technology includes web based and integration services.
  • Subcommittee could not reach consensus on suggestion to add list of required AT to the defintion (one subcommittee member dissented because a list of AT was not included.) Support for an AT list was to ensure more ready access to items on the list. Many subcommittee members were opposed to an AT list due to concerns with lists becoming too long, outdated, misapplied as absolutes, etc. An alternative suggestion was for technical assistance that would reference AT resource lists such as the federal CAP listing of assistive technology used in accommodations (http://www.tricare.mil/cap/acc_sol/Assistive_Technology.cfm) or the Assistive Technology Act federally funded National Public Website on Assistive Technology (http://assistivetech.net). Another alternative suggestion was for the Access Board to recommending that each agency compile a list of the AT typically used in that agency.

Captioning

  • Text coming from A/V Subcommittee.

Comparable Access

COMPARABLE ACCESS MEANS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO AND USE OF INFORMATION AND DATA THAT IS TIMELY, ACCURATE, COMPLETE AND EFFICIENT WHEN COMPARED TO THAT AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT DISABILITIES.

  • New explanatory information: Timely access means that individuals with disabilities have information and data available to them at the same time as individuals without disabilities, but that does not preclude captions that are a millisecond or two delayed or other reasonable differences in timing given individual situations. Accurate means that the information and data reflects the intended meaning especially when converted into another form or media. Complete means that all critical information and data is present when accessed by assistive technology or converted into another form or media. Efficient means that an individual with a disability exerts a reasonably similar or comparable amount of effort (given the capacity of current assistive technology) in using electronic and information technology as compared to an individual without a disability.
  • Rationale: Addition of comparable access definition at the request of federal procurement officials and other subcommittees to provide framework for application of functional performance standards.
  • Subcommittee could not reach consensus on including some or all of the explanatory information as part of the defintion itself. It will be critical to expand on and explain the terms “timely, accurate, complete and efficient” to ensure understanding and consistency in application but the group could not reach consensus on where that explanation should occur.
  • Subcommittee also could not reach consensus on possible addition of the word “communication” to “information and data” to clarify that communication is part of information and data.

Electronic and Information Technology

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 IN WHICH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS NOT the principal function of THAT PRODUCT. [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.]

  • Rationale: Editorial revision that uses the term information technology instead of repeating the definition of that term. Deletion of the “For example” list due to misunderstanding in application (e.g. the list is not comprehensive and raises as many questions as it answers.) The deletion is not intended to alter the current exclusion of products with embedded IT.
  • Some subcommittee members support substituting the word “a” for “the” which expands the application of the 508 requirements to products with embedded IT where IT is one of multiple functions that could be considered “principal”.
  • Some subcommittee members voiced support for application of the 508 requirements to embedded IT functions, thus elimination of that exclusion.

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.

  • There are no changes being proposed for this definition.

Menu

  • Text coming from Telecommunications Subcommittee.

Operable Controls

  • Text coming from Hardware Subcommittee.

Product

Electronic and information technology.

  • There are no changes being proposed for this definition.

Programatically Determinable

Real-time Text

Real-time, Real-time Conversation

It was determined that a definition was not required for these terms.

Self-contained, Closted Products

Telecommunications

Termincal Device

TTY

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 agency resources available to the program or component for which the product is being developed, procured, maintained, or used.

Video Description


Archive

The prior version of this web page has been moved to a definitions archive page.

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