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Re: It's Official - New Sec. 508 is out

for

From: Ron
Date: Feb 20, 2015 3:52PM

In following this thread there is an important distinction to be made the
NPRM has been released. If you have issues or recomendations to make you
have your chance, and need to get your comments submitted.

Once this period has ended we will then go into the final rule making
process, and once the Final Rules have been published the Access Board will
develop the implimentation regulations and guidance.

That process will take some time ~18 months is the average the last time I
looked. This is your only opportunity to provide imput to the final
product and it does impact the final product and subsequent administrative
rules.

Ron Stewart

On Friday, February 20, 2015, Dona Patrick < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> Thanks Duff -- we are bound by Section 508 on our US Government contracts
> -- so it applies what we do.
>
> On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 12:35 PM, Duff Johnson < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> <javascript:;>>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Dona,
> >
> > > I've tried to propose to
> > > my company that we use PDF/UA as a standard and this would force us to.
> > >
> > > Or am I reading it wrong?
> >
> > This Rule will not *force* any / every company to use PDF/UA as a
> standard
> > for PDF documents (or WCAG 2.0 for web pages) unless Section 508 already
> > applied.
> >
> > The Rule itself could be slightly more clearly stated, IMO, but PDF/UA is
> > required "when applicable".
> >
> > On this page
> >
> >
> >
> http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/proposed-rule/v-major-issues
> >
> > The Access Board says:
> >
> > "The proposed rule would address these deficiencies in the existing 508
> > Standards by clearly delineating the scope of covered electronic content,
> > as well as specifying concrete, testable, technical requirements to
> ensure
> > the accessibility of such content. The Board proposes that all covered
> > electronic content would be required to conform to WCAG 2.0 Level A and
> > Level AA Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements specified for Web
> > pages or, where applicable, ISO 14289-1 (PDF/UA-1)."
> >
> > And two paragraphs further on they give an example:
> >
> > "The central principle underlying the accessibility requirement for
> > public-facing content is the notion that federal agencies must ensure
> equal
> > access to electronic information that they themselves directly make
> > available to the general public by posting on a public fora. So, for
> > example, if a federal agency posts a PDF version of a recent settlement
> > agreement on its website as part of a press release, that document would
> > need to comply with PDF/UA-1."
> >
> > Duff.
> > > > > > > >
> > > >