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1.7: The Previous (year 2000) Section 508 Standards

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    51879

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    Why look at the older, previous set of standards? Some businesses or vendors may not have paid for an updated Voluntary Product Accessibility Template yet. So, you may see some reference to the older standards until they have the accessibility of the product evaluated again. It’s also interesting to see similarities between the old Section 508 EIT standards and the WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards.

    A complete list of Section 508 standards for Electronic and Information Technology can be found on the United States Access Board website. Information about accessibility features of the technology we use at Cleveland State University for our online courses can be found within our course template under the Syllabus & Course Information folder, within a subfolder called Accessibility Resources.

    Below is a list of the previous 2000 Section 508 standards pertaining to web-based intranet and internet information and applications.

    1. (a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content).
    2. (b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.
    3. (c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
    4. (d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
    5. (e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
    6. (f) Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
    7. (g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
    8. (h) Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
    9. (i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
    10. (j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
    11. (k) A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.
    12. (l) When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
    13. (m) When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with §1194.21(a) through (l).
    14. (n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
    15. (o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.
    16. (p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

    This page titled 1.7: The Previous (year 2000) Section 508 Standards is shared under a CC BY-NC license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Heather Caprette.