Hi All,

Most have heard of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments
repeatedly of late.  The NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) for this is
now available online.  Section 508 deals in broad terms with
electronic  information technology used by the U.S. federal government and
other covered entities.

The following summary is clipped from the NPRM.

SUMMARY: The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
(Access Board) proposes accessibility standards for electronic and
information technology covered by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
Amendments of 1998. Section 508 requires the Access Board to publish
standards setting forth a definition of electronic and information
technology and the technical and functional performance criteria necessary
for accessibility for such technology. 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.


You can find the NPRM on the web site of the U.S. Access Board.  For more
details consult:

http://www.access-board.gov

For an overview of the NPRM visit:

http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/overview.htm

For the text of the proposed rule:

http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/nprm.htm

Comments on the proposed rule are due by May 30, 2000.  Details on how to
submit comments are included in the referenced documents.

Kelly


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