508 compliance software testing

Note, much of this guidance predates the revised 508 standards. A trusted tester is a person certified to provide accurate and repeatable section 508 compliance test results for software. Web accessibility evaluation tools list world wide web consortium. Extensive experience testing against 508 and w3c standards. Wave is a suite of evaluation tools that helps authors make their web content more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Note that the baseline is not a test process and does not include testing tools. There are several ways to validate conformance to the revised 508 standards.

The checklist from section a forward is based on the wcag 2. Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. Wave can identify many accessibility and web content accessibility guideline wcag errors, but also facilitates human evaluation of web content. It is organized by categories to help you easily identify applicable requirements. Standard offering successful completion of the ca will. Tools for checking accessibility section 508 compliance.

This page has information about the section 508 law, and the va section 508 office. Apply to tester, 508 accessibility and compliance sme, software test engineer and more. If you already know about wcag youre in great shape. Accessibility testing for websites and software section508. Interagency trusted tester program testing tools for web. Section 508 compliance and more by iist online or schedule it for your team 451401902. Nov 29, 2016 some software and online tools provide automated 508 checkers, but its a mistake to rely solely on these for 508 compliance testing, or accessibility testing in general. Section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. On january 9th 2017 the access board released a final rule that updates accessibility requirements covered by section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 along with guidelines for telecommunications equipment subject to section 255 of the communications act of 1934.

Top 20 accessibility testing tools for web applications software. Ensure 508 compliance with an accessibility strategy achieving complete 508 compliance can be a complicated process to try and undertake on your own. Hisoftware cynthia says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. This is a link to the resources on testing for accessibility. If you are responsible for creating or signing offclearing files, you can use this checklist as part of your process. Learn what is accessibility testing and which are the best web accessibility. An introduction to 508 compliance testing testlodge blog. Since the june 21, 2001 implementation for compliance with the standards for section 508, the number of questions concerning the proper methods for testing web sites for compliance with these standards has been increasing at an alarming rate. Find an overview of testing methods and the tools to test websites, software, and electronic documents for conformance with the revised 508 standards. Resources for developers and document authors guidance on how to develop and author accessible electronic content.

Any newly purchased or developed information and communication technology ict including new versions or releases, must be validated for 508 compliance. The office of the chief information officer ocio is responsible for hhs section 508 compliance. Testing for web accessibility compliance under section 508 of. Ict testing baseline baseline tests are the result of an attempt to reduce ambiguity, increase consistency of results, and emphasize the methods and techniques that can reliably meet the section 508 ict accessibility requirements, given the current state and compatibility of underlying technologies. You can use automated 508 compliance testing software products such as wave web accessibility evaluation tool, which will check web pages for section 508 violations. If you want to sell technology to the federal government or one of its contractors, you will need a conformance report showing your products section 508 compliance. The boards section 508 standards apply to electronic and information technology procured by the federal government, including computer hardware and software, websites, phone systems, and copiers. Criterion offers section 508 testing from a real world perspective by including expert wcag testers with disabilities on every audit team. The ict testing baseline describes how to evaluate conformance to the revised 508 standards, which align with wcag 2. Studies have shown they will miss a significant number of violations or provide false positives. The goal is to reduce redundant testing and save agencies money. It is designed to identify errors in your content related to section 508 standards andor the wcag.

Any time you are preparing an electronic document that will be posted online or distributed via email, whether its an internal document or an external document, you need to follow the section 508 guidelines. The section 508 compliance checklist for webbased applications shown in appendix b should be used to evaluate each page of the application. Listed below are section 508 testing tools available from nongovernment websites. Dhs section 508 compliance test processes homeland security. Test and debug a pdf for 508 compliance acrobat pro test and debug a pdf for 508 compliance acrobat pro dc to determine which version you have, find the program under the start menu of. Commercial off the shelf cots software hardware scanners, printers, copiers, etc. Fireeyes a free tool for testing websites for 508 compliance. The testing team will schedule a 508 validation test with the cms application owner, 508 coordinator, and a 508 accessibility tester. Web accessibility evaluation tools are software programs or online services that help you. The resources in this section were developed by federal agencies, and shared here for your convenience. And some of these test cases are combined with assistive technology, such as screen reader, screen magnifier, etc. Guide to the section 508 standards united states access.

Dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications about this document who should use this document this document has been designed for and is intended for use by dhs trusted testers. Gsa 508 technical tools and resources free testing tools for 508 compliance. Section 508 2017 296 tests covering a and aa guidelines section 508 2000 59 tests covering 15 guidelines file formats checked for accessibility include html, css, javascript, pdf, gif and word. This article is designed to help users who are new to jaws learn the basic controls for testing web content, and to serve as a reference for the occasional jaws user. Remediation of custom and commercialofftheshelf cots software source code. About the section 508 standards united states access board.

Provide technical guidance, tools and resources to assist with section 508 compliance throughout the agency. The interagency trusted tester program promotes a unified, consistent, shareable, and repeatable test and evaluation approach for section 508 standards conformance. You can also test out your electronic technology and documents using screen readers and other kinds of assistive software and hardware, if you happen to have access to them. But these tips can help you breeze through compliance testing. Section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, as amended 29 u. The below checklists are the official hhs accessibility checklists. Hybrid a combination of automated and manual testing. Section 508 compliance testing 508 compliance website. Estimates are that 1 in 5 americans has a disability that affects their daily life. Provide a common set of unified tests to measure conformance to the section 508 technical requirements for web based electronic content. Unlike ada compliance for technology, which isnt written verbatim into the law, section 508 compliance is the law for government agencies and contractors. Manual manual testing uses a documented, consistent, repeatable process.

Provide training to employees on the section 508 standards, and how to develop and buy accessible. Not only does it include a variety of resources for checking pdf documents howtos and even a youtube video, but also resources for other forms of electronic content like webpages. Testpros understands that compliance is based on the premise that software, hardware and document accessibility is part of each it requirement, and should be addressed up front as part of the system development life cycle. Powerpoint document 508 checklist if you are responsible for creating or signing offclearing files, you can use this checklist as part of your process. Applications and systems developed for use by cms websites including portals, exchanges, secure. Ensure all electronic communication and documentation is created in a 508 friendly format e. All software and hardware purchased must be 508 compliant.

In essence, being 508 compliant and implementing 508 testing in your organisation is a positive way to make your digital products and information technology as accessible as possible. It explains the installation steps in detail, and important information to help you download the necessary components from the host websites. Being 508 compliant increases the number of people you reach. Baseline tests for software and web accessibility was developed as part of. Jitc is member of the dods major range and test facility base mrtfb. This page describes how to install andi, the accessibility and section 508 compliance testing tool.

Guide to the section 508 standards united states access board. Federal agencies, private entities that receive public funding and independent software vendors are required by law to make. Please visit other pages on the navigation pane to the right titled resources to view more information about accessibility and obtaining conformance with section 508. During the past 20 years, criterion has assisted more than 2,000 government agencies and contractors to obtain longterm section 508 compliance via our premium section 508 compliance services. Identify accessibility issues and measure compliance when testing against wcag 2. While screen readers are complicated, it is possible to test web content for accessibility without being a power user. Section 508 voluntary product accessibility template vpat page 4 page 4 section 1194. An mrtfb is a national asset which is sized, operated, and maintained primarily for dod test and evaluation support missions, but is also available to nondod other federal, nonfederal users having a valid requirement for its capabilities. In an effort to improve section 508 testing across government, the harmonized testing process for section 508 compliance.

To work toward compliance, we recommend incorporating accessibility testing into existing testing processes. You can also test out your electronic technology and documents using screen readers and other kinds of assistive software. Ensure 508 compliance with an accessibility strategy. Section 508 requires that any information and communication technology ict developed, procured, maintained or used by federal departments and agencies must allow federal employees and. Section 508 was updated in 2018 explicitly referencing the web content accessibility guidelines wcag 2. This includes, but is not limited to, the following. Dhs section 508 compliance testing tools this guide provides a list of the testing tools used in the dhs section 508 compliance test process for applications. The guides and tutorials listed here are intended to provide methods and instructions to guide you in making your content accessible and section 508 compliant. Webbased application modules that fail the test criteria outlined in the checklist should be subject to remediation and retested to confirm compliance. Automated high volume 508 conformance testing tools automatically scan and test electronic content.

This part of test cases are based on the section 508 technical standards. Many people within an organization are responsible for documents and communications that fall under section 508, as well as hiring or conducting business with contractors which must also be compliant. Harmonized testing process for section 508 compliance. Ability to test software, internet applications and hardware as needed for section 508 compliance.

Tips for managing section 508 testing techrepublic. Feb 23, 2015 learn how to make your documents 508 compliant in nexights stepbystep video tutorial. Jul 12, 2019 section 508 compliance testing checklist. Are designed to be used as a foundation for establishing wcag 2. Accessibility testing for websites and software web designers, developers, and content managers play a key role in ensuring websites and digital tools are accessible, and conform to the revised 508 standards and the w3c web content accessibility guidelines wcag 2.

A free tool to test web content for accessibility and 508 compliance. Free testing tools for 508 compliance hisoftware cynthia says portal is a web content accessibility validation solution. While the concept of making web sites and applications accessible to users with physical disabilities is not new, it has gained new prominence as a design concern. On this page, we are going to give you the 508 compliance testing tools for free that you will need to be 508 compliant. Oct 08, 2019 section 508 requires that all website content be accessible to people with disabilities. Top 25 awesome accessibility testing tools for websites.

This applies to web applications, web pages and all attached files on the intranet, as well as, the internet. Previously, section 508 listed a specific set of accessibility requirements that agencies and schools were required to follow for compliance. To work toward compliance, we recommend incorporating accessibility testing into existing testing. Section 508 compliance testing is your organization.

Section 508 compliance approach for webbased applications. Making files accessible issues, testing, and remediation. A comprehensive checklist for testing section 508 compliance can be found at the hhs. A compliance assessment ca assesses a products ability to perform within the parameters defined in policies, procedures, and control mechanisms. In addition to section 508 requirements, hhs has policies, standards, and requirements for electronic. Test for accessibility find an overview of testing methods and the tools to test websites, software, and electronic documents for conformance with the revised 508 standards. Once the test is completed, the testing team will submit the test. Being 508 compliant makes it easier to sell your goods and services. In general, all electronic content, and all hardware and software with a user interface, must be accessible. Section 508 compliance testing allows for an organization to test their digital contents compliance or conformance to the web content.