Section 508 Technical Reference Guide Handbook AS-508-A September 2004 Transmittal Letter A. Purpose. Using technology to enhance value is an integral part of the Postal Servicet’s Transformation Plan. As we increase our reliance on electronic information systems to help us manage information and costs, improve service, and carry out our mission more efficiently, we have an even greater responsibility to provide full access for our customers, our employees, and those with whom we do business. This handbook provides the tools to help each of us do that. All functional organizations should use the information in this handbook to understand, achieve, and maintain Section 508 compliance. By achieving the goals of this law, we fulfill our mission of binding the nation together in the 21st century. This is a technical reference guide in support of Handbook AS-508. It breaks out the details of each of the sections of that handbook and how they are tied to the law. B. Scope. Providing access to electronic forms of Postal Service information, products, and services is both efficient and economic. The techniques in this handbook have an effect on employees, customers, suppliers. and business partners. Given the broad scope of the 508 law and its pervasive impact on information technology, collaborative efforts are needed to successfully achieve organization-wide compliance. Consequently, the audience for this handbook spans the entire corporation. Although managers of functional organizations within the Postal Service have direct responsibility for the conformance of their area, the coordinated efforts of cross-functional teams are vital to realize the mandates of the Section 508 law. C. Availability. This handbook is available online and may be accessed both from the Internet and from the Postal Service Intranet. From the usps.com homepage, click on All Products & Services, then on Publications, then on Postal Periodicals and Publications. Choose Handbooks. It is also available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Intranet Web site: G Go to http://blue.usps.gov. G Under “Essential Links” in the left-hand column, click on References. G Under “References” in the right-hand column, PolicyNet — Text. G Then click on HBKs. D. Comments and Questions. Send comments via email to: [email protected]. Use “AS-508” in header. E. Effective Date. This handbook is effective immediately. Robert L. Otto Vice President Information Technology Contents Contents 1 Introduction. 1 1-1 Policy . 1 1-2 History of Section 508. 1 1-2.1 Development of the Law. 1 1-2.2 Structure of the Law: Technical Standards and Functional Performance Criteria. 2 1-3 Compliance . 3 1-3.1 Importance of Compliance. 3 1-3.2 Monitoring . 4 1-3.2.1 Department of Justice. 4 1-3.2.2 Postal Service. 4 1-3.2.3 Functional Organizations. 4 1-4 Scope . 4 1-4.1 Postal Service Employees. 4 1-4.2 Suppliers . 4 1-4.3 Enterprise Architecture and Information Infrastructure. 5 1-5 About This Handbook. 5 1-5.1 Generally Speaking. 5 1-5.2 Introductory Chapters (1–4). 5 1-5.3 Technical Chapters (5–11). 5 1-6 Additional Sources for Accessibility. 6 2 Roles and Responsibilities. 7 2-1 Vice President/Chief Technology Officer. 7 2-2 Section 508 Program Manager, Information Technology. 7 2-3 Section 508 Technical Stewards. 9 2-4 IT Portfolio Managers. 10 2-5 Vice President, Labor Relations. 10 2-6 Vice President, Supply Management. 10 2-7 Vice President, General Counsel. 11 2-8 Vice President, Consumer Affairs. 11 2-9 Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications. 11 2-10 All Postal Service Officers. 11 2-11 All Functional Organizations. 12 2-12 Section 508 Stewards — Liaisons for Accessibility. 12 2-13 Importance of Compliance. 13 September 2004 iii Section 508 Technical Reference Guide 3 Section 508 — Overview of Accessibility. 15 3-1 What the Law Covers. 15 3-1.1 General Requirements. 15 3-1.2 Overview of Standards: Classes of Technology, Classes of Disability. 15 3-2 Rationale . 16 3-3 Assistive Technologies. 17 3-3.1 Description . 17 3-3.2 Postal Service Standards. 17 3-4 Guiding Principles . 18 3-4.1 Integrate multiple technical standards. 18 3-4.2 Consider both information itself and authoring tools that create information. 18 3-4.3 Consider all available techniques for access. 18 3-5 What is Compliance?. 19 4 Section 508 — Postal Service Processes to Comply. 21 4-1 Background for Purchasing Compliant EIT. 21 4-2 Processes to Comply With Section 508. 22 4-2.1 Specific Standards and Functional Performance Criteria. 22 4-2.2 Build and Buy . 22 4-2.3 When Procuring an EIT Solution. 22 4-2.4 When Developing or Maintaining an EIT Solution. 23 4-2.5 Complex Systems. 23 4-3 Policy . 24 4-4 Guiding Steps for the Purchase of an EIT Business Solution. 24 4-5 Integrated Systems Methodology (ISM) Overview. 27 4-6 About Exceptions and Undue Burden. 32 4-6.1 General Exceptions. 32 4-6.2 Specific Exceptions. 32 4-6.3 Undue Burden Exception. ..