Attachment B -Section_508_annual_report.doc

Attachment B HHS Interim Section 508 Annual Report Table of Contents

Instructions for Completing the Section 508 Annual Report..............................................i

Purpose…………………………………………………………………………..i

Who should complete the Section 508 Annual Report………...…………..i

Procedure for Completing the Section 508 Annual Report…………...……i

Section 508 Annual Report………………..…………………………………………...…1

Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems………………

Section 1194.22 Web-Based Intranet and Internet Information Applications.…...3

Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Item(s)s…………………………………..5

Section 1194.24 Video and Multimedia Item(s)s………………………………...7

Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Item(s)s………………………………..8

Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers……………………………….10

Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria………………………………..11

Section 1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support……………………...12 Instructions for Completing the Section 508 Annual Report Purpose:

The purpose of the Section 508 Annual Report is to assist contracting officials and other persons in HHS in making assessments regarding the deployment of Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Item(s)s and services with features that support accessibility.

Who should complete the Section 508 Annual Report?

HHS requires a measure of technical detail in the responses submitted in a Section 508 Annual Report in order to effectively determine compliance of the identified EIT Item(s). Therefore, a technical specialist for the manufacturer, developer, or vendor of the EIT Item(s) should complete the Section 508 Annual Report.

It is the responsibility of the manufacturer, developer, or vendor of the EIT Item(s) to maintain the integrity of the data provided in the Section 508 Annual Report. The information provided in the completed Section 508 Annual Report for an EIT Item(s) is considered to be a self-representation unless expressly affirmed otherwise.

Procedure for Completing the Section 508 Annual Report:

Step 1: Utilizing the information provided in the following table, determine which sections of the Technical Standards (Subpart B - 1194.21 through 1194.26) apply to the EIT contract items. Note that the Functional Performance Criteria (Subpart C – 1194.31) and the Information, Documentation, and Support (Subpart D – 1194.41) sections of the HHS Section 508 Annual Report must be completed for every EIT item.

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

1194.22 Web-Based Internet Information and Applications

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

Step 2: Determine if the EIT item(s) does or does not meet the individual Criteria elements listed in the 1st column of each applicable section of the Section 508 Annual Report. Utilizing the guidance provided in the following table, provide the appropriate responses in the Supporting Features column (2nd column) of the Section 508 Annual Report document for each Criteria element.

If the EIT Item(s) Does Not Support the Criteria, remember that Section 508 allows for Item(s)s to meet the Access Board Standards in innovative, non-traditional ways. The EIT Item(s) can meet the standard (i.e., Supports through Equivalent Facilitation) by providing an innovative solution, as long as the feature performs in the same manner as it does for any other user.

Step 3: Utilizing the guidance provided in the following table, document in the Remarks & Explanations column (3rd column) for each Criteria listed in the 1st column of the applicable sections of the Section 508 Annual Report document, exactly how the EIT Item(s) does or does not meet the Criteria.

AND

List exactly what aspects of the Item(s) do not meet the Criteria and describe how they fail to support the Criteria.

Step 4: Provide the completed Section 508 Annual Report to the OPDIV Contracts Officer.

Section 508 Annual Report HHS Requestor:

Date:

Item(s) Name:

Version:

Vendor:

Vendor Contact:

Section 1194.21 Software Applications and Operating Systems

Refer to http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.21.htm for details on the criteria listed below.

(a) When software is designed to run on a system that has a keyboard, Item(s) functions shall be executable from a keyboard where the function itself or the result of performing a function can be discerned textually.

(b) Applications shall not disrupt or disable activated features of other Item(s)s that are identified as accessibility features, where those features are developed and documented according to industry standards. Applications also shall not disrupt or disable activated features of any operating system that are identified as accessibility features where the application programming interface for those accessibility features has been documented by the manufacturer of the operating system and is available to the Item(s) developer.

(c) A well-defined onscreen indication of the current focus shall be provided that moves among interactive interface elements as the input focus changes. The focus shall be programmatically exposed so that Assistive Technology can track focus and focus changes.

(d) Sufficient information about a user interface element including the identity, operation, and state of the element shall be available to Assistive Technology. When an image represents a program element, the information conveyed by the image must also be available in text.

(e) When bitmap images are used to identify controls, status indicators, or other programmatic elements, the meaning assigned to those images shall be consistent throughout an application’s performance.

(f) Textual information shall be provided through operating system functions for displaying text. The minimum information that shall be made available is text content, text input caret location, and text attributes.

(g) Applications shall not override user-selected contrast and color selections and other individual display attributes.

(h) When animation is displayed, the information shall be displayable in at least one non-animated presentation mode at the option of the user.

(i) Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.

(j) When a Item(s) permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a variety of color selections capable of producing a range of contrast levels shall be provided.

(k) Software shall not use flashing or blinking text, objects, or other elements having a flash or blink frequency greater than 2Hz and lower than 55Hz.

(l) When electronic forms are used, 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.

Section 1194.22 Web-Based Internet Information and Applications

Refer to http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm for details on the criteria listed below.

(a) A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (for example, via “alt,” “longdesc,” or in element content).

(b) Equivalent alternatives for any multimedia presentation shall be synchronized with the presentation.

(c) Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example, from context or markup.

(d) Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.

(e) Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.

(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.

(g) Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.

(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.

(i) Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.

(j) Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2Hz and lower than 55Hz.

(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.

(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.

(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).

(n) When electronic forms are designed to be completed online, 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.

(o) A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.

(p) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

Section 1194.23 Telecommunications Item(s)s

Refer to http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.23.htm for details on the criteria listed below.

(a) Telecommunications Item(s)s or systems which provide a function allowing voice communication and which do not themselves provide a TTY functionality shall provide a standard non-acoustic connection point for TTYs. Microphones shall be capable of being turned on and off to allow the user to intermix speech with TTY use.

(b) Telecommunications Item(s)s that include voice communication functionality shall support all commonly used cross-manufacturer non-proprietary standard TTY signal protocols.

(c) Voice mail, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems shall be usable by TTY users with their TTYs.

(d) Voice mail, messaging, auto-attendant, and interactive voice response telecommunications systems that require a response from a user within a time interval shall give an alert when the time interval is about to run out, and shall provide sufficient time for the user to indicate more time is required.

(e) Where provided, caller identification and similar telecommunications functions shall also be available for users of TTYs, and for users who cannot see displays.

(f) For transmitted voice signals, telecommunications Item(s)s shall provide a gain adjustable up to a minimum of 20dB. For incremental volume control, at least one intermediate step of 12dB of gain shall be provided.

(g) If the telecommunications Item(s) allows a user to adjust the receive volume, a function shall be provided to automatically reset the volume to the default level after every use.

(h) Where a telecommunications Item(s) delivers output by an audio transducer which is normally held up to the ear, a means for effective magnetic wireless coupling to hearing technologies shall be provided.

(i) Interference to hearing technologies (including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening devices) shall be reduced to the lowest possible level that allows a user of hearing technologies to utilize the telecommunications Item(s).

(j) Item(s)s that transmit or conduct information or communication shall pass through cross-manufacturer, non-proprietary, industry-standard codes, translation protocols, formats, or other information necessary to provide the information or communication in a usable format. Technologies which use encoding, signal compression, format transformation, or similar techniques shall not remove information needed for access or shall restore it upon delivery.

(k)(1) Item(s)s that have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: Controls and Keys shall be tactilely discernible without activating the controls or keys.

(k)(2) Item(s)s which have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: Controls and Keys shall be operable with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, pinching, twisting of the wrist. The force required to activate controls and keys shall be 5 pounds (22.2N) maximum.

(k)(3) Item(s)s that have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: If key repeat is supported, the delay before repeat shall be adjustable to at least 2 seconds. Key repeat rate shall be adjustable to 2 seconds per character.

(k)(4) Item(s)s which have mechanically operated controls or keys shall comply with the following: The status of all locking or toggle controls or keys shall be visually discernible, and discernible either through touch or sound.

Section 1194.24 Video and Multimedia Item(s)s

Refer to ( http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.24.htm ) for details on the criteria listed below.

(a) All analog television displays 13 inches and larger, and computer equipment that includes analog television receiver or display circuitry, shall be equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals. As soon as practicable, but not later than July 1, 2002, wide-screen digital television (DTV) displays measuring at least 7.8 inches vertically, DTV sets with conventional displays measuring at least 13 inches vertically, stand-alone DTV tuners, whether or not they are marketed with display screens, and computer equipment that includes DTV receiver or display circuitry shall be equipped with caption decoder circuitry which appropriately receives, decodes, and displays closed captions from broadcast, cable, videotape, and DVD signals.

(b) Television tuners, including tuner cards for use in computers, shall be equipped with secondary audio program playback circuitry.

(c) All training and informational video and multimedia Item(s)ions that support the agency’s mission, regardless of format, that contain speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content shall be open or closed captioned.

(d) All training and informational video and multimedia Item(s)ions which support the agency’s mission, regardless of format, that contain visual information necessary for the comprehension of the content shall be audio described.

(e) Display or presentation of alternate text presentation or audio descriptions shall be user-selectable unless permanent.

Section 1194.25 Self-Contained, Closed Item(s)s

Refer to http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.25.htm for details on the criteria listed below.

(a) Self-contained Item(s)s shall be usable by people with disabilities without requiring an end-user to attach Assistive Technology to the Item(s). Personal headsets for private listening are not Assistive Technology.

(b) When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.

(c) Where a Item(s) utilizes touch screens or contact-sensitive controls, an input method shall be provided that complies with §1194.23 (k)(1) through (4).

(d) When biometric forms of user identification or control are used, an alternative form of identification or activation, which does not require the user to possess particular biological characteristics, shall also be provided.

(e) When Item(s)s provide auditory output, the audio signal shall be provided at a standard signal level through an industry-standard connector that will allow for private listening. The Item(s) must provide the ability to interrupt, pause, and restart the audio at any time.

(f) When Item(s)s deliver voice output in a public area, incremental volume control shall be provided with output amplification up to a level of at least 65 dB. Where the ambient noise level of the environment is above 45dB, a volume gain of at least 20dB above the ambient level shall be user selectable. A function shall be provided to automatically reset the volume to the default level after every use.

(g) Color coding shall not be used as the only means of conveying information, indicating an action, prompting a response, or distinguishing a visual element.

(h) When a Item(s) permits a user to adjust color and contrast settings, a range of color selections capable of producing a variety of contrast levels shall be provided.

(i) Item(s)s shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2Hz and lower than 55Hz.

(j)(1) Item(s)s which are freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location and which have operable controls shall comply with the following: The position of any operable control shall be determined with respect to a vertical plane, which is 48 inches in length, centered on the operable control, and at the maximum protrusion of the Item(s) within the 48- inch length on Item(s)s which are freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location and which have operable controls.

(j)(2) Item(s)s which are freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location and which have operable controls shall comply with the following: Where any operable control is 10 inches or less behind the reference plane, the height shall be 54 inches maximum and 15 inches minimum above the floor.

(j)(3) Item(s)s which are freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location and which have operable controls shall comply with the following: Where any operable control is more than 10 inches and not more than 24 inches behind the reference plane, the height shall be 46 inches maximum and 15 inches minimum above the floor.

(j)(4) Item(s)s which are freestanding, non-portable, and intended to be used in one location and which have operable controls shall comply with the following: Operable controls shall not be more than 24 inches behind the reference plane.

Section 1194.26 Desktop and Portable Computers

Refer to http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.26.htm for details on the criteria listed below.

(a) All mechanically operated controls and keys shall comply with §1194.23 (k) (1) - (4).

(b) If a Item(s) utilizes touch screens or touch-operated controls, an input method shall be provided that complies with §1194.23 (k) (1) - (4).

(c) When biometric forms of user identification or control are used, an alternative form of identification or activation, which does not require the user to possess particular biological characteristics, shall also be provided.

(d) Where provided, at least one of each type of expansion slot, port, and connector shall comply with publicly available industry standards.

Section 1194.31 Functional Performance Criteria

(a) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user vision shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are blind or visually impaired shall be provided.

(b) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require visual acuity greater than 20/70 shall be provided in audio and enlarged print output working together or independently, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are visually impaired shall be provided.

(c) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user hearing shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing shall be provided.

(d) Where audio information is important for the use of a Item(s), at least one mode of operation and information retrieval shall be provided in an enhanced auditory fashion, or support for assistive hearing devices shall be provided.

(e) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require user speech shall be provided, or support for Assistive Technology used by people with disabilities shall be provided.

(f) At least one mode of operation and information retrieval that does not require fine motor control or simultaneous actions and that is operable with limited reach and strength shall be provided.

Section 1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support

(a) Item(s) support documentation provided to end-users shall be made available in alternate formats upon request, at no additional charge.

(b) End-users shall have access to a description of the accessibility and compatibility features of Item(s)s in alternate formats or alternate methods upon request, at no additional charge.

(c) Support services for Item(s)s shall accommodate the communication needs of end-users with disabilities.

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ii Section 508 Item(s) Assessment - Instructions