Office on Disability

THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201
JAN 10 2005

TO: All Operating Division Heads

SUBJECT: HHS Policy for Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology (EIT)

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual’s ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers to using information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.

The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must give those employees and members of the public with disabilities access to information that is comparable to the access available to others without disabilities.

Attached is the policy for implementation of Section 508 within your respective Division. All Operating Division Heads and the Office of the Secretary (which includes all Staff Divisions) are required to adhere to the Electronic and information Technology Accessibility Standards as published in the Federal Register of December 21, 2000. All Operating Division Heads and the Office of the Secretary are also required to adhere to the Federal Acquisition Regulations on Electronic and information Technology Accessibility as published in the Federal Register of April 25, 2001.

This policy has been developed by the Section 508 Program Team, which includes members from many Divisions. See attached. The Office on Disability will coordinate education and training on implementing this policy. For more information on Section 508, your staff may visit the website of www.Section508.gov. For questions specific to the HHS policy on Section 508, please have your staff contact your agency’s Section 508 Program Team member or the HHS Office on Disability at (202) 401-5844.

/s/

Tommy G. Thompson

Attachments:
--Summary of HHS Policy for Section 508 EIT
--List of Section 508 Team Members
--HHS Policy for Section 508 Electronic and Information Technology (EIT)