Standard for Compliance

Section 508 (29 U.S.C. § 794d) of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, sets forth guidelines for developing and maintaining accessible information technology. See 36 C.F.R. Part 1194 for the federal regulations that implement Section 508.

Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities and to encourage development of technologies that would help achieve these goals.

Section 508 applies to all U.S. agencies when they develop, procure, maintain or use electronic and information technology.

Although not specifically bound by this federal legislation, the Stanford Office of Judicial Affairs has chosen to use Section 508 as the standard for accessibility compliance for its website.