robertj@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Robert Jaquiss) (05/13/91)
Index Number: 15516 FULL TEXT OF SECTION 508 OF PUBLIC LAW 99:506 Electronic Equipment Accessibility Section 508. (a) (1) The Secratary, through the director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabiliation Research an the Administrator of General Services, and in consultation with the electronics industry, shall develop and establish guidelines for electronic equipment accessibility designed to insure that individuals with handicaps may use electronic office equipment with or without special peripherals. (2) The guidelines established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be applicable with respect to electronic equipment, whether purchased or leased. (3) The initial guidelines shall be established not later than October 1, 1987 and shall be periodically revised by the director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Administrator of General Services in consultation with the electronics industry and the Interagency Committee for Computer Support of Handicapped employees as technologies advance or change. (b) Beginning after September 30, 1988, the Administrator of General Services shall adopt guidelines for electronic equipment accessibility under subsection (a) for Federal procurement of electronic equipment. Each agency shall comply with the guidelines adopted under this subsection. (c) For the purposes of this section, the term, "special peripherals" means the specific needs aid that provides access to electronic equipment that is otherwise inaccessible to an individual with handicaps.