Section 508-Ammendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:

Enacted in 1998, Section 508 is intended to ensure that all electronic and information technologies utilized by Federal agencies are accessible to all employees and private users with disabilities. All Federal agencies, with the exception of those involved in military and intelligence activities, are required to make certain that all information technologies used, procured, developed, and maintained provide comparable access to disabled and non-disabled users. The scope of Section 508 is wide and applies to "any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information". This includes web-sites, computers, network systems, photocopiers, fax machines, phone systems and other information systems. It also applies to information services contracted for by Federal agencies with private parties. Section 508 also has implications at the state and local levels. In fact, compliance with Section 508 is required for all state agencies that have received funding under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. Finally, Section 508 gives Federal employess and private users the right to sue any agency that is not compliant with its guidelines.