Section 508 Compliance
We combine our effective program management support with Section 508 compliance expertise to provide a full suite of support and ensure the highest compliance for your information and communication technology (ICT).
We are Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certified Trusted Testers offering 20+ years of experience in universal design concepts, Section 508 compliance testing and remediation, user experience, and human factors design.
Inaccessible technology can severely limit an individual’s ability to obtain information quickly and easily and ultimately benefit from its use. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act was enacted to eliminate barriers to access to information technology, to make available opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage the 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 (29 U.S.C. § 794d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available those who are non-disabled.
ArcSource is passionate about ensuring information and communication technology (ICT) is available to users of all abilities. Our services include:
- Section 508 Program Strategy and Implementation
- Program support Services
- Help desk Support
- Testing and Remediation of ICT
- Section 508 Risk Assessments
- Annual Section 508 Reporting Requirements
- Training
Section 508 First
Whether designing solutions, testing, developing training, working with documents, or any task involving ICT, Section 508 is achieved when organizations adopt a culture of “Section 508 First.” While it is imperative to catch Section 508 issues before they impact users, it is much more efficient and cost-effective to design solutions from the onset. Retro-fitting solutions require additional development and rework, resulting in significant investments of time, effort, and money. Additionally, usability factors like user and human-centered design should be considered to ensure user adoption of the final solution.
We test and remediate websites, software, video files, PDF documents, MS Word documents, Excel files, and PowerPoint presentations to ensure these products meet Section 508 compliance requirements and are functional for visually impaired users. We understand the critical challenges associated with Section 508 compliance and have expertise with the most effective Section 508 testing tools and processes, such as the ICT testing baseline and the DHS Trusted Tester process, which have proven effective at ensuring compliance.
Usability Testing
ArcSource provides usability testing services to identify and remove potential end-user “friction points” from web and software applications. Such testing gives useful subjective data as to the product’s ease of use, ergonomics, or end-user satisfaction.
ArcSource’s usability testing seeks to address these issues early and often by:
- Designing and testing for application value and ease of use.
- Heuristic Testing – Point-by-point testing of the application by ArcSource against several research-based standards.
- User Testing – Testing of representative end-users on identified potential problem-points in the application. Over-the-shoulder or remote testing via live video conference may be performed, with the goal of recording and identifying users’ ability to complete tasks unaided.
Our DHS Trusted Testers experts will give you confidence that your products comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ICT Testing Baseline. Our user-centered design practices will ensure your application is not just functional but also usable, driving adoption. From testing and remediation to program implementation, our team of experts can support any aspect of your usability and Section 508 needs.
Customers include: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Mint, and commercial customers.