![](https://www.worldlingo.com/toimg/wl3.gif)
Translation
![Click to Translate text after this point](https://www.worldlingo.com/images/arrow_right.gif)
This is a computer translation of the original webpage. It is provided for general information only and should not be regarded as complete nor accurate. | ![]() |
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
The Department has an obligation to its employees and members of the public to provide the same (or comparable) access to, and use of, information and services from an HHS OpDiv sought by each and every individual. As a Department, we believe everyone is accountable and responsible for accessibility conformance.
The accessibility field encompasses many types of technology, standards and guidelines. As a Department of the federal government, we are required to abide by the Section 508 legislation. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, codified at section 29 USC 794d, as amended, ensures those with disabilities have equal access to government information as contained on information and communications technology (ICT), and thereby to the government employment, programs and services to which all citizens are entitled. Section 508 is only one segment of the accessibility field. As use of information technology (IT) has greatly increased within the workplace, and out, in recent years, and additional legislation has required ever-more access to government information, there is a great need for strong, effective action to ensure compliance across the Department.
Accessibility can be measured by how successfully a person with a disability can locate, get to, and understand the wanted or needed information. Accessibility results in benefits like eliminating barriers to ICT and encouraging development of technologies and techniques.
A disability is any condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities. Recognized groups of disabilities include:
All external public facing content and non-public facing official agency communications. ICT and internal official agency communications include, but are not limited to, the following.
Inaccessible content puts the Department at risk of legal action. Important: It is the responsibility of the content or system owner to ensure their content, system, product or service is accessible.
Feedback and inquiries regarding accessibility and Section 508 - to the Department or OS can be directed to the HHS Accessibility Help Desk. Requests for training or conformance evaluation are encouraged.
Any device, software, or equipment that helps people adapt their environment. Examples include text-to-speech, dictation, closed captioning, high contrast, and alternate input devices.
Electronic content that is not public facing to conform to the applicable accessibility requirements when such content constitutes official business and is communicated by an agency through one or more of the following:
ICT is any IT, equipment, or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment for this principal function is the creation, conversion, duplication, automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, reception, or broadcast of data or information. Examples of ICT are:
Section 508 is a law that states anytime the federal government develops, procures, maintains, or uses ICT employees and members of the public with disabilities seeking information, data or services from the Department must have the same or comparable access as those without disabilities. Section 508 conformance is achieved by meeting a set of technical standards. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards used by individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide to ensure text, images, sounds, and code or markup that define structure or presentation are accessible to all users.