Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI)

Section 508 Tutorials

The US General Services Section 508 On-Line Tutorials are free web-based short tutorials developed by the federal government. Registration online is required to take these tutorials at your own pace on how to procure or develop accessible technology that meet the Section 508 accessibility requirements.

Each component is a stand alone tutorial that can be taken at any time. Some course components contain content directed to developers:

  • Designing Accessible Web Sites (Recommended components for developers)
    • Designing to the Standards (64 minutes)
    • Frames and Style Sheets (28 minutes)
    • Alternatives for Multimedia (25 minutes)
    • Scripts and Applets (25 minutes)
    • On-Line Forms and Adobe PDF Files (22 minutes)
    • Validation (20 minutes)

  • Building and Buying Accessible Software (Recommended components or procurers and developers)
    • Introduction to Accessible Software (15 minutes)
    • User Interaction (25 minutes)
    • Compatibility with Accessibility Features and Settings (15 minutes)
    • Using Graphical and Textual Elements (20 minutes)
    • Examining Software for Conformance with Section 508 (20 minutes)

  • IRS Online Tutorial for Software Developers with Section 508 coding examples for Oracle Forms, Visual C++, Visual Basic, Java and Cobol/CICS (No time estimate provided)

  • Accessible Video and Multimedia (Recommended components for procurers and developers)
    • Video and Multimedia Accessibility Standards (25 minutes)
    • Captioning Pre-recorded and Live Video and Multimedia (26 minutes)
    • Audio Describing Video and Multimedia (32 minutes)

  • Buying Accessible Computers (For procurers and developers)
    • Introduction to Desktop and Portable Computers (15 minutes)
    • Mechanically-operated, Touch, and Biometric Controls (25 minutes)
    • Connectors (15 minutes)
    • Applying the Standards to Computer Procurements (15 minutes)

  • Buying Self-Contained, Closed Products (For procurers and developers)
    • Introduction to Self contained, Closed Products and Accessibility (15 minutes)
    • Physical Features of Closed Products (15 minutes)
    • Outputs from Closed Products (15 minutes)
    • Purchasing Self contained, Closed Products (15 minutes)

  • Buying Accessible Telecommunications Products (For procurers and developers)
    • Introduction to Telecommunications (15 minutes)
    • Telecommunications Product Accessibility for TTY Users (20 minutes)
    • Telecommunications Product Accessibility for people with Hearing Loss (20 minutes)
    • Requirement for Caller ID and Response Time (20 minutes)
    • Mechanically Operated Controls and Keys (20 minutes)
    • Applying the Standard to Telecommunications Product Procurements (15 minutes)