Access Board: An independent Federal agency that develops and maintains accessibility requirements, provides technical assistance and training on the standards, and enforces accessibility standards for federally funded facilities. Official name is the "Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board."

Adaptive Technology: Adaptive technology describes the use of hardware and software to assist individuals who have difficulty accessing information systems using conventional methods. For example, mini keyboards can be used by people with a small range of hand movement, and screen readers can be used by people who are blind.

Alternate Methods: Different means of providing information, including documentation to persons with disabilities. May include, but is not limited to, voice, fax, TTY, Internet posting, captioning, text-to-speech synthesis, and audio description.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): 1990 civil rights law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in the private and public sectors.

Assistive Technology: Device or software that substitutes for or enhances the function of some impaired ability. Sometimes referred to as Adaptive Technology.

Assistive technology is adaptive equipment that people with disabilities commonly use for information and communication access. See 36 CFR 1194.4. In many cases, the Access Board’s technical provisions require compatibility with assistive technology devices. For example, if an agency is acquiring telecommunications products, the standards require that the EIT either contain a TTY or be compatible with TTYs. If the product doesn’t provide TTY functionality, it must provide a standard non-acoustic connection point for TTYs. See 36 CFR Part 1194.23.

In some cases, the standards require that the acquired EIT be readily usable without the need for assistive devices. This is the case, for example, for self-contained, closed products such as information kiosks. See 36 CFR Part 1194.25.

Types of Assistive Technology:

• Screen enlargers and screen magnifiers help people with vision impairments including low vision. Users are able to control what area of the computer screen they want enlarged and can move the focus to view different areas of the screen.
• Screen reviewers and screen readers are for people who are blind. These aids make on-screen information available as synthesized speech or a refreshable Braille display. Generally, they can only translate information that is text. Graphics can be translated if there is alternative text describing the visual images.
• On-screen keyboards are used by people who are unable to use a standard keyboard. An on-screen keyboard lets people select keys using a pointing method such as pointing devices, switches, or Morse-code input systems.
• Keyboard enhancement utilities are used by people who have trouble typing, or who want to increase typing speed. Technology built into Microsoft Windows® compensates for erratic motion, tremors, slow response time, and other related conditions. Other types of keyboard filters include typing aids, such as word prediction utilities.
• Voice input aids or speech recognition assist people who have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard. These aids allow people to control computers with their voice instead of a mouse or keyboard.
• Alternative input devices allow individuals to control their computers through devices beyond the standard keyboard or mouse. Examples include smaller or larger keyboards, eye-gaze pointing devices, sip-and-puff systems controlled by breathing, and other alternative pointing devices.

Braille: Braille is a code which enables blind persons to read and write. It was invented by a blind Frenchman, Louis Braille, in 1829. Braille is comprised of a rectangular six-dot cell on its end, with up to 63 possible combinations using one or more of the six dots. Braille is embossed by hand (or with a machine) onto thick paper, and read with the fingers moving across on top of the dots. Combinations of Braille dots within a cell represent contractions of two or more print letters and Braille characters take up three times as much space as print.

Brailler: Any of a number of adaptive devices for outputting text on a computer in Braille.

Clinger-Cohen Act: Originally known as the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA), requires heads of Federal agencies to link IT investments to agency accomplishments. The Act also requires that agency heads establish a process to select, manage and control their IT investments.

Electronic and Information Technology (E & IT or EIT): Includes information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, World Wide Web sites, multimedia, and office equipment such as copiers and fax machines. The term does not include any equipment that contains embedded information technology that is used as an integral part of the product, but the principal function of which is not the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. For example, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment such as thermostats or temperature control devices, and medical equipment where information technology is integral to its operation, are not information technology.

EIT is defined by the Access Board at 36 CFR 1194.4 and in the FAR at 2.101.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): Official document of policies and procedures for acquisition that is used by all executive agencies.

Federal IT Accessibility Initiative (FITAI): Federal government interagency effort to offer information and technical assistance to assist in the successful implementation of section 508.

Information Technology: Any equipment, or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. This includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, support services, and related resources.

Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998: Part of the Workforce Reinvestment Act. Among other objectives, expanded and strengthened section 508 by creating binding, enforceable standards for technology accessibility and incorporating these standards into the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. This law applies to programs conducted by Federal agencies, those receiving Federal funds (such as colleges participating in Federal student loan programs) Federal employment, and employment practices of businesses with Federal contracts.

Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Requires manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and software to ensure that such equipment is accessible for persons with disabilities.

Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act: Mandates non-discrimination by the Federal government in its hiring practices and requires affirmative action in hiring, placement, and advancement of persons with disabilities.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in programs that receive Federal funds.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Requires electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the Federal government be accessible to persons with disabilities.

Undue Burden: Significant difficulty or expense.

Universal Design: The concept or philosophy for designing and delivering products and services that are usable by people with the widest possible range of functional capabilities. This includes products and services that are directly usable (without requiring assistive technologies) and those that are made compatible with assistive technologies.

References:

Access Board:

U.S. Access Board, A History of the Board. (Sep 05 2002).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/about/history.htm

Adaptive Technology:

See assistive technology.

Alternative Methods:

U.S. Access Board, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards 36 CFR Part 1194 § 1194.4 Definitions. [Published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000]. (May 04 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

U.S. Access Board, The Americans with Disabilities Act. (Mar 18 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/about/laws/ADA.htm

Assistive Technology:

U.S. Access Board, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards 36 CFR Part 1194 § 1194.4 Definitions. [Published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000]. (May 04 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm

Braille :

International Braille Research Center (IBRC). (Jul 13 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.braille.org/

Brailler:

Colloquial.

Clinger-Cohen Act:

Clinger-Cohen Act (CCA), formerly the Information Technology Management Reform Act (ITMRA). (Feb 16 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004 from http://irm.cit.nih.gov/itmra/itmra96.html

Electronic and Information Technology (E & IT or EIT):

U.S. Access Board, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards 36 CFR Part 1194 § 1194.4 Definitions. [Published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000]. (May 04 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR):

Authority of the FAR. (n.d.).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.acqnet.gov/far/authority.html

Federal IT Accessibility Initiative  (FITAI):

U.S. Access Board, Board Issues Standards for Electronic and Information Technology. (Dec 21, 2000).

Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://www.access-board.gov/news/508-final.htm

Information Technology :

U.S. Access Board, Guide to the Section 508 Standards for Electronic and Information Technology, Scope, Definitions. (April 1,1997).

Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/scope.htm#Definitions

Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998:

U.S. Access Board, The Rehabilitation Act Amendments (Section 508). (April 1,1997).

Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm

Section 255 Telecommunications Act of 1966:

Access For People With Disabilities. (December 16, 2002 ).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/section255.html

Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act:

U.S. Access Board, Rehabilitation Act - Section 501. (n.d.).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=17

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act:

U.S. Access Board, Rehabilitation Act - Section 504. (n.d.).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=15

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act:

U.S. Access Board, The Rehabilitation Act Amendments (Section 508). (n.d.).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/act.htm

Text Reader Browser:

W3C, Alternative Web Browsing. (July 5, 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.w3.org/WAI/References/Browsing

Undue Burden:

U.S. Access Board,Guide to the Section 508 Standards for Electronic and Information Technology, Definitions. (June 21, 2001).

Retrieved December 10, 2004, from http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/scope.htm#Definitions%A0

Universal Design

What is Universal Design- Principles of UD, Principles of Universal Design. (April 1,1997).

Retrieved August 6, 2002, from http://www.design.ncsu.edu:8120/cud/univ_design/princ_overview.htm