Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act - Frequently Asked Questions

A.6 - Does Section 508, as implemented by the Access Board’s standards and the FAR, impose the same obligations on agencies and contractors?

No. Although the FAR uses the term "compliance" with respect to both agencies and contractors, the nature of their respective responsibilities differs. Agencies are responsible for complying with Section 508 as a whole, including identification of applicable Access Board technical provisions (see sections C and D below) and making nonavailability and exception determinations (see sections F and G below).

Contractors interested in selling EIT to the Federal government are responsible for designing and manufacturing products which conform to the applicable Access Board’s technical provisions."> Agencies are responsible for complying with Section 508 as a whole, including identification of applicable Access Board technical provisions (see sections C and D below) and making nonavailability and exception determinations (see sections F and G below).

Contractors interested in selling EIT to the Federal government are responsible for designing and manufacturing products which conform to the applicable Access Board’s technical provisions.