Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act - Frequently Asked Questions

H.2. - Does Section 508 apply to a Federal agency's existing EIT procured prior to June 21, 2001?

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 amended Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and directed the Access Board to publish standards for developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology. Although the amendments to Section 508 were effective on August 7, 1998, there were no standards to measure compliance until the standards published by the Access Board became effective on February 20, 2001. By statute, the enforcement provisions apply to EIT procured after June 21, 2001. (For a discussion on how maintaining EIT which existed prior to June 21, 2001 may be subject to the enforcement provisions of Section 508, see sections G.7, G.8, and H.1).