Office on Disability

Section 508 Update
Acknowledgement: Office of Equal Employment and Diversity Management, FDA

The goal of the Section 508 law (part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, amended in 1998) is to reduce electronic and information technology barriers experienced by people with disabilities. Under this law, the Federal Government is required to purchase and deploy new IT and other electronic products that are accessible or compatible with assistive technology used by people with disabilities.

In a memo to all HHS employees dated August 30, 2001, Secretary Thompson called this law an exciting opportunity to help close the digital divide for individuals with disabilities in America.

"Section 508 affects every employee within the Department, not just those who work with technology or procurement. Every HHS employee has a collective responsibility for compliance with Section 508's mandate to make our information accessible to individuals with disabilities. This means that HHS employees must take proactive actions to ensure that all electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used, and all new or revised information made available on the Internet and Intranet meet the new accessibility standards."

The accessibility standards provide technology access to members of the public and Federal employees who have disabilities. Lawsuits may be filed in federal court or administrative complaints may be filed with Agencies or the Department of Justice for non-compliance with the law.

Even if you don't currently have any employees with disabilities working within your office, someone may soon be hired who has a disability, or through an illness or accident someone within your staff may become disabled while on the job. In these cases, assistive technology related accommodations for staff can be obtained on a case by case basis via the Department of Defense's Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program1 and additional services are available via the USDA's TARGET Center (on-site assessments and demonstrations of assistive technology).

Synopsis of Section 508 Accessibility Requirements

Synopsis of Section 508 Accessibility Requirements
Section 508 requires Federal agencies to ensure that individuals with disabilities who are members of the public or Federal employees have access to and use of electronic and information technology (EIT) that is comparable to that provided to individuals without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The requirements of Section 508 apply to an agency's procurement of EIT, as well as the agency's development, maintenance, or use of EIT.

Although Federal agencies have an explicit statutory obligation to make all electronic and information technology (EIT) that they develop, procure, maintain, or use compliant with Section 508, individuals may only file complaints or lawsuits to enforce Section 508's requirements with respect to EIT systems procured or deployed on or after June 21, 2001. Learn more at FAR Final Rule. The Section 508 requirements do not apply retroactively to pre-existing EIT. However, as agencies upgrade and change their electronic and information technology, they must comply with the standards. Specifically, the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards: Economic Assessment states that:

"The standards are to be applied prospectively and do not require Federal agencies to retrofit existing electronic and information technology. As agencies upgrade and change their electronic and information technology, they must comply with the standards."

It should be noted, however, that Federal agencies have additional responsibilities under Section 501 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These Sections require that agencies provide reasonable accommodation to employees with disabilities and provide program access to members of the public with disabilities and take other actions necessary to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability in their programs.

Animal Health Literacy

The Animal Health Literacy Campaign meanstimely information for the benefit ofall animals and their humans...With continuous communication and outreach,CVM strives to enhance the public trust,promote safe and effective useof the animal health products we regulate,and share our scientific endeavors.CVM provides reliable, science-based informationto promote animal and human health.
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Accessibility

Accessibility
Overview
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is committed to making its Web sites accessible to the widest possible audience, including individuals with disabilities. In keeping with its mission, FDA complies by implementing the regulations of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the HHS Secretary's Section 508 Implementation Policy.

Public guidance on creating 508 compliant documents for FDA's website
FDA is committed to making content accessible to everyone. If your are submitting a presentation or document to the FDA, please review the guidance for formatting your documents properly for FDA, and assisting our efforts in equivalent access and transparency.
Guide for creating accessible documents for FDA

For Alternate Access to Web Information
At this time, all FDA information should be accessible via screen readers and other accessibility tools with the exception of some pre-2001 information, Dockets, and some technical documents. This information may not be available in accessible formats.
If you need an alternative means of access to any information on the FDA Web site please contact us. Let us know the nature of your accessibility problem, the Web address of the requested information, and your contact information.
If you need to convert PDF documents, Adobe® offers conversion tools at its Accessibility Resource Center.

Synopsis of Section 508 Accessibility Requirements
Section 508 requires Federal agencies to ensure that individuals with disabilities who are members of the public or Federal employees have access to and use of electronic and information technology (EIT) that is comparable to that provided to individuals without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The requirements of Section 508 apply to an agency's procurement of EIT, as well as the agency's development, maintenance, or use of EIT.
Although Federal agencies have an explicit statutory obligation to make all electronic and information technology (EIT) that they develop, procure, maintain, or use compliant with Section 508, individuals may only file complaints or lawsuits to enforce Section 508's requirements with respect to EIT systems procured or deployed on or after June 21, 2001. Learn more at FAR Final Rule. The Section 508 requirements do not apply retroactively to pre-existing EIT. However, as agencies upgrade and change their electronic and information technology, they must comply with the standards. Specifically, the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards: Economic Assessment states that:
"The standards are to be applied prospectively and do not require Federal agencies to retrofit existing electronic and information technology. As agencies upgrade and change their electronic and information technology, they must comply with the standards."
It should be noted, however, that Federal agencies have additional responsibilities under Section 501 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. These Sections require that agencies provide reasonable accommodation to employees with disabilities and provide program access to members of the public with disabilities and take other actions necessary to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability in their programs.

To Learn More
The HHS Office on Disability (OD) oversees the implementation of Section 508 at HHS. Visit this site to learn more about the OD's activities and leadership.
The HHS Section 508 Accessibility page is available to assist vendors with information on conforming to the standards.
The U.S. Access Board's Section 508 Homepage provides information on Section 508 law, frequently asked questions, and standards.
The GSA Section 508 site provides Section 508 tools, resources, standards, and news.
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Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System

Fact SheetChemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System (CCRIS)
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CCRIS is a toxicology data file of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET®). It is a scientifically evaluated and fully referenced data bank, developed and maintained by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It contains over 9,000 chemical records with carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, tumor promotion, and tumor inhibition test results. Data are derived from studies cited in primary journals, current awareness tools, NCI reports, and other special sources. Test results have been reviewed by experts in carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.
Web Access/Searching
CCRIS is accessible, free of charge, via TOXNET at: http://toxnet/nlm.nih.gov
Users can search by chemical or other name, chemical name fragment, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (RN), and/or subject terms. Search results can easily be viewed, printed or downloaded. Search results are displayed in relevancy ranked order. Users may select to display any combination of data from the following broad groupings:
(a) Carcinogenicity Studies
(b) Tumor Promotion Studies
(c) Mutagenicity Studies
(d) Tumor Inhibition Studies
Users can easily conduct their CCRIS search strategy against other databases: Hazardous Substances Data Bank®, Integrated Risk Information System, GENE-TOX, TOXLINE®, and ChemIDplus®.
Further Information
For detailed information about CCRIS or TOXNET, contact:
CCRIS RepresentativeSpecialized Information ServicesNational Library of MedicineTwo Democracy Plaza, Suite 5106707 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 5467Bethesda, MD 20892-5467Telephone (30l) 496-1131FAX: (301) 480-3537e-mail: tehip@teh.nlm.nih.govURL: http://sis.nlm.nih.govFor information on NLM services, contact:
National Library of MedicineCustomer Service8600 Rockville PikeBethesda, MD 20894Telephone: 1-888-FINDNLM (1-888-346-3656) or (301) 594-5983e-mail: custserv@nlm.nih.gov
A complete list of NLM Fact Sheets is available at:(alphabetical list) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/factsheets.html(subject list): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/factsubj.htmlOr write to:
FACT SHEETSOffice of Communications and Public LiaisonNational Library of Medicine8600 Rockville PikeBethesda, Maryland 20894
Phone: (301) 496-6308Fax: (301) 496-4450email: publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov

Chemical Equilibrium

The JAVA applet below simulates the gaseous reaction
2 A —› B
in a closed container. Select the initial number of A molecules ( 80 ) or the initial number of B molecules (40 ) and the temperature (298 or 380 K or the value "Low"). Click the "Start" button to begin the simulation and the "Stop" button to end it. The A molecule is symbolically represented by a red ball. A blue ball depicts the B molecule. When the "On" button is clicked, plots of the number of A and the number of B molecules versus time are displayed along with the animation.
Use the applet to perform the following exercises and answer the questions.
Select 80 molecules of A and a temperature of "Low." Click the "Start" button and observe the animation for a couple minutes. Describe what you observed.
Select 80 molecules of A and a temperature of 298 K. Click the "On" button and observe the animation for three minutes. Record the value of Kc at three minutes. How did the number of A molecules and the number of B molecules change with time?
Select 40 molecules of B and a temperature of 298 K. Click the "On" button and observe the animation for three minutes. Record the value of Kc at three minutes. How are the plots of the number of A molecules and number of B molecules versus time in this exercise different from the plots in the previous (#2) exercise? In what way are the plots in the two exercises (#2 and #3 ) similar?
What evidence do you have to support the assertion that the equilibrium states in exercises #2 and #3 are effectively the same?
Select 80 molecules of A and a temperature of 380 K. Click the "On" button and observe the animation for three minutes. Record the value of Kc at three minutes. How does the equilibrium state at 380 K in this exercise differ from the equilibrium state at 298 K in exercise #2?
If you have preformed all of the experiments, answered all of the questions, and completed the report to be submitted for credit, then you may check the Answers to Chemical Equilibrium Questions