| MUSC is committed to ensuring its Web sites are accessible, and, in coordination with the State of South Carolina, will follow guidelines set out by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, amended 1998 by the Work Force Investment Act (Section 1194.22 and its subsequent amendments) as its minimal requirements for Web accessibility. Section 508 has been interpreted to also include accessibility to websites for the blind, the hard of hearing, and those with mobility impairment. The act requires that the information contained in a website be accessible to those with special needs. http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/e-learning.htm (Section 508 requires comparable access to the data and information provided by Federal agency electronic and information technology). In addition, the state has recommended following the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C's) Priority 1 and 2 levels of compliance: http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/full-checklist.html.
MUSC's Office of the CIO has formed an initial working group to help coordinate and support MUSC's compliance efforts. This group is aware that there will be questions associated with this directive, and is working quickly to educate the MUSC web community on what steps to take. A web site developed to help provide information and progress status is can be found at http://www.musc.edu/508.
You will hear more details soon about the progress of this group. If you have any questions in the meantime, you can email the group: 508group@musc.edu
More information on Web Site Accessibility: - http://www.access-sc.org/ - http://jimthatcher.com/ - http://www.w3.org/
View the list of Site Owners and Publishers for the top 600 visited MUSC pages. (Excel file) MUSC Adopts 508 Standards, 3/31/06 - (Word doc) Sign up for an Information Session on 508
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