36 CFR Part 1194 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards (Section 508 Standards) - Preamble

Section 1194.41 Information, Documentation, and Support (Preamble, Section-by-Section Analysis)

In order for a product to be fully usable by persons with disabilities, the information about the product and product support services must also be usable by persons with disabilities. These issues are addressed in this section.

Paragraph (a) states that when an agency provides end-user documentation to users of technology, the agency must ensure that the documentation is available upon request in alternate formats. Alternate formats are defined in §1194.4, Definitions. Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, this provision does not require alternate formats of documentation that is not provided by the agency to other users of technology. (See §1194.31(a) in the NPRM.) No substantive comments were received regarding this provision and no changes other than editorial changes were made in the final rule.

Paragraph (b) requires that agencies supply end-users with information about accessibility or compatibility features that are built-into a product, upon request. (See §1194.31(b) in the NPRM.) No substantive comments were received regarding this provision and, other than an editorial revision substituting "methods" for "modes", and general editorial changes, no other changes were made in the final rule.

Paragraph (c) provides that help desks and other support services serving an agency must be capable of accommodating the communications needs of persons with disabilities. For example, an agency help desk may need to communicate through a TTY. The help desk or support service must also be familiar with such features as keyboard access and other options important to people with disabilities. (See §1194.31(a) in the NPRM.) No substantive comments were received regarding this provision and no changes other than editorial changes were made in the final rule.