(a) Product Support Documents in Nonvisually Accessible Format

The intent of the regulation is to ensure that if an end-user requests information technology product support documentation, such as a user instruction paper or manual, a State agency will provide one copy of the documentation in a non-visually accessible alternate format at no charge to the requestor.

Documentation guidance
Users with visual disabilities require access to information in text formats. PDF (Portable Document Format) is a graphical representation of a document that may be made accessible (refer to Content guidance below).

• Check that there is documentation on the accessibility features.
• Ensure that documentation is available in a readily accessible format (text or HTML) or, if in PDF, can be made nonvisually accessible.

Content guidance
Determine if content is provided in a readily accessible format (text or HTML). If a document is provided in PDF, at a minimum:

• Create original documents in current word processing software such as Word 2000 or later, or convert older documents to current word processing software such as Word 2000 or later, before creating the PDF document.
• Use the Style feature (Format menu/ Style) in Word to format text.
• Determine that information is provided about the document’s content structure (headings or titles, tables, columns and text flows such as a table of contents) and images (text descriptions).This information will allow assistive technologies such as screen readers to implement a logical reading order.
• Determine that PDF Image Only files are converted to tagged Adobe PDF documents, with applied OCR, so that a screen reader will be able to recognize and read the document as text.
• Determine that the language of the document is specified in the document’s structure.

Note: Adobe Acrobat and Reader 6.0 have several compliant features, including certain PDF text-to-speech functionality and other accessibility evaluation and development tools.

back to top

(b) Product Features in Nonvisually Accessible Format

The intent of the regulation is to ensure that if an end-user requests a description of an information technology’s accessibility and compatibility features, a State agency will provide one copy of the descriptions in a non-visually accessible alternate format or alternate method at no charge to the requestor. An example of an alternate method is a verbal communication of the description to the requestor.

back to top

(c) Product Support Services

The intent of the regulation is to ensure that end-users with disabilities have access to support services, for information technology products within the scope of the regulation, that meet their interaction and data transmission requirements. Support services for such products include State help desk and vendor repair and instruction services.

back to top​