Ulead's commitment to accessible products and solutions allows us to support government in making accessible technology choices.

Section 508 reinforces the best practices that our organization already performs. We proactively educate our product teams about accessible design and the Section 508 Access Board standards.

What is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act?
"On August 7, 1998, President Clinton signed into law the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998, which covers access to federally funded programs and services."

"The law strengthens section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and requires access to electronic and information technology provided by the Federal government. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Federal agencies must ensure that this technology is accessible to employees and members of the public with disabilities to the extent it does not pose an 'undue burden.' " - U.S. Access Board

Section 508 addresses various means for disseminating information, including computers, software, and electronic office equipment.

The Access Board is responsible for developing accessibility standards for such technology for incorporation into regulations that govern Federal procurement practices. The Access Board issued their Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards for Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000. The final standards help Federal agencies determine whether or not a technology product or system is accessible.

Ulead and Section 508
Ulead believes that Section 508 is good for industry, government and, most importantly, for people with disabilities. For over 14 years, Ulead has designed their software to work on the Microsoft platforms. In unison with Microsoft’s commitment to working closely with federal IT managers and fellow technology-industry leaders to help government comply with their new regulations, Ulead’s value is the same as theirs. Our hope, along with Microsoft’s, is that Section 508 will encourage more competition and innovation on accessible technology - which in turn will lead to an increased number of people with disabilities finding employment that suits their talents and skills.

More Information on Section 508
For further information on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, see: