Section 508
Compliance
Report
Research Consultant: Megan Ulrich
February 12th 2012
Summary
 Section 508 Compliance is
provisions of standards and
requirements of Federal agencies
when producing web pages so that
accessibility is equal to those who
are and are not disabled.
 My professional opinion is that
Home Depot should comply with
Section 508 Compliance
Compliance is the Right Thing to do:
 10% of the population are
deaf/hearing impaired
 11,400,000 people have visual
conditions not correctable by glasses
 6,400,000 new cases of eye disease
occur each year
 2,800,000 people are visually
handicapped from color blindness
 1,100,000 people are legally blind
Compliance is the Legal Thing to do:
 “In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 as amended by the Workforce Investigated Act
of 1998, August 7, 1998 require Federal agencies to
make their electronic and information technology
accessible to people with disabilities.”
 “Specifically, Section 508 of the act requires that when
Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use
EIT, Federal employees with disabilities have access
to and use of information and data that is comparable
to the access and use by Federal employees who are
not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue
burden would be imposed by the agency.”
Taken from Home Depot’s Website:
“The Home Depot is Dedicated to:
1. Meeting the Needs of Government
2. Supporting Our Federal Customers
3. Partnering with State & Local Governments
4. Simplifying Tax Exemption”
The Home Depot U.S.A. (2011). The home depot. Retrieved from
https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Values/Pages/default.aspx
Home Depot’s Values:
 # 3: “Doing the right thing: We exercise good judgment by ‘doing the
right thing’ instead of just ‘doing things right.’ We strive to understand
the impact of our decisions, and we accept responsibility for our
actions.”
 # 6: “ Building strong relationships: Strong relationships are built on
trust, honesty, and integrity. We listen and respond to the needs of
customers, associates, communities, and vendors, treating them as
partners.”
 # 8: “Respect for all people: In order to remain successful, our
associates must work in an environment of mutual respect, free of
discrimination and harassment where each associate is regarded as
part of The Home Depot team.”
The Home Depot U.S.A. (2011). The home depot. Retrieved from
https://corporate.homedepot.com/OurCompany/Values/Pages/default.aspx
Both of what Home Depot is dedicated to
and it’s company’s values are reasons
for compliance with Section 508



Increase customer base and customer
satisfaction
Prevent possible lawsuits in the future
Save money later by protecting your
company now
Overall
•
•
Compliance is a smart move and though
there may not be legal pressure now to
comply, the advancing technical world
will surely push forward as prices
increase to make chances such as these
more difficult
Compliance would support your goals
and mission statements thus adding
credibility to yourselves as a company
and “team”
For More Support on How to
Comply Please Contact:
Megan Ulrich
Research Consultant
meganaulrich@hotmail.com
(631) 737-8221