DHS Accessibility Requirements Tool (DART) V1.5.2

To request an Undue Burden Exception authorization, complete and submit DHS Form #4103 to accessibility@dhs.gov.

Undue burden applies when complying with Section 508 would impose significant difficulty or expense.

National Security exceptions require authorization from the Office of Accessible Systems and Technology (OAST) as mandated in DHS MD 4010.2.

To request a National Security Exception authorization, complete and submit DHS Form #4105 to accessibility@dhs.gov.

National Security applies to EIT services and items that are used for the purposes of National Security. To summarize National Security, it is when the EIT item or service will involve the movement of military forces, targeting, or weapons systems, cryptologic activities related to national security, and systems which are critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions. Systems which are critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions do not include a system that is to be used for routine administrative and business applications (including payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel management applications).

Fundamental Alteration exceptions require authorization from the Section 508 Coordinator.

To request a Fundamental Alteration Exception authorization, complete and submit DHS Form #4108 to Component Section 508 Coordinator.

Applying fundamental alteration requires a detailed analysis involving business requirement and how changing the EIT to be compliant with Section 508 would cause the EIT to not fulfill the intended purpose.

This is focused on the changing of a product. For instance, a live simulation designed to replicate the flying of the space shuttle would likely be exempt, as making the simulator compliant would render the product useless, as recreating the live event is required. It would not normally have additional information such as audio output, real time captioning etc. The reporting and administrative features that are operated by employees outside the simulator would not be exempt.

This does not mean that calling something simulation meets this exception either, as if the simulation offers anything other than a replication of live events, such as a Web page containing a simulation training screen designed for users to review, analyze and submit response. These types of simulations normally provide additional information such as mouse over events, timers, etc., therefore would not be exempt.

Back Office exceptions require authorization from the Section 508 Coordinator.

To request a Back Office Exception authorization, complete and submit DHS Form #4109 to Component Section 508 Coordinator.

APPLY TO: Services and Items involving Servers, Racks, Cabling and wiring. This exception often applies to the hardware within a server rack, however, the software operating on that hardware is only excepted when it is accessed from the hardware location on a local console. This exception rarely applies to a remote interface.

NOTE: Circuits, routers, switches (anything that transmits or conducts information) is NOT a Back-Office product even if the circuit etc., sits in an enclosed space and receives infrequent visits from maintenance personel. The reason is these items can change data and information by adding or removing pieces. 36 CFR 1194.23(j) exists to explicitly cover this to ensure they do not take out any accessibility related information such as TTY, captioning, etc.

This is selected by ‘default’, as it should be applied to nearly all acquisitions. Reports and documents occur in nearly all acquisitions and using the software standard will fulfill the functional performance criteria required by all EIT, including documents and reports.

APPLY TO: Services and Items when the requirements & IGCE have development, procurement, maintenance or use of Software or Web based applications, including COTS/GOTS products, or Training materials. The reasoning behind requiring this for services is the activities of people and what type of EIT they will be delivering, maintaining or developing.

This is selected by ‘default’, as it should be applied to nearly all acquisitions. Reports and documents occur in nearly all acquisitions and using the Web standard will fulfill the functional performance criteria required by all EIT, including documents and reports.

APPLY TO: Services and Items when the requirements have Reports to be delivered, Document deliverables, Web development, maintenance or procurement.

Note: OAST uses the “Web” standards to help fulfill the functional performance criteria of Section 508 for everyday documents and reports that a contract staff member may create. Therefore, almost all PR’s would include this standard and the default for this checkbox is "checked".

APPLY TO: Certain services and items involving Telephones, Circuits, Switches, Routers, etc. While some of these items may "appear" to be consistent with a back-office product exception, part 36 CFR 1194.23 explicitly calls out items used to transmit data such as circuits.

APPLY TO: services and items involving Training procurement or development or Web development or procurement.

Note: This should be included on any PR requirement document that has any Web or Training deliverables.

APPLY TO: services and items for Purchase, development or lease of Computers and servers. This includes laptop and other personal computing devices such as PDA’s.

Note: Even if the acquisition will have an “exception” such as a server being installed in a back office environment, this standards shall still be included. The reason for this is that server may be exempt but other support and equipment may not be exempt. The exception language spells out when each applies.