Matrix Publishing Matrix 508 Compliance

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal agencies to make "electronic and information technology" accessible to people with disabilities.

Federal Agencies and Federal Contractors seeking to address this requirement should contact Matrix, a small focused firm specializing in 508 compliance.

• Forms, PDFs, and documents vary in size, content, design complexity and intended use.
• The goal of the Access Board [official body charged with developing 508 Compliance standards] is to continually improve accessibility by soliciting feedback from the disabled community and adjusting the 508 requirements. Therefore, by definition, the standards will change.
• Different government agencies place a greater emphasis on usability [strict compliance is different than degree of usability] – – and this will change.
• Different agencies require the use of certain tools and processes – – and these will change.
• Manufacturers constantly come out with faster, more powerful, stable authoring and remediation (testing/fixing/correcting) tools.

Keys to success: Our success comes from 508 knowledge; dedication to performance; customer service; attention to detail; efficient process; and adaptability.

• 508 Compliance Knowledge: Whether done internally or purchased from a vendor, making content compliant is the responsibility of the agency. If an agency is not fully knowledgeable of the law, they should use a vendor who is. We know the law and ensure its adherence.
• Dedication to Performance: We know the importance of deadlines, flexibility, and dependability – – we take our commitments seriously and deliver what we promise.
• Customer Service: We try to make the customer’s job easier. This requires taking the time to learn their preferences, and how we may best serve them.
• Attention to Detail: No tool tests for total compliance and usability so it is extremely important to have an orientation toward detail – – we live it every day.
• Efficient Process: Determining the most efficient process of making a particular file 508 compliant is key to; speed, uniformity, quality control, and overall cost effectiveness.
• Adaptability: We have always adapted to changes in; 508 requirements, software/hardware tools, and processes.

Expertise

Creating/manipulating documents is what we do. Prior to our entrance into the 508 community, we provided the publishing service of making pages. We have decades of experience in the pre-press business, and have created well over a million PDFs since Adobe brought them into the market in 1993. Years of fine tuning efficiencies have resulted in unmatched speed, accuracy, price reduction and overall performance. Section 508 motivated us to expand our capabilities to making PDFs accessible.

Adobe Systems, the creator of PDF, has kept pace with the requirements of Section 508. We are familiar with their tools and other "plug-ins" using whichever are the most appropriate to test and remediate (fix) the specific job at hand. Primary tools; Adobe's LiveCycle & NetCentric's CommonLook.

We know the difference between strict compliance and usability. Compliance is driven by law and is a given. Usability is driven by agency preference. Tools do not check for usability, judgment is required. Obviously, the higher the degree of usability, the more time it takes and therefore the more it costs. We assure usability according to the accepted protocol of the agency.

History

In 2006, Julie Quickel and Doug Ward bought Matrix knowing there was a need to expand its 25 year market of pre-press. At a meeting with HHS, we were introduced to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the role it plays in the field of accessibility. The Federal Government recognized that the disabled community is amazingly large, has a growing influence on our economy and most importantly, could not be discriminated against. Therefore Section 508 was passed requiring all government electronic information to be equally accessible. Knowing this, it was easy to identify our new market -- making 508 compliant forms, PDFs, and documents. It fits our skill sets perfectly, will continue to grow, and helps maintain our staff’s capacity of producing thousands of pages a year. Matrix is uniquely suited for this market and is dedicated to its purpose.

Government vehicles: Matrix is a registered government contractor (CCR); a registered GPO vendor; does contract work through SPA; and in the process of getting on GSA Schedule 36.

Current government agency relationships: Matrix has ongoing relationships with HHS, FDA, PHS, USDA, IRS, and VA.

Pricing

Because of the many variables, Matrix will provide an estimate for every project.

Contact us

Matrix Publishing Services, Inc.
1920 Bank Lane
York, PA 17408
Ph: 717-764-9673
info@matrixpublishing.com

Doug Ward, Partner
Julie Quickel, Partner