Page Text: Steering Committee
Accessibility Requirements
Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology (EIT), Federal employees with disabilities have comparable access to and use of information and data as Federal employees who have no disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have comparable access to and use of information and data as the public without disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.
Although Federal agencies have an explicit statutory obligation to make all EIT that they develop, maintain, or use compliant with Section 508, the current emphasis is on newly procured EIT because it is the category that is explicitly enforceable by legal action. Procurement awards made on or after June 25, 2001, are subject to Section 508 (see FAR Final Rule).
According to the Access Board, the Section 508 requirements do not apply retroactively to pre-existing EIT. Specifically, the “Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards: Economic Assessment,” states that
“The standards are to be applied prospectively and do not require Federal agencies to retrofit existing electronic and information technology. As agencies upgrade and change their electronic and information technology, they must comply with the standards.” (See Chapter 2.1 Final Standards)
It should be noted, however, that other Federal regulations and guidelines (e.g., Section 501 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) require equal access for individuals with disabilities. Therefore, Federal agencies are required, upon request, to provide information and data to individuals with disabilities through an alternative means of access that can be used by the individuals.
Privacy Policy
We use web measurement and customization technologies, such as cookies, to help our website function better for visitors and to better understand how the public is using our website.
We use session cookies to gather data for technical purposes, such as enabling better navigation through our website and generating aggregated statistics about how the website is used.
Session cookies are temporary text files that expire when you leave our website. When cookies expire, they are automatically deleted from your computer. We do not use session cookies to collect PII, and we do not share data collected from session cookies.
Our use of session cookies is defined as “Tier 1” usage in accordance with the OMB Memorandum (M)-10-22 Guidance for Online Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technologies.
We use multi-session cookies, a.k.a. persistent cookies, to customize our website for frequent visitors and to test variations of website design and content. Multi-session cookies are cookies that are stored over more than a single session on your computer. We do not use multi-session cookies to collect PII, and we do not share data collected from multi-session cookies. Our multi-session cookies are set to expire two years after your last visit to our website. After two years, they are automatically deleted from your computer. Our use of multi-session cookies is defined as “Tier 2” usage in accordance with the OMB Memorandum (M)-10-22 Guidance for Online Use of Web Measurement and Customization Technologies.
You can take actions to block cookies. Blocking these cookies from your computer will not affect your access to the content and tools on our website. Instructions to opt out are available on USA.gov.
If you send us e-mail or send a message via our Contact Form or publications order form, your identity and the contents of your message are covered by the Privacy Act. Be assured that:
The information will not be shared with anyone not on the staff of SAMHSA or Vibrant Emotional Health.
Your e-mail address will not be provided to any third party or used for any electronic mailing lists— government or private.
We do not create individual profiles with the e-mail information you provide or give it to any other organizations.
The e-mail material, including your e-mail address and/or name will in no way be correlated or linked to the material that is automatically collected as described above. The only exceptions to item 4 above would be pursuant to a bona fide Court Order.
We do not collect information for commercial marketing.
The use we will make of your information is to:
Consider your suggestions.
Possibly respond directly to you for clarification.
Try and answer your questions if you ask them.
This site is maintained for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is protected by various provisions of Title 18, U.S. Code. Violations of Title 18 are subject to criminal prosecution in Federal court.
For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, we employ software programs to monitor traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. In the event of authorized law enforcement investigations and pursuant to any required legal process, information from these sources may be used to help identify an individual.
If you have any questions about the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline privacy policy, please feel free to visit our contact form .
The Information Center provides information about mental health for users of mental health services and their families, policymakers, providers, the media, and the public. Our staff members are skilled at listening and responding to questions from the public and professionals. They quickly direct callers to Federal, State, and local organizations dedicated to treating and preventing mental illness. The Information Center also has information on Federal grants, conferences, and other events.
Our Web site will sometimes link to another website that is not owned or operated by Vibrant Emotional Health. Once you link to another site, you are subject to the privacy policy of the new site. This includes the sites that you may link to through our search engine.
All text materials on this Web site are in the public domain. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline encourages copying or any other utilization of the text. Some of the graphic materials on this site are in the public domain and other graphics may be used with permission, but that permission does not necessarily extend to all. If you have any permission questions, please visit our contact form .
Image Credits & Sources
Whenever possible, we have used images and photography on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website that have been shared publicly with us or our partners. Additional images that have been sourced are used under the Creative Commons License.
Get in touch