NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 2800.2A Effective Date: August 05, 2020 Expiration Date: August 05, 2025

Subject: Information and Communication Technology Accessibility

Responsible Office: Office of the Chief Information Officer

Appendix A. Definitions

Access Board. The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to Federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover Federally funded facilities.

Assistive Technology. Any item, piece of equipment, or system whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. This may include screen readers, which allow persons who cannot see a visual display to either hear screen content or read the content in Braille.

Business Impact Assessment. Identifies exposure to sudden loss of critical business functions and supporting resources. Involves assessing both financial and non-financial (i.e., customer service) costs during business disruption and business restoration periods.

Information and Communication Technology. ICT is defined as any technology, equipment, or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment for which the principal function is the creation, conversion, duplication, automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, reception, or broadcast of data or information. ICT includes, but is not limited to:

• Software programs;
• Web based Intranet or Internet information and applications;
• Telecommunication products;
• Information kiosk and transaction machines;
• Websites;
• Multimedia (including video and pictures);
• Office equipment, computers, copiers and fax machines; and
• Electronic forms and documents.

Electronic Content. Electronic content is defined as electronic information and data, as well as the encoding that defines its structure, presentation, and interactions, such as content in emails, documents (pdf, doc, etc.), Web pages, social media, etc.

Fundamental Alteration. An exception that applies to a change in the fundamental characteristic or purpose of the product or service that is not merely a cosmetic or aesthetic change. For example, an agency intends to procure pocket-sized pagers for field agents of a law enforcement agency. Adding a large display to a small pager may fundamentally alter the device by significantly changing its size to such an extent that it no longer meets the purpose for which it was intended, that is to provide a communication device that fits in a shirt or jacket pocket. For some of these agents, portability of electronic equipment is of paramount concern. Generally, adding access should not change the basic purpose or characteristics of a product in a fundamental way.

Market Research. A process used to collect, organize, maintain, analyze, and present data for the purpose of maximizing the capabilities, technology, and competitive force of the marketplace to meet an organization's needs for supplies or services.

Official Communication. Supports the Agency's mission and is limited to those communications that contain information necessary for Federal employees to perform their job functions; or, when communicated to a member of the public, are necessary for them to conduct official business with NASA as defined by the Agency’s Mission.

Program. A strategic investment by a Mission Directorate or Mission Support Office that has a defined architecture and/or technical approach, requirements, funding level, and a management structure that initiates and directs one or more projects. A program defines a strategic direction that the Agency has identified as critical.

Reasonable Accommodation. Any modification or adjustment to a job or the work environment that will enable a qualified applicant or employee with a disability to participate in the application process or to perform essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation also includes adjustments to assure that a qualified individual with a disability has rights and privileges in employment equal to those of employees without disabilities. Requiring Office. The office from which a development project or procurement originates.

Undue Burden. Significant difficulty or expense. In determining whether an action would result in an undue burden, the Agency considers the difficulty and/or expense of compliance, and all Agency resources available to its program or component for which the product or service is being developed, procured, maintained, or used.

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