A Primer on Accessible Federal Procurement Law - Section 508 Overview
This content delves into Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, highlighting the importance of accessibility in federal government IT procurement. It covers the requirements, scope, and implications of Section 508, emphasizing the need for accessible products and services. The discussion extends to the Rehabilitation Act's provisions, including affirmative action and anti-discrimination measures for people with disabilities. Key aspects such as electronic information technology standards, agency evaluations, and enforcement are explored in detail.
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Presentation Transcript
IMAGE Section 508 A Primer on Accessible Federal Procurement Law Michelle Pinsky, UX Designer October 30, 2024
What this seminar covers (Or what we're hoping to cover in this time block)
4 Agenda Introduction The Update What does the update cover? What this seminar covers How long do I have to comply? Why this is the most important seminar so far What is ADA Title II? Do I really need to comply? t Exceptions What is it? Am I excepted? The history What if I'm unsure? What it covers Q&A vita.virginia.gov vita.virginia.gov
So let's get started... What is Section 508?
Before we go further...Let's talk about the Rehabilitation Act 6 The Rehabilitation act of 1973 was enacted September 26, 1973. It grants affirmative action in employment by the federalgovernment and its contractors, and it prohibits discrimination based on disability. It covers programs conducted by federalagencies, programs receiving federal funding, federal employment,and employment practices of federal contractors. It follows the same standards for determining what constitutes employment discrimination of people with disabilities as those used in Title I of the American with Disabilities' Act (ADA). Notable sections include Section 501, 503, 504, 505, and 508 vita.virginia.gov
What is it? 7 Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires the US Federal Government to take accessibility into account when procuring IT, such as hardware, software, websites, and the like. It applies to US federal government entities only, but to sell to the federal government, third-party entities have to offer accessible products and services. vita.virginia.gov
Quick Guide 8 Section 508 covers: Accessibility in the development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic information technology AND electronic and information technology standards as well as their incorporation Does not include national security standards Includes equipment, software, and peripheral devices Technical assistance Agency evaluations, including interim reports and biennal reports Enforcement of this section and their applicable standards vita.virginia.gov
2018 update 9 Incorporates the WCAG 2.0 Provides clearer guidance on how to incorporate standards based on features and functionality, as well as how to apply the guidelines to public-facing media Clarifies how operating systems and software need to work with assistive technology Addresses access for people with cognitive, language, and learning disabilities Updates accessibility requirements for modern IT tools Clarifies exceptions vita.virginia.gov
But it's Federal... Why is this important to me, if I'm a COVA agency?
State adaptions 11 The relevant legislation is implemented by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA), and is called the Virginia Enterprise Architecture Standard and is designated as Information Technology Resource Management (ITRM) Standard GOV103-00. In 2004, the Virginia General Assembly and the Govenor of Virginia enacted state legislation that all Virginia State executive branch agencies and higher education institutions are required to comply with the regulations that implement the accessibility standards laid out by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 AND VITA's EAS. vita.virginia.gov
Read the standards, and then follow guidance 12 1. Update agency policies 2. Define accessibility requirements 3. Update solicitation language 4. Develop and test for conformance vita.virginia.gov
Playbook flow 13 Establish an accessibility program manager to lead compliance efforts Integrate accessibility into market research and acquisition Assess your agency's accessibility maturity Integrate accessibility into the development process Develop an accessibility roadmap Establish an internal policy Conduct accessibility testing Develop an accessibility team Track and resolve accessibility issues Collaborate with other agencies Educate and inform Integrate accessibility into requirements and design processes vita.virginia.gov
Where can I learn more? 14 Federal Government's Section 508 website Section 508 Law IT Accessibility Policy Framework Technology Accessibility Playbook Developing a Website Accessibility Statement Enterprise Architecture Standard vita.virginia.gov
