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By: FEDweek StaffOMB has issued guidance on making information more accessible to and usable to persons with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act “with the end goal of helping government technology and information resources better serve a diverse public and federal workforce.”
“Members of the public and federal employees should have equitable access to government, regardless of ability. The prevalence of information technology and the growing necessity of it in daily life make digital accessibility a continuing imperative for federal agencies,” says memo M-24-08, which overrides a series of prior guidance documents dating to 2005.
It notes that 25 percent of all adults have a disability as defined by that law and 17 percent of federal employees self-report the same, adding that “The actual numbers may even be larger than reported because of evolving concepts and perceptions of disability.”
The memo addresses topics including:
* establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and organizational capacity and processes, including “dedicating sufficient resources for accessibility programs to be effective; developing and maintaining policies and procedures; and creating a dedicated, well trained workforce to drive digital accessibility efforts and ensure conformance.”
* procuring technology that is compliant with the law’s requirements for accessibility, involving acquisition planning, market research, solicitations, evaluations, and contract management, as appropriate.
* designing and developing digital experiences so that “all people, regardless of ability, are able to navigate, understand, and provide feedback on government information and services, to the greatest extent practicable.”
* creating and publishing online and electronic content that is inclusive and accessible for users.
The memo sets a series of tasks with deadlines, including within 90 days posting a digital accessibility statement on all web pages and establishing or updating mechanisms to receive public feedback about accessibility issues.
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