A digital accessibility catalyst for your next policy refresh
Use GSA’s IT Accessibility Policy Framework to update digital accessibility language in your agency’s policies.
Accessibility
The design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities.
Resources on Accessibility
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) —The primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds. The FAR also …
Find Your Section 508 Program Manager —Agency Section 508 Program Managers (PMs) are your first point of contact for questions about IT accessibility.
Tabular Comparison of the Previous FAR Text Against the 2021 Update —These FAR Council updates are effective as of September 10, 2021.
Integrating Accessibility into Agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Implementation Plans —Guidance on implementing Executive Order (14035) on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce; specifically, …
Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART) —ART is a multifaceted tool that offers interactive, step-by-step guidance on how to determine applicable accessibility requirements.
Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 39.2 - Information and Communication Technology —This subpart implements section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 d), and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers …
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card —This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
How to Test Websites for Accessibility —Use both manual and automated testing methods to create accessible websites.
Guidelines for Digital.gov event presenters —A checklist of requirements for people who are presenting at a Digital.gov event.
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0 —A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …
Bilingual Glossaries, Dictionaries, and Style Guides —Multilingual resources to standardize the use of various languages across government.
18F Accessibility Guide —A resource for developing accessible products.
Accessibility for Teams —A guide to making products more accessible for everyone.
PlainLanguage.gov —A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
Best Practices for Writing for the Accessible Web —Tips for making online information accessible for those with auditory and visual needs.
An Introduction to Accessibility —An introduction to accessibility, and why it matters.
U.S. Access Board Section 508 Standards —The Section 508 Standard for Electronic and Information Technology requires that when a federal agency shares information digitally, …
Improving the Accessibility of Social Media in Government —Government agencies are increasingly using social media to engage with citizens, share information and deliver services more quickly and …
Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit Hackpad —The following contains the shared document for the development of the Social Media Policy Toolkit, a shared service of the Federal Social …
Web Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) —The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) documents explain how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. Web …
Tools and Services
PlainLanguage.gov —Guidance on the use of plain language for government communications and training for federal employees.
Section508.gov —Guidance for Federal agencies on IT accessibility compliance.
The Guide to the Paperwork Reduction Act —Get help with the PRA, planning and submitting an information request, and finding your agencies agency’s PRA contact.
Open Opportunities —Discover opportunities across government that will help you build and make connections.
U.S. Web Design System —A toolkit of principles, guidance, and code that helps agency digital teams build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the …
Join a Community of Practice
U.S. Web Design System —A community for anyone building federal websites with the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) or considering it for a future project.
Section 508 IT Accessibility —To support people working to enhance access to federal information technology (IT), we identify and promote best practices for compliance …
Plain Language —Brings together government plain language practitioners to promote use of plain language, saving agencies time and money and providing …
News and Events on Accessibility
105 posts
Judiciary Launches New Federal Ticket Processing Website
Individuals can now pay tickets for minor federal violations more easily, using a redesigned website for the Judiciary’s Central Violations Bureau. The website, officially launched in early May, leverages new technologies and best design practices to improve usability and accessibility across devices, including smart phones. — via aousc
The art of storytelling in a hybrid world
Combined with technology and audience awareness, our increasingly digital, hybrid world can still leverage that in-person charm through the art of storytelling.
Introducing the new USA.gov
We’re excited to share that the new USA.gov and USAGov en Español are live. However, we’re not finished. See what we’ll be working on in the future. — via USA.gov
Modernizing a federal government website with user-centered design
In this blog post, we break down our process for redesigning a federal government website (onrr.gov) into six detailed sections. This blog serves as a helpful guide for other agencies looking to do a major website redesign. — via DOI Revenue Data
Plain language on onrr.gov: coordination and implementation with web content owners
Strategies, examples, and lessons learned from coordinating with content owners to enhance plain language on onrr.gov. — via DOI Revenue Data
Testing Beta for Accessibility
The USAGov team strives to ensure all our websites are accessible to as many people as possible. This includes those who need the use of specialized assistive technologies when browsing the internet. In building beta.USA.gov we deliberately validated that it met Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 compliance requirements. Our testing approach includes a three step hybrid method that may be suitable for other agency use. — via USA.gov
A happy compromise between people-first and plain language
Find out how the National Institute of Corrections is using people-first plain language in its communications. See what words and phrases they’re changing.
How to manage a federal website
Managing government websites is a targeted exercise. Here are 5 steps to help you build and maintain a successful one.
9 web resolutions to jump-start 2023
Nine areas to focus on in the coming year to take your digital sites and services to the next level.
To Build Trust, Aim for Easy
Trust is earned through consistency and commitment. Build sites that build trust by considering user needs, respecting people’s time, and avoiding customer experience pitfalls.
Accessibility Testing for onrr.gov
How do you make sure a website is accessible? This blog post outlines the four steps the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR - pronounced like "honor") at the U.S. Department of the Interior took to verify accessibility. — via DOI Revenue Data
Closing the Disability Divide
Over 67 million people in the United States have a disability, constituting the largest diversity group in the country. Despite decades of advocacy and struggle, people with disabilities continue to experience significant gaps in health and well-being, educational attainment, employment, and wealth compared to people without disabilities. These gaps have been termed the “disability divide.” The purpose of this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness campaign at the National Institutes of Health is to educate staff regarding the divide and to celebrate those who help close the disability divide by advocating for people with disabilities. — via nih
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)
Observed annually in October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. In recognition of the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce, the theme for NDEAM 2022, Disability: Part of the Equity Equation. — via dol
Measuring and Justifying the Government Experience
Measuring and Justifying the Government Experience—Private sector organizations use revenue as the primary measurement to justify improving experiences. Many government services don’t have revenue as a lever, so how can we justify work to improve experience? The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) leveraged a few metrics on their team that fall into three categories: laws and regulations, improving the experience for users, and saving time for employees. — via DOI Revenue Data
Community Research Explores Ways To Improve Access To Multilingual Content
A group from the Multilingual Community noticed inconsistencies in access to languages other than English across government websites, and have started working on a solution.
