Accessibility
The design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities
Accessibility is not just the right thing to do; it’s the law. The guidance, resources, and community you find here will help you deliver accessible digital products and services in the federal government.
Related Policy
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Accessibility: essential knowledge
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Section508.gov
This site provides guidance for federal agencies on several topics in IT accessibility, including creating accessible websites and documents, accessibility testing, accessibility training, and accessibility in contracting and procurement.
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Best practices for writing for the accessible web
Tips for making online information accessible for those with auditory and visual needs.
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An advanced approach to accessibility
Accessibility is one of the most important values underlying all the work that we do. This is a deeper look into accessibility: what to do, how to do it, and why it matters, especially in government.
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Accessibility: Usability for every ability
Incorporate accessibility from the start and celebrate accessibility guidelines that help build better products and services for all users.
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Accessibility for Teams
A quick-start guide for embedding accessibility and inclusive design practices into your team’s workflow.
Accessibility events
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
USWDS Monthly Call - November 2023
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
USWDS Monthly Call - October 2023
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
Accessibility news
Optimizing the federal digital experience: aligning content governance, coordination, and database development
This blog post dives into the details of building a dynamic content database and audit for onrr.gov. Learn how effective subject matter expert (SME) coordination, strategic content planning, and application of visualization tools contribute to enhancing content governance and user experience on a federal website. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Balancing priorities and values
Getting the word out about voter registration: Vote.gov’s first social media takeover with USAGov
Last fall, vote.gov and the USAGov program partnered for their first-ever social media takeover on National Voter Registration Day. The campaign, which encouraged the public to register to vote, reached 36,000 people across USAGov’s platforms and generated over 2,000 engagements. The partnership raised awareness for vote.gov, boosted vote.gov’s website traffic, and laid the groundwork for the future collaborations and resource-sharing between the two entities. This collaboration between vote.gov and USAGov offers a model for social media takeovers and partnerships between federal agencies and teams. — via USA.gov
Designing with empathy
Discover the transformative power of empathy in design with USAGov’s benefit finder. From simplifying applications to a mobile-first approach, the revamped tool not only functions efficiently in two different languages and cultural contexts, but demonstrates the consideration for users in challenging situations. Explore how empathy turned a government service into a compassionate lifeline, creating a product that genuinely understands and meets people where they are. — via USA.gov
In 2023, TTS stepped up to meet growing technology demands for government
GSA’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS) celebrated major milestones and met growing demand for its services in 2023. This wrap-up summaries key successes in five areas: improving customer experience, modernizing federal technology, innovating for the future, focus on equity and accessibility, and building the technology workforce of tomorrow. — via General Services Administration
Resources on Accessibility
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FY 23 Governmentwide Section 508 Assessment
Report: Assessment of compliance with Section 508 requirements.
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PlainLanguage.gov
A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
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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 contains standard solicitation provisions and contract clauses and the various agency FAR supplements.
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Find Your Section 508 Program Manager
Agency Section 508 Program Managers (PMs) are your first point of contact for questions about IT accessibility.
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Tabular Comparison of the Previous FAR Text Against the 2021 Update
These FAR Council updates are effective as of September 10, 2021.
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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, elements of the Accessibility Roadmap outlined in the Government-wide DEIA Strategic Plan.
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Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART)
ART is a multifaceted tool that offers interactive, step-by-step guidance on how to determine applicable accessibility requirements.
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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 Compliance Board’s (U.S. Access Board) information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194.1.
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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 scores in the 2021 Plain Language Report Card.
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How to Test Websites for Accessibility
Use both manual and automated testing methods to create accessible websites.
Tools and Services
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PlainLanguage.gov
Guidance on the use of plain language for government communications and training for federal employees.
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Section508.gov
Guidance for federal agencies on IT accessibility compliance.
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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.
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Open Opportunities
Discover opportunities across government that will help you build and make connections.
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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 American public.
More News and Events on Accessibility
156 posts
Spring 2024 Community Summit
Optimizing the federal digital experience: aligning content governance, coordination, and database development
This blog post dives into the details of building a dynamic content database and audit for onrr.gov. Learn how effective subject matter expert (SME) coordination, strategic content planning, and application of visualization tools contribute to enhancing content governance and user experience on a federal website. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Balancing priorities and values
Getting the word out about voter registration: Vote.gov’s first social media takeover with USAGov
Last fall, vote.gov and the USAGov program partnered for their first-ever social media takeover on National Voter Registration Day. The campaign, which encouraged the public to register to vote, reached 36,000 people across USAGov’s platforms and generated over 2,000 engagements. The partnership raised awareness for vote.gov, boosted vote.gov’s website traffic, and laid the groundwork for the future collaborations and resource-sharing between the two entities. This collaboration between vote.gov and USAGov offers a model for social media takeovers and partnerships between federal agencies and teams. — via USA.gov
Designing with empathy
Discover the transformative power of empathy in design with USAGov’s benefit finder. From simplifying applications to a mobile-first approach, the revamped tool not only functions efficiently in two different languages and cultural contexts, but demonstrates the consideration for users in challenging situations. Explore how empathy turned a government service into a compassionate lifeline, creating a product that genuinely understands and meets people where they are. — via USA.gov
In 2023, TTS stepped up to meet growing technology demands for government
GSA’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS) celebrated major milestones and met growing demand for its services in 2023. This wrap-up summaries key successes in five areas: improving customer experience, modernizing federal technology, innovating for the future, focus on equity and accessibility, and building the technology workforce of tomorrow. — via General Services Administration
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
Accessibility testing: Creating digital services everyone can use
Making sure that USA.gov and USAGov en Español remain accessible to people with disabilities is essential. The product team shares four testing tips they’ve learned to help ensure that everyone has equal access to digital products and services. — via USA.gov
GSA Issues Report to Congress Highlighting Need for Improvement in Federal Government Section 508 Compliance
The report, the FY23 Governmentwide Section 508 Assessment, evaluates reporting entities’ adherence to the criteria established by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in coordination with GSA, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the U.S. Access Board (USAB). It provides a baseline and recommendations for strengthening compliance initiatives and enhancing Section 508 activities across the federal government. — via General Services Administration
OMB Releases Digital Accessibility Guidance to Ensure All Americans Have Ability to Access Critical Government Resources
The Biden-Harris Administration is championing inclusivity by requiring federal agencies to prioritize accessibility in the digital space, recognizing the gap in access for the 61 million Americans with disabilities on nearly half of popular federal government websites. The new guidance mandates rigorous testing, inclusion of individuals with disabilities in design processes, and the incorporation of experts in procurement, emphasizing a commitment to universal access. Read more to discover how these measures aim to change the federal digital experience for all Americans. — via The White House
Delivering on 21st Century IDEA: A case study from the GSA SmartPay team (Part 3)
USWDS Monthly Call - November 2023
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
USWDS Monthly Call - October 2023
Hosted by Digital.gov and the U.S. Web Design System
Celebrating 20 years of USAGov en Español
USAGov en Español is excited to celebrate their 20th anniversary this month! Since 2003, the website has been a trusted guide to government information and services for Spanish speakers. Explore this timeline of USAGov en Español’s milestones, name changes, and accomplishments as they’ve served Spanish speakers and federal partners over the past two decades. — via USA.gov
Why the American People Deserve a Digital Government
OMB released new policy guidance for government that includes a variety of actions and standards to help federal agencies design, develop, and deliver modern websites and digital services. Memo M-23-22, Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience, will make it seamless for the public to obtain government information and services online, and help agencies fully implement the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act (21st Century IDEA). — via The White House
A conversation about content audits
First, do no harm: mistakes to avoid in creating accessible user experiences
Accessible design and development practices help us build inclusive experiences. But we can lose sight of the people we serve if we don’t steadily work to better understand our users. To create accessible experiences, avoid these mistakes. — via 18F
Blind Veterans can now read decision letters
VA now offers accessibility to blind Veterans so they can independently read decision letters online. — via U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Advanced Section 508 compliance testing: moving beyond automated testing and screen readers
Members of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue team recently completed the free, six-course Trusted Tester accessibility compliance training and certification from the Department of Homeland Security. Here’s what they learned, and how they applied this new knowledge to the two websites they manage. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Fact Sheet: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities
The Department of Justice published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) explaining how they propose updating the regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to add more specific requirements about web and mobile application (app) accessibility. — via Department of Justice