Description
Federal employees must ensure that the information and communication technology (ICT) they procure or develop is accessible to people with disabilities as required under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Standards issued by the Access Board under Section 508 apply to all types of ICT in the federal sector, including websites. This introductory session is intended for federal employees involved in procuring web services and products who may not have a technical background but who are responsible for compliance with Section 508. It will follow the “user story“ of a non-technical federal employee who has been recently assigned 508 oversight responsibilities for a web services contract.
Presenters will cover questions such as: What kinds of technical requirements should be included in procurement contracts? How can procurement officials become sufficiently versed in Section 508 requirements for websites and web content? What are strategies for determining whether a contractor has the necessary skillset to meet the 508 Standards and for verifying that procured services and deliverables are fully conformant? What resources and tools are available for evaluating website accessibility and fixing access issues?