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�The “Win-Win” of Accessible Tech for Government and Industry��CSUN Assistive Technology Conference�Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Betsy Sirk

Digital Accessibility/Section 508 Program Manager, National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Chairperson, Federal CIO Council Accessibility Community of Practice Industry Outreach Program

Email: betsy.sirk@nasa.gov

Antonio Haileselassie

Digital Accessibility/Section 508 Program Manager, National Institutes of Health

Federal CIO Council Accessibility Community of Practice Industry Outreach Program

Email: Antonio.Haileselassie@NIH.gov

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Agenda

  • Digital Accessibility/Section 508 Overview
  • Why Digital Accessibility Matters
  • Acquisition Overview
  • Accessibility Conformance Reports
  • Demystifying Section 508 Guide
  • The “Win-Win”
  • Key Takeaways
  • Resources

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The US Federal Government is required to implement accessible technology. This presentation promotes the “Win-Win” situation achieved when Industry develops tech with accessibility in mind, stimulating an ecosystem of accessible tech benefitting all.  

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Digital Accessibility/Section 508 Overview

  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that Federal agencies make Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessible to all its employees and members of the public regardless of disability
  • IT/ICT defined as any equipment, interconnected system, or subsystem of equipment used in the automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information
    • Includes other equipment, systems, technologies, or processes, for which the principal function is the creation, manipulation, storage, display, receipt, or transmission of electronic data and information as well as any associated content
    • Applies to technology that is "procured, developed, maintained, or used"
  • Examples of ICT include but not limited to: Computers, Hardware, Software/Applications, Peripheral equipment, Scientific/specialized equipment, Office equipment, Multi-function devices, Telecommunications equipment, Websites, Videos, Electronic documents, Official agency communications
  • Original Section 508 technical standards implemented 2001; Revised Section 508 standards published 2017

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Why Digital Accessibility Matters

  • Gartner’s Top Strategic Predictions for 2020 and beyond include:
    • By 2023, the number of people with disabilities employed will triple due to Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies reducing barriers to access
  • In US, only 30% of labor force with disabilities is employed – huge untapped talent pool
  • Organizations that actively employ people with disabilities enjoy higher retention rates, increased productivity, and higher profitability
  • Inaccessible technology hurts employees and organizations
  • Accessibility is a win-win situation for Industry and Government
    • Opens the door for the Federal government to purchase ICT
    • Allows Industry to reach a broader customer base
    • Improved customer experience

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Acquisition Overview

  • Federal acquisition processes for procuring ICT solutions provide key opportunities to ensure accessible technology is acquired
  • Accessibility requirements in acquisitions
    • Enables workforce productivity, improves customer experience
    • Prevents the risk of litigation costs, prevents expensive rework
    • Depends on what is being procured (Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) software, custom software development, IT support services, etc.)
    • Depends on how it’s being procured (Full and open competition, requests for proposals, requests for quotes, established Government-wide Acquisition Vehicles or schedules, purchase card, etc.)
    • New Contracts/Solicitations
      • ICT accessibility requirements are included in Statement of Work
      • Inform Industry that Government will evaluate proposals for Section 508 conformance
    • Acquisition of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) or other ICT commodities
      • Request an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) from Industry
      • Evaluate ACR for completeness and product accessibility
  • One size does not fit all

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Accessibility Conformance Reports�(1 of 3)

  • Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) Defined: A document, usually created by the product developer, that provides information regarding the level of accessibility of a product based on the Section 508 Technical Standards
  • ACR completed in various ways:
      • Most common – Product developer uses the IT Industry Council’s Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT™) Version 2.x to complete its ACR (using Revised Section 508 or International Editions when selling to US Federal Government)
      • Product developer hires a third party to complete ACR
      • Product developer uses its own template or checklist
      • All are acceptable, as long as all the applicable Section 508 Technical Standards are addressed
      • VPAT provides instructions and links to Section 508 Technical Standards

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Accessibility Conformance Reports�(2 of 3)

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  • NASA’s Demystifying Section 508 Guide helps Industry create an ACR
  • Certain Government-wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) vehicles facilitate obtaining ACR from industry (e.g. NASA SEWP requires contract holders provide ACR at time of quote upon request)
  • Important Roles:
    • Government requests ACR from Industry and evaluates ACR before ICT purchase
    • Industry assesses its product(s) against the Section 508 Technical Standards and creates an ACR

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Accessibility Conformance Reports�(3 of 3)

Acceptable ACR

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    • Indicates that the product “Supports”, “Partially Supports”, or “Does Not Support” each applicable Section 508 Technical Standard
    • Complete and valid
      • Information provided on product name, version, description, evaluation methods used, contact info, date, etc.
      • Remarks/explanations provided for standards that are partially supported or not supported
      • Current Section 508 Technical Standards (from 2017) are addressed

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Unacceptable ACR

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    • Incomplete (missing information)
    • Uses old/obsolete standards
    • Appears invalid (e.g. “Supports” for all standards even where not applicable, “Does Not Support” for all standards with no remarks, etc.)
    • Industry claiming an Exception or stating 508 doesn’t apply to its product
    • Industry statement that product as not been tested for accessibility

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Demystifying Section 508 Guide

  • Developed to assist Industry and Government with understanding Section 508 and the development of Accessibility Conformance Reports
    • Incorporates feedback from Industry (multiple companies and the IT Industry Council)
    • Provides a navigation feature to skip to topic of interest
    • Contains important definitions of Information Communication Technology and other applicable terms
    • Provides detailed guidance on how to understand and address the Section 508 technical standards
    • Shares Frequently Asked Questions
  • Where to find it:

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The “Win-Win”

Government

  • Accessible technology lowers/overcomes barriers for all users
  • Better usability for everyone
    • Many improvements (e.g. closed captions, ramps, etc.) aimed at accommodating the needs of users with disabilities actually improve overall usability for many different types of users Compliance with laws, regulations, and policies (e.g. Section 508, DEIA Executive Order, FAR, Agency Policies, etc.)
  • Inclusive/diverse workforce enabled through accessible technology

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Industry

  • Assessing and reporting product accessibility allows sales to US Federal Government
  • Designing accessible technology increases customer base
  • Accessible Tech Leads to Better Customer Experience for All
    • Many improvements aimed at accommodating the needs of users with disabilities improve overall usability for everyone (e.g. captioning)
    • Non-Inclusive design drives customers of all types away; accessible design increases market share

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Key Takeaways

  • Accessibility is a win-win situation for Industry and Government
    • Opens the door for the Federal government to purchase ICT
    • Allows Industry to reach a broader customer base
    • Improves customer experience
  • Collaboration among Industry, Office of Chief Information Officer/Section 508 Program Managers, acquisition experts, and customers yields accessible solutions that are available and responsive to needs
  • Identifying accessibility requirements upfront prevents costly rework
  • Accessible Design Benefits all - increases use of product too!
  • Obtain Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACR) from Industry.
    • Inform Industry that government requires ACRs and evaluates proposals for Section 508 compliance
    • Review ACRs to promote acquisition of the most accessible IT
    • Use Guide to Demystifying Section 508
  • Use GWAC vehicles, such as NASA SEWP, that facilitate obtaining ACRs at time of quote

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Resources

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