Navigating Federal Acquisitions: Buying Accessible Tech

Date & Time

Friday, March 22, 2024 - 9:20 AM PDT  

Location

Grand GH  

Description

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires the US Federal Government to buy, build, and implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that is accessible to all its employees and members of the public. Since the US Federal Government buys more Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology than it builds in-house, it relies on Industry to understand and implement the Section 508 technical standards into the products they build. Insights into the Federal Acquisition Lifecycle will be shared, spotlighting pivotal opportunities for ensuring digital accessibility at each step in the acquisition process.

In order to ensure that the US Federal Government is obtaining the most accessible technology that meets its requirements, it relies on Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) to be developed by Industry that address the accessibility of the products it creates. The presentation will define and explain the significance of ACRs, as well as the roles that both Industry and Government customers play in creating, obtaining, and evaluating these critical reports. Valuable tools such as NASA’s Demystifying Section 508 Guide and the VPAT (a template developed by the IT Industry Council to assist in ACR developed) will be shared. The presentation concludes with best practices for the development of accessible technology, creating and evaluating Accessibility Conformance Reports, and reiterates why building accessible ICT is a win-win proposal for both Industry and Government.

This Presentation Link is provided by the Presenter(s) and not hosted by the Center on Disabilities at CSUN. The Center on Disabilities has confirmed, as of March 26, 2024, content linked is relevant to the presentation, but has not been reviewed for accessibility nor will the Center on Disabilities attempt to remediate any accessibility issues in the linked content. Please contact the Presenter(s) with any accessibility concerns.

 

Audience

• Higher Education
• Information & Communications Technology
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Military

Audience Level

Intermediate  

Session Summary (Abstract)

Federal acquisitions can be daunting. This session provides practical guidance to ensure digital accessibility throughout the acquisition lifecycle. Learn practices that mutually benefit the Government and Industry when buying accessible technology.  

Primary Topic

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)  

Secondary Topics

• Digital Accessibility
• Employment & Workplace
• Law, Compliance, and Policy
• Leadership & Strategy

 

Session Type

General Track  

Presenters

• Betsy Sirk
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Antonio Haileselassie
  National Institutes of Health

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