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      EnglishEspañolFrançaisKreyòlTiếng Việt简体中文한국어  Mission Support
              
              
                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

              Office of the Chief Information Officer
                          Office of the Chief Information Officer

                      Section 508 Program
                  
                                                        
                                                            Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
                                                        Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer
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                                                        Security
          Section 508 Program - IT Policy and Governance (ITPGOV)
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Our Mission



What We Do



Get Help with a 508 Compliance Question



508 Overview



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              508 Program. Our Vision: Taking proactive measures to ensure comparable access to FEMA information for disaster survivors, members of the public and personnel with disabilities. Providing the strategic direction through a range of policy, governance, outreach, technical support, training and compliance activities. Our Mission: Lead the agency-wide implementation of Section 508 compliance policies and procedures across all life cycle processes. Our Values: Compassion Fairness Integrity Respect Accessibility



Our Mission



Lead the agency-wide implementation of Section 508 compliance policies and procedures across all life cycle processes.



Our Vision



Taking proactive measures to ensure comparable access to FEMA information for disaster survivors, members of the public and personnel with disabilities. Providing the strategic direction through a range of policy, governance, outreach, technical support, training, and compliance activities.



Our Values



CompassionFairnessIntegrityRespectAccessibility



Guiding Principles



Implementing Section 508 requires a change in culturePolicies and procedures drive accessibilityStandardizing accessibility solutions is the shortest path to full inclusionAccessibility is best achieved by including the needs of people with disabilities in all phases of a product lifecycle



What We Do



Section 508 Program Activities



Implements**** **governance** to ensure Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility is part of decision-making activities across all life cycle processes.Evaluates and reports on FEMA’s **compliance** with Section 508 requirements.Provides Section 508 and ICT accessibility **training** along with supporting educational resources.Conducts **outreach** awareness events to increase understanding of the values and benefits in making ICT products accessible.Offers Section 508 guidance and **technical assistance** to FEMA personnel, disaster survivors and customers with disabilities.Strategic Direction



Responsible for implementing agency-wide Section 508 and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) awareness and compliance.Establishes ICT compliance processes and procedures across FEMA divisions.Ensures FEMA employees, disaster survivors and members of the public with disabilities have comparable access to FEMA information and data.Collaborate with FEMA personnel to procure, develop, use and maintain accessible ICT applications and systems.Get Help with a 508 Compliance Question



Accessibility benefits everyone. Read on for services our team provides to help ensure comparable access to FEMA information for everyone.



Tasks Our Team Can Help With



Interpret Section 508 technical standards and requirements.Test websites, software, and mobile applications for Section 508 compliance.Review procurement packages for Section 508 compliance languageProvide guidance in using the DHS Accessibility Requirements Tool (DART) 2.1.Find solutions and resources for ensuring ICT compliance.Collaborate with system owners, program managers or developers on integrating applicable Section 508 requirements across all life cycle processes.Who Should Contact Us?



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              Email iconAll inquiries should be emailed to fema-accessibility@fema.dhs.gov.



**FEMA employees** who need assistance with Section 508 compliance.



**FEMA managers** responsible for FEMA projects and operations.



**FEMA developers** needing****guidance on complying with 508 technical standards and requirements.



**FEMA employees, disaster survivors or customers with disabilities** who have a specific request or concern regarding accessibility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products.



Section 508 Overview



The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is committed to providing accessible **Information and Communication Technology (ICT)** to individuals with disabilities, including members of the public, disaster survivors and federal employees, by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998.



Section 508 is a federal law that requires agencies, during the procurement, development, maintenance or use of ICT, to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to and use of ICT information and data comparable to the access and use afforded to individuals without disabilities (i.e., "ICT accessibility"), unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. The law applies to software and hardware with a user interface, all public facing electronic content (web and non-web) and to non-public facing electronic content that is "agency official communication or business" along with support services and documentation.



The Section 508 standards are the technical requirements and criteria that are used to measure conformance within this law. More information on Section 508 and the technical standards can be found on the GSA Section 508 website.



If you have feedback or concerns related to the accessibility of any content on this website, please contact: FEMAWebTeam@fema.dhs.gov. Please indicate:



The nature of your accessibility problemWhat format you prefer to receive the material inThe web address (URL) of the material with which you are having difficultyYour contact informationIf you believe the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) used by FEMA does not comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, you may:



File a Section 508 complaint by contacting the Office of Equal RightsCall the Office of Equal Rights to file a complaint at 202-646-3535If you have comments and/or questions related to the agency’s Section 508 Program, please contact the FEMA Section 508 Team at fema-accessibility@fema.dhs.gov.



Section 508 Laws and Policies



**Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C § 794 (d))****Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility 508 Standards****Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0)****General Services Administration (GSA) Section508.gov****DHS Office of Accessible Systems and Technology**
Last updated March 1, 2022

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