Diversity, Equity, 

Inclusion, and Accessibility

Issuance System 

DEIA-005

Date: 10/21/2022

 Office: Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

 Subject: Section 508 Administrative Complaint Processing Procedures

1. PURPOSE. This Issuance establishes the Department’s procedures for the administrative 

processing of non-employment and employment related complaints in compliance with 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

2. SCOPE. This Issuance applies to all bureaus, offices, and organizations in the 

Department, including the Offices of Inspector General. The provisions of this Issuance

shall not be construed to interfere with or impede the authorities or independence of the 

Offices of the Inspector General.

3. POLICY. It is the policy of the Department of the Treasury to follow Section 508 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1998, as amended (29 USC §794d) and to provide employees and 

members of the public with disabilities access to electronic and information technology 

(EIT) to the same extent as individuals without disabilities, unless an undue burden would 

be imposed on the Department. 

4. RESPONSIBILITIES. 

a. Heads of Bureaus shall ensure that this policy is posted on intranet and internet 

websites accessible to employees and members of the public. 

5. PROCESSES. In accordance with 31 CFR Part 17, Treasury’s procedures for complaints 

alleging noncompliance with Section 508 are as follows:

a. An individual with a disability who wishes to file a complaint of noncompliance with 

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 generally must send a signed, written 

complaint within 180 days of the incident that gave rise to the complaint, to U.S. 
2

Department of the Treasury, Office of Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity 

(OCRE), 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20220, or by email at 

crcomplaints@treasury.gov.

b. The complaint should include sufficient details of the alleged Section 508 violation to 

enable the Office of Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity (OCRE) to 

understand what occurred, where and when it occurred, and the responsible Treasury 

organization, if known. If accepted for investigation, the appropriate bureau will 

investigate the complaint and attempt resolution. If no resolution is achieved, the 

bureau will forward the report of investigation to the Department. A letter of findings 

will be issued, notifying the complainant of the decision, and providing administrative 

appeal procedures. Any appeal of the decision will be made to the Chief of the Office 

of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. 

c. Alternative Means of Filing a Complaint. Treasury will provide appropriate 

assistance to complainants who may need help in filing their complaint and will 

consider complaints filed in alternative formats. Additionally, oral complaints will 

be considered if the complainant is unable to write. To request a reasonable 

accommodation to file a complaint with OCRE, the complainant can contact 

ReasonableAccommodationRequests@treasury.gov.

Deaf and hard of hearing complainants can call the Department of the Treasury, 

Office of Civil Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity main phone number 

(202) 622-1160, using the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 

Telecommunications Relay Service program by dialing 711.

d. Interaction with EEO Complaint Process. Section 508 provides that it shall not be 

construed to limit any right, remedy, or procedure otherwise available under Section 

791 through 794a of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Therefore, employees

and applicants for employment alleging a denial of accessibility to electronic and 

information technology that affects a term, condition, or privilege of employment are

free to pursue an equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint under the provisions 

of 29 CFR Part 1614.

Pursuing a complaint of noncompliance under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973 under this Issuance does not satisfy the requirements for filing an EEO complaint 

or union grievance, and does not delay the time limits for initiating those procedures. 

Thus, an employee may choose to pursue statutory, administrative, or collective 

bargaining remedies for noncompliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973, in addition to following the procedures outlined in this Issuance. If an employee 

chooses to pursue those remedies, the employee must elect one of the available forums 

as follows:

1. For an EEO complaint pursuant to 29 CFR Part 1614, contact an EEO counselor 

through the appropriate EEO Office within 45 calendar days of the most recent 

incident of alleged discrimination (or the effective date of a personnel action if one 
3

is involved) or when the employee or applicant became aware of the alleged 

discriminatory act, as required in 29 CFR §1614.105(a).

2. For a collective bargaining grievance, file a written grievance in accordance with 

the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

3. For an appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) pursuant to 5 CFR § 

1201.22, file a written appeal with the Board within 30 days of the effective date of 

an appealable adverse action as defined in 5 CFR § 1201.3.

A decision to contact an EEO counselor will not prevent an employee from filing a 

collective bargaining grievance or an MSPB appeal. However, an employee must elect to 

file a formal EEO complaint or a negotiated grievance, but not both. Similarly, an 

employee may not pursue both a formal EEO complaint and a MSPB appeal. An EEO 

complaint filed after a grievance or MSPB appeal has been filed on the same matter shall 

be dismissed unless the grievance or MSPB appeal is determined to be untimely or 

outside of the jurisdiction of the Collective Bargaining Agreement or the MSPB.

6. AUTHORITY. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by section 

408(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, (Pub. L. No. 105-220, title IV, Section 

408(b), Aug. 7, 1998).

7. REFERENCES.

a. Department of the Treasury’s Section 504 Complaint Procedure, 31 CFR Part 17.

b. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations, 29 CFR Part 

1614.

8. OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST. Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and 

Accessibility.

9. POLICY REVIEW. The provisions of this Issuance are subject to modifications by 

changes in pertinent statutes and regulations. The applicable provision or provisions shall 

be amended or superseded effective on the dates specified in any statutory or regulatory 

change, and DEIA shall issue interim guidance addressing the change as soon as 

practicable. This Issuance will be reviewed after five years.

/S/

Tonya Burton

Acting Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and 

Accessibility Officer