Access Board News

The General Services Administration (GSA) recently issued a landmark report to Congress, which highlights the need for substantial improvements to federal Section 508 compliance. This report, the FY23 Government-wide Section 508 Assessment, evaluates reporting entities’ adherence to the criteria established by . . .

Despite tens of millions of Americans living with a disability, nearly half of the most popular federal government websites are not fully accessible. In response, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has recently published guidance to help strengthen digital accessibility and the management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Together with the OMB memo . . .

The Access Board congratulates the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and the Accessibility Guidelines Working Group (AG WG) with publishing Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 as a World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Recommendation. WCAG 2.2 adds nine new Success Criteria to WCAG 2.1 (which added 17 Success Criteria to WCAG 2.0) and includes links to supporting documents that explain how to make web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities . . .

The U.S. Access Board seeks a Public Affairs Specialist to serve in its Office of Executive Director. This Public Affairs Specialist will be responsible for developing and managing the agency's strategic communications, deploying press, digital, and analytic resources . . .

The U.S. Access Board investigated 99 cases under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968 that were resolved through corrective action in Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 and 2023. The ABA requires access to buildings or facilities that were designed, built, or altered with federal dollars or leased by federal agencies. The Board enforces the ABA through . . .

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices. The U.S. Department of Labor themed this year’s NDEAM observance as “Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next,” and U.S. Access Board staff will provide presentations and trainings to promote accessibility and educate the public, organizations, and . . .

The 10th annual Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) will be held both virtually and in-person from November 7 – 9, 2023 at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) L. William Seidman Center. Co-hosted by the U.S. Access Board, General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Veterans Affairs, and FDIC, the forum is themed “Beyond Compliance: Building a Culture of Digital Accessibility” and will include workshops, presentations, breakout sessions, and . . .

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the U.S. Access Board, which will be open to the public and take place virtually on October 25 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees and the Executive Director, federal agency updates, and a guest presentation by Dr. Bonnielin Swenor, Director of . . .

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, programs receiving federal financial assistance, federal employment, and the employment practices of federal contractors. It was a milestone for individuals with disabilities across the nation, and it serves as the foundation for many other disability-related legislation. Section 502 of the law also created the U.S. Access Board . . .

With deep sorrow, the U.S. Access Board announces the passing of former Board Member John (Jack) H. Catlin, FAIA. As one of the founders of LCM Architects, Catlin was a leader in advocating for equal rights for people with disabilities and promoting accessible architecture, inclusive design, accessibility regulations, and public awareness of accessibility. In 1994, Catlin was appointed to the Board by President Bill Clinton, and he was the first architect elected to . . .