Plain Language
Keynote Speaker Recap: Would More Plain Language Have Saved Us From the Worst of the Pandemic?
A summary of Cynthia Baur’s keynote at the 2021 Plain Language Summit.
News and Updates
Innovative work, news, and ideas from people and teams in government
Plain Language
Webinar Recap: Key Takeaways on Simplifying Hazard Communications With Plain Language
An overview of the presentation by Danielle Nagele of NOAA at the 2021 Plain Language Summit. Learn how she and her team used feedback to decrease confusion and increase impact.
New on Section508.gov: Integrating Accessibility into DEIA Implementation Plans
New on Section508.gov: Integrating Accessibility into DEIA Implementation Plans — Accessibility, the “A” in DEIA, is a foundation on which the federal workforce must build diversity, equity and inclusion for people with disabilities. Without accessibility, we cannot truly achieve the others.
The GSA Government-wide IT Accessibility Program has published “Integrating Accessibility into Agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Implementation Plans,” a guide designed to support the Accessibility roadmap outlined in the Government-wide Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce. The guidance contained in this article is a preliminary step before offering broader updates to guidance and best practices materials to meet this objective.
— via Section508.gov
Get started with the design system and a how-to demo of template creation and a prototyping approach.
2021
Professional Development
Webinar Recap: The Part-Timer
Learn how Joanne Short of the United States Postal Service (USPS) opened professional doors by going beyond her job description in her Plain Language Summit session, The Part-Timer.
Using Technology to Improve Customer Experience and Service Delivery for the American People
Executive Order 14058, released today, reinforces the second priority of the President’s Management Agenda—centered around improving customer services through technology—and demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to reducing customer burden, addressing inequities, and streamlining processes.— via The White House
GSA’s New Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Guide Helps Agencies Make Better Decisions About Cloud Architecture
GSA’s New Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Guide Helps Agencies Make Better Decisions About Cloud Architecture—Agencies need informed strategies to understand, anticipate, rationalize, and optimize major cloud architecture decisions. To facilitate the decision process, the GSA Data Center and Cloud Optimization Initiative Program Management Office (DCCOI PMO) is pleased to announce the release of the Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Guide, developed in collaboration with the Cloud and Infrastructure Community of Practice (C&I CoP). This guide is another example of GSA’s commitment to creating simple, user-friendly information and resources to help federal agencies use technology to meet their missions in an effective and efficient way.— via General Services Administration
Plain Language
Results of the 2021 Federal Report Card
David Lipscomb from the Center for PL will review the results of this year’s Federal Plain Language Report Card and answer questions.
2021
GSA’s Fedramp Celebrates 10 Years of Impact on Cloud Security
GSA’s FedRAMP Celebrates 10 Years of Impact on Cloud Security—Today, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) celebrates its 10-year anniversary. On December 8, 2011, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) signed a memo establishing FedRAMP to provide a cost-effective, risk-based approach for the adoption and use of cloud services. This landmark reflects GSA and FedRAMP’s commitment to protecting public and federal information through supporting IT modernization and securing IT infrastructure. Over the past ten years, the program has seen an incredible increase in the adoption of FedRAMP-authorized services and will play a critical role in improving the nation’s cybersecurity.— via General Services Administration
USAGov Fourth Quarter 2021 Insights
USAGov’s Fourth Quarter 2021 Insights—From July to September 2021, people were concerned about COVID-19-related housing and international travel as they searched USA.gov. Get more user insights from our 4th quarter infographic for fiscal year (FY) 2021.— via USA.gov
Unique Vulnerability Counts with Container Scanning
Unique Vulnerability Counts with Container Scanning—As Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) start to submit their container vulnerability scans in order to meet Container Scanning Guidance requirements, stakeholders monitoring submissions should expect to see large increases in the number of unique vulnerabilities. Learn what’s different, and the potential impact for agencies and CSPs.— via FedRAMP
The Opportunity Project 2021 Summit: Open Innovation for All
Census Open Innovation Labs (COIL) at the U.S. Census Bureau is hosting a virtual, 3-day innovation conference, December 13 to 15. This year’s summit will feature keynotes, panels, workshops, and more—showcasing technology built with open data, and how to create space for conversations on government innovation, effective collaboration, the power of open data, and the inclusion of all voices. Seven federal agencies and two cities led TOP sprints focused on the World Post-COVID-19. They’ll introduce the resulting new products and announce more than $300,000 in awards to the winners of the Open Data for Good Grand Challenge. Review the full agenda and register to attend.
CIO Handbook
The CIO Council released the CIO Handbook to aide CIOs, Deputy CIOs, agency heads and other senior leaders during transition.
Three Ways USAGov Outreach Can Help with Your Agency’s Next Campaign
Three Ways USAGov Outreach Can Help with Your Agency’s Next Campaign—Does your agency have an idea for a new marketing strategy? USAGov’s Outreach team can support your agency in all stages of your campaign. We can brainstorm with your team, discuss best practices, and try new marketing approaches to grow together in serving people. Learn how to begin partnering with us.— via USA.gov
USWDS
Webinar Recap: U.S. Web Design System October 2021 Monthly Call
In this recap of the October 2021 U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) Monthly Call, the USWDS team shares how their community can help teams solve problems together, and what tools and channels we can use to ask questions, get answers, and provide useful feedback.
Veterans Day
TTS Reflects: Why I Continue To Serve
For Veterans Day 2021, we asked members of TTS’s Veterans affinity group to write one or two paragraphs in response to the question, “Why do I continue to serve?”
USWDS
Webinar Recap: U.S. Web Design System September 2021 Monthly Call
For our September call, we focused on the future of the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS): Where does the design system go from USWDS 2.0? What did we learn from our 1.0 and 2.0 releases? Read key points and takeaways from this month’s presentation.
Federal Leadership and Professional Development
Successful Strategies for Telework and Hybrid Work Environments
Learn from and share with other federal colleagues from across the government strategies for succeeding at working, managing, supervising, collaborating, communicating, and more.
2021
Learn How to Create an Accessible Meeting
Learn How to Create an Accessible Meeting—The GSA Government-wide IT Accessibility Program publishes guidance on how you can plan your next meeting—from selecting your venue or online platform, planning for and scheduling accommodations, ensuring the accessibility of meeting documents and materials, meeting management techniques, and more.— via Section508.gov
FAR Updated To Add Revised Section 508 Standards for Information and Communication Technology
FAR Updated To Add Revised Section 508 Standards for Information and Communication Technology—On January 18, 2017, the U.S. Access Board issued a final rule (the Revised 508 Standards) that updated accessibility requirements covered by Section 508 for Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Read more about the final FAR rule update and changes effective as of September 10, 2021.— via Section508.gov
