{
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    "title" : "A digital accessibility catalyst for your next policy refresh |Digital.gov",
    "description": "A digital accessibility catalyst for your next policy refresh",
    "home_page_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/","feed_url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/05/15/a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh/index.json","item" : [
    {"title" :"A digital accessibility catalyst for your next policy refresh","deck" : "IT Accessibility Policy Framework","summary" : "Use GSA’s IT Accessibility Policy Framework to update digital accessibility language in your agency’s policies.","date" : "2023-05-15T14:51:00-05:00","date_modified" : "2025-01-27T19:42:55-05:00","authors" : {"andrew-nielson" : "Andrew Nielson"},"topics" : {
        
            "accessibility" : "Accessibility",
            "content-strategy" : "Content strategy",
            "governance" : "Governance",
            "public-policy" : "Public policy",
            "usability" : "Usability",
            "user-experience" : "User experience"
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  "Compliance theme with hand pressing a button.", "width" :
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      "filename" :"2023-05-15-a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh.md",
      
      "filepath" :"news/2023/05/2023-05-15-a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh.md",
      "filepathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/blob/bc-archive-content-3/content/news/2023/05/2023-05-15-a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh.md",
      "editpathURL" :"https://github.com/GSA/digitalgov.gov/edit/bc-archive-content-3/content/news/2023/05/2023-05-15-a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh.md","slug" : "a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh","url" : "/preview/gsa/digitalgov.gov/bc-archive-content-3/2023/05/15/a-digital-accessibility-catalyst-for-your-next-policy-refresh/","weight" : "1","content" :"\u003cp\u003eAll too often, digital accessibility is not top of mind for the agency policymakers and information technology (IT) executives who guide federal IT modernization efforts. Consequently, many internal agency policies require updates to align with Section 508 statutory and regulatory requirements. To ease your agency’s effort to update its policies, the General Service Administration\u0026rsquo;s (GSA’s) Government-wide IT Accessibility Program is excited to present the \u003ca href=\"https://www.section508.gov/manage/policy-framework/introduction/\"\u003eIT Accessibility Policy Framework\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-is-the-policy-framework\"\u003eWhat is the Policy Framework?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe IT Accessibility Policy Framework helps agencies assess to what extent your agency’s policies should include accessibility information, and whether or not they include the appropriate amount and type of accessibility information. It offers guidance to holistically assess internal policies against standard criteria and how to update IT accessibility language accordingly.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe policy framework organizes policies into three categories:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrganizational Purpose and Governing Guidelines\u003c/strong\u003e that specify the need for creation of additional policies, rules and directives (Strategic Level Document)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOffice Rules, Policies, and Directives\u003c/strong\u003e that establish goals, expectations, and management approach (Operational Level Document)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOperational Guidance and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)\u003c/strong\u003e that provide specific instructions to execute functional tasks (Tactical Level Document)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"why-should-i-use-it\"\u003eWhy should I use it?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can promote digital equity for all by directly helping your federal colleagues make IT accessible. Agency leaders and digital accessibility decision-makers must lead the charge in ensuring policies at all levels include accessibility information for all relevant business functions. Since they play a vital role in executing digital accessibility policy-making strategy throughout all levels of government, managers and change agents who are accountable to leadership directives must also promote digital accessibility. Whatever your role, the policy framework is a catalyst for streamlining policy changes that advance digital accessibility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-are-some-of-its-key-features\"\u003eWhat are some of its key features?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStandard policy categories\u003c/strong\u003e mapped to relevant business functions and standard criteria against which to evaluate policies.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructions on how to prioritize policies\u003c/strong\u003e for more impactful recommendations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended updates and language\u003c/strong\u003e that your agency can incorporate into their policies to improve accessibility conformance.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Policy Review Template\u003c/strong\u003e, a spreadsheet template that can help facilitate internal agency policy review and analysis.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"how-can-i-learn-more\"\u003eHow can I learn more?\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor more information, please contact Michael Horton or Alex Wilson at the Government-wide IT Accessibility Program at \u003ca href=\"mailto:section.508@gsa.gov\"\u003esection.508@gsa.gov\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n"}
  ]
}