Moving Toward a USWDS API
USWDS Monthly Call - February 2022
In this event, we will explore possibilities for a component API for the U.S. Web Design System.
2022
News and Updates
Innovative work, news, and ideas from people and teams in government
Improving Acquisition Governmentwide: IT and Professional Services
Improving Acquisition Governmentwide: IT and Professional Services—We are excited to share some updates about how our portfolios are collaborating to improve governmentwide services acquisition. This year we are taking our partnership a step further through a new focus area called the Services Marketplace. Information Technology Category (ITC) and Professional Services and Human Capital Categories (PSHC) are working together to align how we roll out new contracts and tools to support buyers and suppliers of services. See what’s new, what we’re working on, and our three primary goals.— via General Services Administration
RPA
Assessing the State of Federal Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
The 2021 State of Federal Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Report describes the growth and maturity of federal RPA programs to convey agency progress in digital transformation and automation.
Multilingual
Webinar Recap: How To Best Connect With Your Spanish-speaking Audience During an Emergency
In this panel discussion, experts from different agencies shared how they’ve used social media to reach Hispanic audiences during emergencies and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Customer Experience
The Customer Experience (CX) Symposium Series: A Thought Incubator for Federal CX Practitioners
What is the past, present, and future of public sector customer experience practice? The CX Symposium series gathers practitioners to map our way.
New resources for developers who are new to USWDS.
2022
Next Steps for Section 508 Compliance at the Office of Natural Resources Revenue: Stakeholder Interview Findings
Next Steps for Section 508 Compliance at the Office of Natural Resources Revenue: Stakeholder Interview Findings—Accessibility is the foundation for inclusion, diversity, and equity within the federal government. The main way the government establishes accessibility requirements for information and communication technology is through Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Our team recently documented the steps we took to ensure all documents on onrr.gov are Section 508 compliant. This daunting task is now complete! Read interview findings and discover the next steps used to ensure ONRR continues to be at the forefront of Section 508 compliance.— via Office of Natural Resources Revenue
User Experience
Call for Participation: 2022 Government UX Summit
Learn more about the User Experience Summit submission process, and submit your presentations for consideration!
New Improvements to Regulations.gov Boost Transparency and Engagement
New Improvements to Regulations.gov Boost Transparency and Engagement—Almost a year ago, GSA launched a new version of Regulations.gov. While the new version came with significant improvements, customers requested the return of a few popular features from the previous version. We are happy to announce progress on the highest priority requests—improved public access to posted comments, and docket subscriptions—and new features that are coming soon.— via General Services Administration
Policy
Go-Live Checklist for Federal Websites
Covering the breadth of federal web policy, the new downloadable checklist organizes policy requirements into nine categories and explains what your agency needs to do to meet each requirement.
Learn how to overcome resistance to data analytics and visualization, ask the right questions, and improve customer experience.
2022
Celebrating Digital.gov Communities: 2021 in Review
Happenings, milestones, and data points from the past year.
User Experience
Open-source Information Architecture Design: Using the Tools You Have To Conduct Card Sorting and Tree Testing
Learn how we used GitHub to conduct a card sort and tree testing to improve the information architecture for onrr.gov.
New EPA Interactive Map on Community & Citizen Science
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development recently published an interactive StoryMap on community & citizen science highlighting the importance of citizen science and how EPA supports these efforts. The StoryMap serves as the Agency’s first-ever collection of EPA-led and EPA-funded citizen science activities organized by topic. Explore the map to learn about impactful citizen science work happening across the U.S. and how to get involved.
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.
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
