The Great Need for Federal Website Accessibility
As a melting pot of sorts, the United States prides itself on the spirit of inclusivity. However, recent data released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) demonstrates a glaring gap in this principle — one in 10 tested federal websites are not fully accessible to people living with disabilities, leaving them barred from crucial government services.
The department released the data in the wake of increasing pressure from Senator Bob Casey, who had led bipartisan efforts and investigations into the issue. About three in five internal websites at major federal departments were equally found to be inaccessible, a failing grade by all standards. These results derived from tests conducted in collaboration with the General Services Administration.
The implications of these lapses are immense for disabled veterans, older adults, and people with disabilities at large. They pose barriers to these demographics’ access to information about COVID-19, filing claims, accessing health care, among other essentials.
The Importance of Accessibility
The Rehabilitation Act’s Section 508 demands that all of the US government’s IT resources be accessible to people with disabilities. A mandate that, it appears, not all agencies are keen to adhere to.
Few things could illustrate the value of technology in today’s world better than the ongoing pandemic, making this disregard for accessibility an even bigger slap in the face for veterans, older Americans, and the disabled community. Significant technological strides have occurred over the last decade, and it’s disheartening that many agencies haven’t made efforts to incorporate those advances into their work.
Unfortunately, some departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) itself, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency, didn’t even have adequate staff trained to implement Section 508 compliance policies or committed resources to the same. That few federal employees directly support these programs is also cause for significant concern.
Moving Forward
While these revelations are upsetting, the good news is that actions can be made to rectify the situation. Senator Casey, for instance, has consistently advocated for improvements. The Senator’s record of service on this issue reflects this tenacity.
Clearly, better integration of Section 508 compliance into federal agencies’ services is necessary. Alongside this, efforts need to be made to commit the needed resources to these duties and ensure all staff members undergo proper training. Given the importance of digital platforms for disseminating critical information, it’s no longer optional for the government’s resources to be readily available for people with disabilities.
Tags: #FederalWebsites, #Accessibility, #Section508, #DisabledAccess, #DigitalDivide
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