Policies, Procedures, and Practices
The section asks about your reporting entity's development, implementation, and continuous improvement of ICT accessibility related policies, procedures, directives and standards and the inclusion of digital accessibility into relevant policies across all business functions of your reporting entity.
Question 34
What is the status of the reporting entity's Section 508 or ICT accessibility policy? (*Required)
Select one:
- Does not exist
- In draft
- Published Section 508 or ICT accessibility policy, but does not include all relevant M-24-08 and Section 508 statutory requirements [provide public facing URL to Section 508/ICT policy]
- Published Section 508 or ICT accessibility policy includes all relevant M-24-08 and Section 508 statutory requirements [provide public facing URL to Section 508/ICT policy]
- In addition to d), published Section 508 or ICT accessibility policy is appropriately referenced in other relevant entity policies and is regularly reviewed and updated [provide public facing URL to Section 508/ICT policy]
- Unknown
M-24-08” states “Agencies should establish agency-wide policies and procedures to manage the accessibility of ICT. This includes, at a minimum, establishing:
- Clear authorities, roles and responsibilities, and expectations for how Section 508 compliance is addressed in technology acquisition, development, configuration, deployment, and maintenance activities;
- Documented processes and procedures for Section 508 conformance testing; and
- Documented processes and procedures for how Section 508 issues and complaints are reported, assessed, tracked, and resolved.”
If the Section 508 or ICT accessibility policy is in draft form and not published, please select “b” accordingly. If the reporting entity does not have any policy, please select “a” accordingly.
For additional information, please see Play 4: Establish a Section 508 Policy in the Technology Accessibility Playbook.
Question 35
Indicate to what extent the reporting entity incorporates ICT accessibility in all relevant policies and directives (i.e., policies and directives that govern procurement, development, maintenance, or use of ICT). (*Required)
Select one:
- ICT accessibility is not included in any reporting entity policies or directives
- Reporting entity has a draft Section 508 policy only
- ICT accessibility is included in some relevant policies or directives entity-wide
- ICT accessibility is included in most relevant policies or directives entity-wide
- Reporting entity includes consideration for ICT accessibility in its policy or directive creation, review, and management process, and almost all or all relevant policies include consideration for ICT accessibility requirements
- Unknown
The IT Accessibility Policy Framework can assist your reporting entity determine if and the extent to which its relevant internal policies and directives incorporate IT accessibility information.
Question 36
Indicate to what extent the reporting entity has documented processes and procedures for how Section 508 complaints are reported, assessed, tracked, and resolved. (*Required)
Select one:
- No documented processes nor procedures for reporting, assessing, tracking, and resolving Section 508 related complaints
- Manages Section 508-related complaints on an ad hoc basis and has a plan to establish documented policies and procedures for reporting, assessing, tracking, and resolving Section 508 complaints
- Implements a documented complaint process with specific procedures for reporting, assessing, tracking, and resolving Section 508 complaints (e.g., under the process for managing Section 504 complaints) but lacks systematic tracking
- Implements a documented complaint process with specific procedures for reporting, assessing, tracking, and resolving Section 508 complaints and has systematic tracking
- In addition to d), includes feedback loops for continuous improvement
- Unknown
Systematic tracking may be performed using a spreadsheet, database, or application that allows data input, assignment of case, ID or ticket, tracking to resolution, and the ability to generate metrics.
This question does not aim to specify who should handle Section 508-related complaints, but rather focuses on the reporting entity as a whole. Depending on the reporting entity’s implementation, the Section 508 Program may not be involved in or responsible for processing complaints.
Reviewed/Updated: April 2024
