Teach Staff about Accessibility

Accessibility is not just a legal mandate, it is also good for business. Use these quick tips to help content creators, developers and other stakeholders adhere to the Revised 508 Standards, while delivering better content, products and systems to your customers.

• Review the scope. Refer to the scoping provision in Section E205 to see how it applies to electronic content that is created and updated by web content managers, developers, authors of electronic (e.g., Microsoft Office or Adobe PDF) documents, and other content authors. Generally, content authors should be responsible for ensuring their content is accessible.

• Identify content creators. Identify who is responsible for generating high priority electronic content. Ensure content creators understand how to create WCAG conforming websites, web applications, software, multimedia, and eLearning content.

• Engage your Communications Office. Solicit their help to identify major components and processes within your organization that support electronic content development and publication. Some of these groups may not be aware of Section 508 requirements.

• Communicate to internal stakeholders. Explain the legal mandate and requirements. Read more about why accessibility is good for business, and share the benefits with employees. Finally, provide content authors with resources and training.

• Encourage authors to take IT accessibility training. Training is available in a variety of formats, including online.

• Learn how to conduct accessibility testing for electronic content. Use the guidance to test Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat documents.

• Identify someone to take advanced training. Select a single person within each organizational group who is responsible for obtaining advanced training on how to make electronic content accessible.

• Establish accessibility review guidelines. Determine a review process for each department responsible for publishing covered electronic content. Insert accessibility reviews into existing development and publication lifecycles.

  • Play 7: Integrate accessibility needs into requirements and design processes
  • Play 9: Integrate accessibility needs into development processes

Related Resources

• Build Support for Accessible Content - Follow the stages of content production to ensure your organization publishes accessible content.

This guidance was developed by the U.S. Federal Government Revised 508 Standards Transition Workgroup. Members include the U.S. Federal CIO Council Accessibility Community of Practice, the U.S. Access Board, and the General Services Administration.

Reviewed/Updated: May 2018