On December 21, 2023, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released “M-24-08 Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act” [M-24-08]. The purpose is “Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.” This memorandum provides guidance to help agencies advance digital accessibility by maintaining an accessible Federal technology environment, promoting accessible digital experiences, and continuing the implementation of accessibility standards in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Section 508). It outlines the steps which agencies must take to build and sustain an accessible Federal technology environment. The goal is advancing Customer Experience through Improvements in Digital Experience and Accessibility. The next webinar in the U.S. Access Board’s Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series will take place Tuesday, May 28 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. (ET). Presenters Cassie Winters and Justin Grimes are from the Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer (OFCIO), Office of management and Budget. The OFCIO has responsibility for advancing digital experience, including accessibility, nationwide. They will present to promote awareness and understanding of Digital experience and Accessibility guidance, foster active support, encourage public-private collaboration, and drive government-wide accountability.

For more details or to register, visit Great Lakes ADA Center’s Building and Sustaining an Accessible Federal Technology Environment webinar webpage. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar. Webinar attendees can receive a participation certificate for attending the 90-minute session.  

Registration closes 24 hours before the start of the session. Instructions for accessing the webinar on the day of the session will be sent via email to registered individuals in advance of the session. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) and Video Sign Language Interpreters are available for the session and will be broadcast via the webinar platform. A telephone option (not toll-free) for receiving audio is also available. 

The Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series provides helpful information and best practices for federal agencies in meeting their obligations under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which ensures access to information and communication technology in the federal sector. This webinar series is made available by the Accessibility Community of Practice of the CIO Council in partnership with the U.S. Access Board. All webinars are archived and available on the Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Archives webpage.