An effective and responsive government depends on citizen engagement as well as a diverse,
well-prepared workforce; both of these require access to information and technology. An
essential component of such access is ensuring that the electronic and information technology
(EIT) developed, procured, maintained, or used within the Federal Government is accessible to
all Federal employees and members of the public as required by Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, codified at 29 U.S.C. ยง794d, as amended (Section 508). Developing,
procuring, and maintaining accessible EIT is the responsibility of all Federal employees. Federal
employees engaged in defining requirements, acquiring and managing goods and services, and
developing information or documents for sharing have additional responsibilities and are the
focus of the plan outlined here. Close collaboration among these employees and across the
acquisition and information technology lifecycles is essential in ensuring Section 508
requirements are considered and result in tools and technology that support a diverse Federal
workforce.