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Accessibility Statement

Section 508 Accessibility Statement

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to making its digital content accessible. USDA customers, employees, job applicants, and members of the public with disabilities must have access to information and communication technology (ICT) comparable to the access available to those without disabilities. The U.S. Access Board (“Access Board”) is responsible for developing accessibility standards. In 2017, the Access Board published a Final Rule that updated the accessibility requirements in Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 508), 29 U.S.C. 794d, and refreshed the guidelines in the law. The Final Rule went into effect on January 18, 2018. The standards are available at Information and Communication Technology: Revised 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines.

Section 508 requires federal agencies to ensure that ICT they develop, procure, maintain, or use allows employees with disabilities and individuals with disabilities who are members of the public to have access to and use of information and data.

If you wish to provide feedback on the accessibility of any content on this or any USDA website, please email Section 508 Program Manager Angela Williams at [email protected] or the 508 Accessibility Feedback email box at [email protected]. If applicable, include the web address (URL) and the specific problems you encountered.

How to Request Accessibility or Report a Section 508 Violation

To request accessibility or report a violation regarding any content on this or any USDA website, please email Angela Williams, Section 508 Program Manager, Section 508 Program Office, Office of the Chief Information Officer at [email protected] or the 508 Accessibility Feedback email box at [email protected]. If applicable, include the web address (URL) and the specific issue(s) encountered.

Provide the following information:

  1. A description of the information and communication technology (ICT) requiring accessibility;
  2. The web address (URL) that contains the inaccessible content, if applicable;
  3. The USDA Mission Area, agency, or staff office that is responsible for the content;
  4. The impact on the person’s ability to access the information or services;
  5. The requestor’s name, email address, and phone number; and
  6. Any additional supporting information or documentation.

The Section 508 Program Office will review the accessibility request as follows:

  • A request for accessibility will be confirmed in writing within 1 business day of receipt of the request.
  • The Mission Area, agency or staff office Section 508 Coordinator will request additional documentation or information, if necessary, within 2 business days of receipt of the request.
  • Once a request for accessibility is received, the Section 508 Coordinator and the requestor will engage in an interactive process to provide access within 3 business days of receipt of the request.
  • If the accessibility request or equivalent facilitation cannot be provided immediately, an interim accommodation will be provided that will allow the requestor to perform some or all the essential functions of their job or activity, without imposing an undue hardship on the Department.
  • If no reasonable alternative access can be provided, a requestor may file a complaint alleging a Section 508 violation. A participant, or a recipient of a program conducted by USDA, its Mission Areas, agencies, and staff offices may file a discrimination compliant under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A USDA employee or applicant may file a discrimination complaint under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

How to File a Complaint Alleging a Section 508 Violation

Section 508 authorizes individuals to file administrative complaints and civil actions against the Department, limited to the alleged failure to procure accessible technology. The statute requires federal agencies to process Section 508 complaints according to the same complaint procedures used to process Section 504 complaints.

Individuals with disabilities seeking to initiate a discrimination complaint alleging a Section 508 violation, must file a complaint within 180 days of the incident that gave rise to the complaint with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement. The USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form is available at Filing a Program Discrimination Complaint as a USDA Customer.

Individuals with disabilities who are USDA employees, or applicants for employment, may seek accessible ICT as a reasonable accommodation, such as software, hardware, or adaptive equipment. An agency’s failure to provide an alternative means of access to ICT as a reasonable accommodation could lead to an EEO complaint under Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Individuals with disabilities who are USDA employees, or applicants for employment, may file a Section 501 discrimination complaint by contacting an EEO Counselor for your agency or the agency where you applied for a position. Refer to the EEO Counselors List for the contact number. See EEO Counselor List.

For additional information on requesting a reasonable accommodation, see the section on Reasonable Accommodations below.

Reasonable Accommodations

Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires that Federal employers provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities, unless doing so would be an undue hardship. For information on requesting a reasonable accommodation, visit the USDA Reasonable Accommodations web page How to Obtain Services.

USDA’s reasonable accommodation procedures are available at Departmental Regulation, 4300-008, Reasonable Accommodation and Personal Assistance Services

A list of USDA Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators is available at USDA Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators.

Telecommunications Relay Services

Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allows persons with hearing or speech disabilities to place and receive telephone calls. For more information about Federal Communications Commission (FCC) programs to promote access to telecommunications services for people with disabilities, visit the FCC’s Disability Rights Office website.

Alternative Formats

The USDA TARGET Center converts USDA information and documents into alternative formats, including Braille, large print, video description, diskette, and audiotape. For more information, visit the TARGET Center website, call (202) 720-2600 (Voice/TTY), or email [email protected].

Accessibility Resources

47 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 64 Subpart F, Telecommunications Relay Services and Related Customer Premises Equipment for Persons with Disabilities

Access Board, Information and Communication Technology: Revised 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines

General Services Administration (GSA), Section508.gov

Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Memorandum M-24-08, Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

USDA, DR 4030-001, Section 508 Program

W3C, W3C Accessibility Standards Overview

Last updated: March 2024