Accessibility Community

Who We Are

The Accessibility Community is part of the Federal Web Managers Council, an interagency group of senior government Web managers working to improve U.S. Government websites.

Our Goal

Our goal is to help government Web managers improve the accessibility of their agency's Web content to individuals with disabilities, including screen reading software used by people who are blind. Attention is given to public standards for Web accessibility, including Section 508 and WCAG 2.0.

What We Do

The Accessibility Community of Practice meets monthly by telephone and annually in person.

Activities include:

• Provide strategic direction towards adherence with guidelines and standards, helping Web managers to set priorities and goals when total immediate compliance is not practical
• Develop recommendations and best practices to help Web managers use leading edge technology while ensuring content remains accessible. For example, posting video to the web has become so easy it is almost trivial. Captioning, in contrast, remains laborious and technically challenging
• Benchmark and report on tools and services used for accessibility compliance and metrics
• Look to the future—for new and improved accessibility standards, upcoming legislation, and accessibility–related requirements and expectations in the government Web space, including activities abroad
• Coordinate with the CIO Council Best Practices Committee
• Maintain accessibility–related content on this website (HowTo.gov)

Who Can Join

If you work for a federal, state, local or tribal U.S. Government agency, and you're interested in helping with these activities, join us! Please note that membership in the Community of Practice is limited only to government employees and contractors with a government email address.

How To Join

Visit the Accessibility Community of Practice on OMB's MAX wiki (part of the Web and New Media Community)

OR

Contact group Co–Chairs Bruce Bailey and Zuhair Mahmoud