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How to Identify Policies </h1> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div id="main-content" class="usa-layout-docs usa-section"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap"> <aside class="usa-layout-docs__sidenav desktop:grid-col-3 padding-bottom-4"> <nav id="sec-nav" aria-label="Secondary Navigation"> <ul class="usa-sidenav menu"><li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/manage/" >Policy and Management</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="header-menu-text" aria-label="Management - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Management</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="Manage a 508 Program - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Manage a 508 Program</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/roles/">Accessibility Roles</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/improve-digital-dashboard-scores/">Improve Digital Dashboard Accessibility Scores</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/publish-accessible-content/">Publish Accessible Content</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/teach-staff-about-accessibility/">Teach Staff about Accessibility</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/track-report-conformance/">Track and Report Conformance</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/program-manager-responsibilities/">IT Accessibility/508 Program Manager Responsibilities</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/program-roadmap/">Revised 508 Standards Roadmap</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/deia-guidance/">DEIA Accessibility Guidance</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/benefits-of-accessibility/">Practical Reasons for Digital Accessibility</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/how-508-standards-benefit-pwd/">How 508 Standards Benefit Persons With Disabilities</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="Accessibility for IT Program & Project Manager - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Accessibility for IT Program & Project Manager</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/program-management/">IT Accessibility Program Management</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/identify-user-needs/">Identify User Needs</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/support-accessible-content/">Support Development of Accessible Content</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/understand-scope-technical-requirements/">Understand Content Scope and Technical Requirements</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/join-the-508-community/">Join the 508 community</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/tools/program-manager-listing/">Find your Program Manager</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/pmr/">Semi-Annual Program Maturity Report (PMR)</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="header-menu-text" aria-label="Playbooks - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Playbooks</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/">Overview</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/accessibility-playbook-quick-guide/">Quick Guide to IT Accessibility for Program Managers</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="Technology Accessibility Playbook - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Technology Accessibility Playbook</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/">Introduction</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play01/">Play 1: Establish a Section 508 Program Manager</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play02/">Play 2: Assess your Section 508 Program Maturity</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play03/">Play 3: Develop a Section 508 Accessibility Roadmap</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play04/">Play 4: Establish a Section 508 Policy</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play05/">Play 5: Develop a Section 508 Program Team</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play06/">Play 6: Collaborate with the Federal Accessibility Community</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play07/">Play 7: Integrate Accessibility Needs into Requirements and Design Processes</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play08/">Play 8: Integrate Accessibility Needs into Market Research and Acquisition Processes</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play09/">Play 9: Integrate Accessibility Needs into Development Processes</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play10/">Play 10: Conduct Section 508 Testing</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play11/">Play 11: Track and Resolve Accessibility Issues</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/technology-accessibility-playbook-intro/play12/">Play 12: Educate the Workforce</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/playbooks/exec-guide-accessibility/">Executive Guide to Federal IT Accessibility</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="header-menu-text" aria-label="Law and Policy - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Law and Policy</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/">IT Accessibility Laws and Policies Overview</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/section-508-law/">Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/quick-reference-guide/">Laws and Policy Quick Reference Guide</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="Website Accessibility Statements - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Website Accessibility Statements</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/website-accessibility-statement/">Developing a Website Accessibility Statement</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/implementing-public-feedback-mechanism/">Implementing a Public Feedback Mechanism</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/Section-508-complaints-best-practices/">Best Practices For Establishing And Maintaining a Formal Section 508 Complaint Process</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/update-agency-policies/">Updating Agency Policy</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/state/">State-level Accessibility Law and Policy</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/laws-and-policies/international/">International IT Accessibility Laws and Policies</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="header-menu-text" aria-label="IT Accessibility Policy Framework - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">IT Accessibility Policy Framework</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/introduction/">Introduction</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="How to Use the Framework - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">How to Use the Framework</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item active usa-current "> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/how-to-use-the-framework/how-to-identify-policies/">How to Identify Policies</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/how-to-use-the-framework/evaluation-criteria/">Evaluation Criteria</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/how-to-use-the-framework/guiding-question/">Guiding Questions</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/how-to-use-the-framework/ict-accessibility-policy-matrix/">ICT Accessibility Policy Matrix</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="Guidance by Policy Type - 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Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Annual Section 508 Assessment</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/">Instructions</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item list "> <a href="javascript:void(0);" aria-label="Assessment Criteria - Submenu" aria-expanded="false">Assessment Criteria</a> <ul class="usa-sidenav__sublist items"><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-01/">General Information</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-02/">IT Accessibility Program Office</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-03/">Policies, Procedures, and Practices</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-04/">Communications</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-05/">Content Creation</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-06/">Human Capital, Culture, and Leadership</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-07/">Technology Lifecycle Activities</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-08/">Testing and Validation</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-09/">Acquisition and Procurement</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-10/">Training</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/criteria-11/">Conformance Metrics</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/faq/">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/support/">Support</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/definition-of-terms/">Definition of Terms</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item "> <a href="/manage/section-508-assessment/annual-reports/">Annual Reports</a> </li></ul> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/manage/agency-508-reporting-requirements/" >Agency Section 508 Reporting Requirements</a> </li><li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/manage/accessibility-faq/" >ICT Accessibility Frequently Asked Questions</a> </li></ul> </nav> </aside> <main class="usa-layout-docs__main desktop:grid-col-9" id="content-section"> <div class="usa-graphic-list"> <h2 id="standards"> How to Identify Policies That Should Incorporate ICT Accessibility </h2> <p>The IT Accessibility Policy Framework provides guidance to agencies on how to evaluate internal policies to improve the integration of Section 508 requirements.<sup>1</sup> An agency may have hundreds of internal policies, including federal policies relevant to the agency, as well as policies that support the implementation of government-wide directives. This section describes how to identify policies at your agency that should incorporate references to ICT accessibility.<br /></p> <p id="policytype-list"> The IT Accessibility Policy Framework recommends focusing review on the following policy types, based on relevance to ICT accessibility. The following section, <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/approach/">Guidance by Policy Type</a>, provides guidance on how to facilitate a policy review across each of the below policy types: </p> <ul> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/acquisition-and-procurement/">Acquisition and Procurement</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/administrative-services/">Administrative Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/budget-and-finance/">Budget and Finance</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/communications/">Communications</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/emergency-response/">Emergency Response</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/human-resources-management/">Human Resources Management</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/information-technology-services/">Information Technology Services</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/legal/">Legal</a> </li> <li> <a href="/manage/policy-framework/guidance-by-policy-type/real-property-management/">Real Property Management</a> </li> </ul> <p>Similarly, the following ICT accessibility-related policies have been identified as foundational to Section 508 and should be in place within every agency.</p> <ul> <li>ICT accessibility policy that ties accessibility to agency mission.</li> <li>Policy that establishes the Section 508 PM role and Section 508 Program.</li> <li>Policy that establishes methods or approaches for incorporating accessibility in ICT development processes, including Section 508 conformance validation.</li> <li>Policy that establishes Section 508/ICT accessibility in acquisitions and procurement. </li> <li>Policy that establishes Section 508 in content creation and publishing.</li> <li>Policy that establishes onboarding and annual ICT accessibility training.</li> </ul> <p>Importantly, these foundational policies do not need to be standalone policies. Rather, they could be, and may already be, incorporated into other relevant policies at your agency. <br /> The following policy types are not generally recommended for review as the corresponding subject matter may not have relevance to ICT accessibility.<sup>2</sup></p> <ul> <li>Congressional Relations</li> <li>Federal Laws and Guidance</li> </ul> <p><a class="hover-large" href="https://www.access-board.gov/ict/ict-final-rule.pdf"><sup>1</sup>ICT Standards and Guidelines, 36 C.F.R. 搂 1194 (2017).</a> <br /> <a class="hover-large nolink"><sup>2</sup>The IT Accessibility Policy Framework is intended to be used for remediation of<br /> policies that apply to the internal functions of your agency. While it could also be<br /> used to remediate policies that apply governmentwide, that is not its <br />intended purpose.</a></p> <div> <div id="prev-next-section"> <a class="prev-page" title="Go to previous page" href="/manage/policy-framework/introduction/"> < Previous</a> <a class="prev-page" title="Go to next page" href="/manage/policy-framework/how-to-use-the-framework/evaluation-criteria/"> Next > </a> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="usa-footer__primary-section"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap padding-bottom-4"> <div class="desktop:grid-col-4"> <p class="text-bold">Government-wide Initiatives</p> <ul class="add-list-reset line-height-sans-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.gsa.gov/technology/government-it-initiatives/digital-strategy" target="_blank" onclick="return navigate(this)">Digital Strategy</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.plainlanguage.gov/" target="_blank" onclick="return navigate(this)">Plain Language </a></li> 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