508 and You - Section 508 Coordinator

Federal Section 508 Coordinators are responsible for organizing and supporting the implementation of Section 508 within their respective departments and agencies and have been appointed by their department/agency as the central point of contact for information concerning accessibility issues and solutions. We have a complete list of Federal agency coordinators. If your department/agency does not currently have a Section 508 Coordinator or is not listed you should contact your Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). If you do not have a OCIO, contact whomever is in charge of Electronic & Information Technology. Some Section 508 Coordinator responsibilities include:

• Define the roles and responsibilities of the Coordinator, establish a team of subject matter experts to assist, and coordinate all reporting requirements.
• Coordinate the integration of Section 508 accessibility needs into department/agency budget, strategic, and IT capital plans.
• Support validation of accessible IT systems performance prior to deployment.
• Coordinate and provide sources of education and training to key personnel within the department/agency, identify available resources, and stay abreast of procurement changes to the FAR that will affect the purchase of any new equipment or software.

Section 508 Coordinators should establish contacts with other department/agency coordinators to share information about your organizations' implementation strategies. The IT Accessibility & Workforce Division hosts a Section 508 Coordinators' secure online forum to facilitate the exchange of information between coordinators. The forum is limited to use by Section 508 Coordinators only. If you need information on how to access the working area please contact either Helen Chamberlain at 202- 219-2348 or the Web Help Desk at section.508@gsa.gov - 202-208-7420.