Section 508 Policy
Policy Owner: Manager, IT Strategy and Compliance
Note: An owner must be a PCES-level manager or higher.
This policy provides formally documented management expectations and intentions.
The purpose for this policy is to ensure Postal Service customers and employees with disabilities have equivalent access to Postal Service information and interactive services comparable to that of persons without disabilities. By complying with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Postal Service demonstrates a commitment to implementing business practices that make IT-based products and services accessible to employees and customers with disabilities.
This policy applies to all Postal Service Employees, Suppliers, Contractors, and Business Partners that relate to any aspect of Postal Service electronic and information technology based products, systems or services. This policy also applies to the Postal Service enterprise architecture, which provides the framework for technology used to present both text and data.
All development, procurement, maintenance, and use of Postal Service electronic and information technology (EIT) must adhere to specific Postal Service technical requirements regarding Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Postal Service shall document all compliance and exceptions in the Section 508 Assertion Letter.
Exceptions include general exceptions, specific exceptions and undue burden and may be invoked at different stages of the procurement or Technology Solution Life Cycle (TSLC). Exceptions must also satisfy the following requirements:
The functional organization must complete exception documentation which includes the rationale for the exception.
Supply Management, together with the functional organization, must include the relevant market research documentation in the contract file.
For undue burden exceptions, the functional organization must prepare an undue burden justification template, signed by the vice president of the requiring organization.
Documentation must be summarized in the databases that track Postal Service compliance (e.g., EIR, ITK, ADEPT) to facilitate accurate reporting to the Department of Justice on a periodic basis.
An alternate means must be provided to allow people with disabilities to access the functions or information.
A plan must be defined for future reevaluation and eventual full compliance (e.g., newer releases of the software or selection of a more compliant product that provides the same business solution). The plan should specify reevaluation dates.
None.
Version #1.0
Section(s) Revised: N/A
Revision Description: Baseline
Revision Date:
Version #1.1
Section(s) Revised: All
Revision Description: Updated the look and feel to be consistent with the other policies, processes, and standards.
Revision Date: 08/25/2010
Version #1.2
Section(s) Revised: All
Revision Description: This document was made Section 508 compliant and was converted to HTML.
Revision Date: FY12/Q3