TREASURY DIRECTIVE 87-06

DATE: October 23, 2013

SUBJECT: Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT) Accessibility Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

  1. PURPOSE. This Directive provides policy and guidelines for the Department of the Treasury to ensure compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, regarding access to E&IT resources for individuals with disabilities.
  2. SCOPE. This Directive applies to all bureaus, offices, and organizations in the Department of the Treasury, including the offices of Inspectors General within the Department. The provisions of this Directive shall not be construed to interfere with or impede the authorities or independence of the Department’s Inspectors General.
  3. POLICY. It is the policy of the Department of the Treasury to:
    1. establish, maintain, and manage uniform policy and guidance for procuring E&IT compliant with Section 508;
    2. develop, procure, maintain, and use E&IT which gives persons with disabilities access comparable to the access provided to persons without disabilities; and
    3. expeditiously evaluate and respond to complaints submitted by individuals with disabilities alleging the Department has failed to comply with Section 508.
  4. DEFINITIONS.
    1. Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT): Information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, World Wide Web sites, multimedia, and office equipment such as copiers and fax machines. The term does not include any equipment that contains embedded information technology that is used as an integral part of the product, but the principal function of which is not the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. For example, the term does not include HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment such as thermostats or temperature control-devices, and medical equipment where information technology is integral to its operation and not information technology.
    2. Individuals with Disabilities: Individuals who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, have a record of such impairment, or are regarded as having such impairment. Major life activities include functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.
    3. Access Board: The Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. It develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for E&IT. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.
  5. RESPONSIBILITIES.
    1. The Heads of Bureaus are responsible for ensuring this policy is disseminated to employees and modified, as needed, with guidelines specific to the organization considering factors such as its mission and the sensitivity of its E&IT. For purposes of this Directive, the Assistant Secretary for Management is the bureau head for Departmental Offices.
    2. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Systems and Chief Information Officer (DAS/CIO) and bureau CIOs/CTO’s shall:
      1. 1) manage Treasury and bureau E&IT resources to ensure compliance with Section 508 across the Department;
      2. 2) include appropriate funds in their information technology budgets to support procurement, development, and maintenance of Section 508 compliant E&IT, and to deploy technology to increase the employment of qualified persons with disabilities;
      3. 3) ensure that all E&IT procured, developed, maintained, or used by Treasury is compliant with Section 508; and
      4. 4) designate a Bureau 508 Coordinator as either a full time position or as defined responsibilities incorporated in the performance appraisal process.
    3. The Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) shall:
      1. 1) establish, maintain, and review compliance with formal procurement guidance for E&IT acquisitions; and
      2. 2) promote training for the acquisition community on procurement policies and procedures related to Section 508;
    4. The Treasury Section 508 Program Manager shall:
      1. 1) report to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Privacy, Transparency, and Records or his/her designee on issues regarding Section 508 for continuous improvement and enhancement;
      2. 2) function as the Treasury Designated Agency Official in the timely completion of the Department self-evaluation reports to the Department of Justice on Section 508 compliance;
      3. 3) develop and maintain uniform internal documentation for Section 508 across Treasury in areas of development and procurement of E⁢
      4. 4) develop, maintain, and promote uniform educational and training resources for use by bureaus and offices;
      5. 5) designate Treasury personnel, after obtaining appropriate approvals, from various Treasury offices and bureaus to serve on a Treasury Section 508 Advisory Council;
      6. 6) chair and coordinate the Treasury Section 508 Advisory Council; and
      7. 7) attend appropriate seminars and workshops to remain cognizant of Section 508 issues.
    5. The Bureau Section 508 Coordinators shall:
      1. 1) complete approved Section 508 Coordinator training;
      2. 2) promote appropriate Section 508 training resources, available services and support, and pertinent E&IT regulatory changes;
      3. 3) represent their individual bureau at events concerning E&IT accessibility issues;
      4. 4) promote the inclusion of employees with disabilities in the testing of accessible E⁢
      5. 5) participate in quarterly Section 508 Coordinator meetings to discuss issues and further promote compliance;
      6. 6) coordinate Section 508 bureau responses for biennial DOJ reporting;
      7. 7) promote inclusion of Section 508 in their bureau’s Enterprise Life Cycle processes and Enterprise Architectures standards/requirements;
      8. 8) promote the integration of Section 508 requirements into the bureau’s budget plans, strategic plans, and IT capital plans;
      9. 9) perform internal compliance checks of bureau procurements for possible Section 508 Compliance wording remediation; and
      10. 10) promote bureau awareness of the need to be Section 508 compliant and inform bureau heads of pertinent Section 508 issues.
    6. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer shall expeditiously process any complaints of noncompliance with Section 508 in accordance with its existing Section 504 Administrative Complaint Processing Procedures.
    7. The Treasury Section 508 Advisory Council shall:
      1. 1) identify and craft Treasury policies that facilitate the implementation of Section 508 across the Department and its bureaus;
      2. 2) assist the Department and its bureau counterparts in understanding and implementing Section 508 policy and operational procedures; and
      3. 3) evaluate/recommend policy changes relating to 508 compliance and Treasury Directives.
  6. AUTHORITIES.
    1. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d).
    2. Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards, (36 C.F.R. Part 1194).
    3. Federal Acquisition Regulations, Electronic and Information Technology (48 CFR 39.2).
    4. OMB Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources (61 FR 6428).
    5. Clinger Cohen Act of 1996 (40 U.S.C. 11101 (6)).
    6. E-Government Act of 2002, Section 202(d).
  7. REFERENCES.
    1. Treasury Directive 80-05, "Records and Information Management Program."
    2. Treasury Directive 81-01, "Treasury Information Technology (IT) Programs."
    3. Treasury Order 102-10, "Designation of Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Treasury."
  8. CANCELLATION. Treasury Directive 87-06, “Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT) Accessibility under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act,” dated January 15, 2009, is superseded.
  9. OFFICE OF PRIMARY INTEREST. Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Privacy, Transparency, and Records, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Management and Chief Financial Officer.

 

/S/
Nani A. Coloretti
Assistant Secretary
for Management