In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT), also referred to as information and communication technology (ICT), accessible to people with disabilities. The law (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)) applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use ICT. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to access available to others. The United States Access Board discusses its responsibility for developing accessibility standards for ICT to incorporate into regulations that govern Federal procurement practices.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is committed to making its ICT accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. If an individual with a disability believes that a bureau or office has failed to procure ICT conforming to Section 508, that individual has the right to file a complaint with the DOI Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights (ODICR).
The ODICR shall apply the complaint procedures outlined in 43 CFR Part 17, Subpart E, which are established to implement Section 504 for resolving allegations of discrimination in a Federally conducted program or activity. Complaints must be submitted in writing to DOI’s ODICR at the following address:
U.S. Department of the Interior
Attn: Director, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights
1849 C Street, N.W.
MS-4359
Washington, D.C. 20240