Accessibility
The Department of Homeland Security is committed to providing accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to individuals with disabilities, including members of the public and federal employees, by meeting or exceeding the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In addition, the Department is also committed to ensuring accessibility of our buildings and facilities as required by the Architectural Barriers Act, 42 U.S.C. 4151 through 4157.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d)
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended requires agencies, during the procurement, development, maintenance, or use of ICT, to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to and use of ICT information and data comparable to the access and use afforded to individuals without disabilities (i.e., “ICT accessibility”), unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. More information on Section 508 and the technical standards can be found at www.section508.gov.
If you have feedback, questions, or concerns relating to the accessibility of any content that interferes with your ability to access the information on the Department of Homeland Security’s website, please contact Website Issues for assistance.
If you believe that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) used by the Department of Homeland Security does not comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, you may file a 508 complaint by contacting Accessibility@hq.dhs.gov.
To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of your accessibility problem, the preferred format in which to receive the material, the web address (URL) of the material with which you are having difficulty, and your contact information.
Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. §§ 4151--57)
The Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requires access to facilities that are designed, built, altered, or leased with Federal funds. The Access Board is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the ABA. The Access Board's accessibility standards are available on their website at www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-aba-standards, and information about filing a complaint may be found at www.access-board.gov/aba-enforcement/file-a-complaint.
Office of Accessible Systems & Technology
The Office of Accessible Systems & Technology (OAST) guides and supports all Department components in removing barriers to information access and employment of qualified individuals with disabilities in accord with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended). OAST is part of both the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Office of Chief Information Officer.