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Technology Lifecycle Activities - Government-wide Section 508 Assessment Criteria

Technology Lifecycle Activities

This section asks about your reporting entity's level of inclusion of accessibility in the technology lifecycle to include design, development, operation, and maintenance of ICT. If your reporting entity does not have a formal technology lifecycle process, please select N/A as needed.

Question 47

Indicate how your reporting entity identifies and prioritizes risk of Section 508 non-conformant ICT using a risk framework throughout the technology development lifecycle. (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Risk related to Section 508 non-conformance is not assessed during any part of the technology development lifecycle
  2. Any Section 508-related risk assessment is ad hoc or sometimes used (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. A risk framework for ICT development and defect remediation that incorporates Section 508 considerations exists and is regularly used (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. A risk framework is frequently used to determine risk related to Section 508 non-conformance during the technology development lifecycle, including prioritization for remediating ICT products (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. A risk framework is almost always used to determine risk related to Section 508 non-conformance during the technology development lifecycle, including prioritization for remediating almost all ICT products, and resulting risk assessments are incorporated into milestone reviews and deployment decisions (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A - reporting entity does not engage in any technology lifecycle activities

A risk framework could include a risk model or a ranking of risk based on criticality of defect. This term broadly applies as reporting entities may utilize one or more methods.

Question 48

Indicate to what extent the reporting entity escalates and takes action on non-conformance issues with vendors/contractors who produce or deliver inaccessible ICT despite contractual requirements for ICT to conform with Section 508 standards. (*Required)

Select one:

  1. No action is taken to address vendor products or deliverables which do not conform
  2. Escalation occurs sometimes, but generally on an ad hoc basis, resulting in limited actions taken (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Implements a process for complaint escalation for vendor products or deliverables which do not conform and actions are regularly taken to enforce accessibility (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Implements a process for complaint escalation for vendor products or deliverables which do not conform and actions are frequently taken to enforce accessibility (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Implements a process for complaint escalation for vendor products or deliverables, and actions are almost always taken to enforce accessibility and/or penalties (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A - reporting entity does not rely on contract or vendor support for ICT development or does not develop ICT

Question 49

How often are knowledgeable staff integrated into lifecycle activities to ensure that ICT is Section 508 conformant? (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Reporting entity does not have staff with sufficient knowledge and skill to ensure ICT is Section 508 conformant
  2. Knowledgeable staff are not integrated into lifecycle activities
  3. Knowledgeable staff are sometimes integrated in lifecycle development activities (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  4. Knowledgeable staff are regularly integrated in lifecycle development activities (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  5. Knowledgeable staff are frequently integrated in lifecycle development activities (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  6. Knowledgeable staff are almost always integrated into lifecycle development activities and active feedback loops create innovative ways to meet accessibility needs (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  7. Unknown
  8. N/A - reporting entity does not have a formal technology development lifecycle

Question 50

How often is Section 508 conformance integrated throughout technology development lifecycle activities? (*Required)

Select one:

  1. Never (0% of the time)
  2. Sometimes (approximately 1%-24% of the time)
  3. Regularly (approximately 25%-59% of the time)
  4. Frequently (approximately 60%-89% of the time)
  5. Almost always (approximately 90% or more of the time)
  6. Unknown
  7. N/A - reporting entity does not have a formal technology development lifecycle

Reviewed/Updated: April 2024

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