Section 508 Policy & Reasonable Accommodation

Reasonable Accommodation

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees as well as Fellowship applicants with disabilities. Employees and applicants for employment should contact Oliver Alwes oalwes@jamesmadison.gov or 571-858-4208 with requests for reasonable accommodation. Requests should include a general description of the type of accommodation needed or the nature of the disability. An initial response to the request will be made within seven business days. The response will outline whether the request is granted, additional information is required, or the request is denied. Requests will only be denied if the accommodation would post an undue hardship on the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. The denial can be appealed to the EEO coordinator at the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. Appealed denials will be reviewed and decided upon within 30 days of the date of denial. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for the implementation of law in this area.

Section 508 Accessibility Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation’s electronic and information technology (EIT) is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities, in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Scope

This policy applies to all EIT procured, developed, maintained, or used by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation.

Policy Statement

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation is committed to providing access to our electronic and information technology for all employees and members of the public with disabilities.

Standards

  • EIT must comply with the applicable technical standards of Section 508.
  • Web content must follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA standards.

Procurement

  • All EIT procurements will include requirements for compliance with Section 508 standards.
  • Vendors must provide a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) or equivalent information detailing how their product meets Section 508 standards.

Responsibilities

  • The Foundation’s Section 508 Coordinator is responsible for policy enforcement and periodic reviews.
  • All staff are responsible for ensuring that the EIT they use or create meets Section 508 standards.

Complaints and Grievances

  • Individuals may report non-compliance to the Section 508 Coordinator.
  • The Foundation will investigate and resolve complaints in a timely manner.

Training

  • The Foundation will provide training on Section 508 compliance to all relevant employees.

Review and Updates

  • This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to ensure ongoing compliance with Section 508 standards.

Contact Information