EPA Accessibility Statement

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to making our programs, benefits, services, facilities, and information and communications technology (ICT) accessible to everyone, per federal laws and regulations. 

On this page, we provide information about:

• Digital Accessibility (Section 508)
• Reasonable Accommodation (Section 501)
• Architectural Barriers Act
• EPA Sponsored Public Meetings
• Telecommunications Relay Service
• How to Submit a Disability Concern or Complaint

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Digital Accessibility (Section 508)

EPA is committed to providing equitable access to ICT for all. To meet this commitment, EPA will comply with the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C § 794 (d)). You can read more about how the EPA implements Section 508 as a policy and through procedures.

Section 508 requires agencies to ensure federal employees and members of the public with disabilities have access, and use of information and data unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Access provided to individuals with disabilities must be comparable to access provided to individuals without disabilities.

When the development, procurement, maintenance, or use of electronic and information technology that meets the Section 508 standards would impose an undue burden; the EPA shall provide individuals with disabilities an alternative means of accessing the information or data.

The Section 508 standards are the technical requirements and criteria used to measure conformance within this law. In 2018, Revised Section 508 Standards went into effect. This update harmonized the standards with other guidelines and standards in the U.S. and abroad, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG is a globally recognized voluntary consensus standard for web content and ICT. More information on Section 508 and the technical standards can be found at Section508.gov

If you have any questions or comments about Section 508 at the EPA please email the Section 508 Program Manager, Sarah Sorathia.

Reasonable Accommodation (Section 501)

Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits disability discrimination and addresses the need to provide a reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities who are federal employees or applicants for federal employment. Reasonable accommodations can be modifications or adjustments to a job, employment practice, or work environment that makes it possible for an employee with a disability to:

• Perform essential job duties;
• Adhere to uniformly applied conduct rules; and
• Enjoy equal benefits/privileges of employment.

EPA job applicants with a disability can request reasonable accommodations that are modifications or adjustments to provide equal access during the application process.

To learn about reasonable accommodations at EPA, please visit the Office of Civil Rights Reasonable Accommodation page.

Architectural Barriers Act

The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) generally requires that buildings or facilities that were designed, built, or altered with federal dollars or leased by federal agencies be accessible for individuals with disabilities. The US Access Board is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the ABA.

• U.S. Access Board’s accessibility guidelines and standards
• File an Architectural Barriers Act Complaint

For information on enforcement of the ABA at EPA facilities, please contact the Office of Mission Support, Office of Administration Director Yvette Jackson at 202-564-2165 or [email protected].

EPA Sponsored Public Meetings

If you are a member of the public planning to attend an EPA-sponsored meeting and you are a person with a disability or you need reasonable accommodation and/or auxiliary aids and services to participate in such events, please email [email protected] to request services free of charge.

Telecommunications Relay Service

Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allow persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have speech disabilities to communicate by telephone in a manner that is functionally equivalent to telephone services used by persons without such disabilities.

How to Submit a Disability Concern or Complaint

Do you have a Section 508/digital accessibility question or concern?

Please email the EPA Section 508 Program with your digital accessibility question or concern. When applicable, please include the web address or URL. If you would like to raise an accessibility concern that is not based upon discrimination on the basis of disability, you may email the Section 508 Program Manager, Sarah Sorathia regarding the issue. Please include specific details and your contact information so the issue can be fully understood.

Do you have a disability complaint?

If you believe you have been discriminated against, you must contact a representative within the Office of Civil Rights within 45 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory event. If you would like to file a disability discrimination complaint based on non-compliance with the requirements of Section 508, please review the Equal Employment Opportunity page. EPA handles Section 508 complaints the same way it handles other complaints related to disability discrimination. EPA Regional or Lab Office employees should contact their Regional and Geographic Office contact as identified at EEO Contacts. EPA Headquarters’ employees and members of the public should call the Office of Civil Rights, at 202-564-7272.

Last Updated: July 30, 2024