Federal workspaces are required to be accessible in both physical and online environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the widespread transition to telework made use of virtual meetings and conferences commonplace. Now that agencies are transitioning to a workspace which may be either physical, virtual, or hybrid, there are novel issues facing federal accessibility specialists.   

The next webinar in the Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series will take place Tuesday, November 28 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (CCT) and provide a review of the requirements for making the physical environment accessible under the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) and the virtual environment accessible under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Presenters will also offer recommendations and best practices, as well as identify available resources to maximize participation in the federal workspace, whether physical, virtual, or hybrid.  

This webinar session is intended for entry-level to intermediate audiences, but all are welcome to join. Section 508 Coordinators, IT Specialists, Reasonable Accommodation Specialists, and Disability Program Managers are especially encouraged to join this webinar to gain the following unique insights:  

• What requirements make offices, conference rooms, and assembly areas accessible under the ABA.  
• How the Section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria work to ensure an accessible online environment for all.   
• How accommodations can improve the experience of federal employees in both physical and virtual environments.   

For more details or to register, visit Great Lakes ADA Center’s Returning to the Office: Accessible Hybrid Meetings webinar webpage. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar. Webinar attendees can receive a participation certificate for attending the 90-minute session.  

Registration closes 24 hours before the start of the session. Instructions for accessing the webinar on the day of the session will be sent via email to registered individuals in advance of the session. Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) and Video Sign Language Interpreters are available for the session and will be broadcast via the webinar platform. A telephone option (not toll-free) for receiving audio is also available. 

The Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series provides helpful information and best practices for federal agencies in meeting their obligations under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act which ensures access to information and communication technology in the federal sector. This webinar series is made available by the Accessibility Community of Practice of the CIO Council in partnership with the U.S. Access Board. All webinars are archived and available on the Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Archives webpage.