Internal Revenue Service
Information Resources Accessibility Program (IRAP)
Under this contract, New Editions Consulting provides on site information technology support to the IRS Information Resources Accessibility Program (IRAP) Section 508 Project. The IRAP office manages and overseas a Service-wide program to help make electronic and information systems accessible to employees and customers with disabilities. IRAP’s mission is to increase access to information technology resources for employees and customers with disabilities by providing leadership toward upfront systems accessibility and infrastructure support for information technology accommodations. IRAP is dedicated to ensuring that our customers have the adaptive technology necessary to perform essential job duties and have equal access to electronic and information systems.
New Editions Consulting’s responsibilities include providing IRS employees and managers with Section 508 awareness and technical assistance. The New Editions Consulting on site information technology specialists provides one-on-one technical guidance on implementing the Section 508 requirements and technical standards. The following services are provided to IRS employees and managers by New Editions Consulting:
- Individual or group training on the use of assistive technology devices such as screen reader program (JAWS), voice recognition program (Dragon Naturally Speaking 6.0) and screen magnification program (Zoom Text) to evaluate IRS Intranet and Internet web site for 508 compliance.
- The evaluation and review of IRS Intranet and Internet web sites using the automated testing tool AccMonitor.
- Technical assistance on the installation and use of AccMonitor, AccVerify and AccRepair to web developers.
- The evaluation and testing of software applications using the automated testing tool, WinScreamer.
- The development of automated testing tool quick start guides and tutorials.
- Provide support to the IRAP Section 508 Project in the creation and distribution of Section 508 educational and outreach documentation and resources.
IRAP focuses its efforts on outreach and education to help IRS managers and employees understand their roles and responsibilities, as well as the legal requirements under Section 508. The IRAP Section 508 Project provides the assistance in incorporating the Section 508 provisions into IRS product requirements and existing products for 508 conformances. The program assists in the planning for the integration of 508 into business practices. Among their services, IRAP offers customers:
- One-on-one technical guidance
- Organizational briefings
- PC-based training – “Complying with Section 508” and “Section 508 for Software Development”
- “Section 508 – Opening Doors to IT” videotape
- Checklist for testing the compliance of your internally developed products, or to evaluate procured products and Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates
