Civil Rights

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 was passed by the Oklahoma Legislature and signed by the Governor of Oklahoma in 2004. The standards apply to all state agencies, as defined. As such, they apply equally to all state employees, contractors or any entity that deals with the State of Oklahoma

Complaint Process - Complaint Form

In the event an individual believes that the Department has failed to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the individual or group of individuals may file a complaint with the Department. The process for filing a Section 508 Complaint will be as follows:

Effective one year after the effective date of Section 508, any individual may file a complaint alleging that a state agency or its authorized agent does not comply with electronic and information technology accessibility laws or the Information Technology Accessibility Standards. This complaint must be written and shall be filed with the agency responsible for the information technology in question with the Department’s Section 508 Complaint form (Form 508-01). Copies of this form may be printed from the Department website or a copy may be obtained by contacting the ADA/504 Coordinator.

The complaint must:

1. State the name, contact address and telephone number of the complainant;
2. Identify the information technology in question; and,
3. Describe the non-conformance with the IT Accessibility standards in sufficient detail as to allow a thorough investigation.

The ADA/504 Coordinator will review the complaint, and when necessary, work with the complainant to ensure the complaint is clear and is addressed by the IT Accessibility Standards and will determine whether the technology listed in the complaint is subject to the IT accessibility standards.

Office Upon completion of the review, the agency shall provide written notice of the results of the review to the complainant, the Office of State Finance and the EITA Advisory Council, which shall include one of the following:

1. Documentation that the technology conforms to all applicable accessibility standards;
2. A documented explanation that any non-conformance with accessibility standards was exempted due to an exception or undue burden; or
3. An agreement in part or in whole with the written complaint that includes a plan with reasonable timelines for conforming to applicable IT Accessibility Standards.

In the event that the complainant is not satisfied with the final complaint response issued by an agency, a complaint may be refiled with the agency or with the Information Services Director of the Office of State Finance (OSF) and the EITA Advisory Council, c/o: Oklahoma ABLE Tech.

Whenever a complaint is filed with OSF and the EITA Advisory Council pursuant to this section, a review team will convene to review the complaint and the agency response. Members of this team shall include a representative of the IT Services Division of OSF, a representative of the EITA Advisory Council and may include additional members with technical expertise needed to determine conformance with the accessibility standards.

Written notice of receipt of a complaint pursuant to this section shall be sent to the complainant, within ten (10) business days, excluding holidays, from the date the complaint is filed with either entity.

The review team shall evaluate the complaint and the agency response and may gather additional information as necessary to render an independent decision.

1. If the review team determines the technology does not comply with IT Accessibility Standards, the team shall send written notice to the agency of such findings and request a plan of resolution including timelines.
2. The team shall also send written notice of their findings to the complainant and the agency indicating an agreement or disagreement with the agency’s initial complaint response. If the technology in question is out of compliance, the written notice shall also include a copy of the agency’s plan for resolution.

The review team must conclude this review and send the final written notice to the complainant and the agency no later than sixty (60) calendar days from the receipt of the written complaint with the Office of State Finance or EITA Advisory Council.