Department of Homeland Security Sued for Section 508 Violations

On April 26, 2013, Michael Leiterman, a lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  filed a suit against his employer, "for violating federal anti-discrimination laws that require the federal government to provide equal opportunity to people with disabilities", citing Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Section 508 is an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act, passed by Congress in 1998. This amendment specifies that government agencies must make all electronic and information technology available to people with disabilities. Since its adoption in 1998, the digital realm has exploded, making Section 508 compliance even more necessary to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.

The lawsuit alleges that DHS is in violation of the Act “by purchasing, developing, and implementing inaccessible technology, using inaccessible training and testing platforms and materials, requiring Mr. Leiterman to provide accessibility  testing, troubleshooting, and correction for CBP’s technology, failing to provide reasonable accommodations for his disability, and denying him a promotion because of his disability and the agency’s inaccessible technology.”

Mr. Leiterman, who is blind, has worked at Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), since August 2006. The lawsuit alleges multiple instances of violations, including inaccessible documents, intranets, and online training modules.

The brief...