Section 508/ Accessibility Consultant

Goldschmitt and Associates•,

6d•Remote

About The Position

Goldschmitt & Associates is seeking a Section 508/ Accessibility Consultant to help ensure that digital services, data products, dashboards, documentation, and user interfaces developed or supported for Federal Student Aid are accessible to people with disabilities and comply with applicable federal accessibility requirements. This role will work as part of a cross-functional product, human-centered design, analytics, and engineering team. The consultant will bring accessibility into the design and development process from the beginning rather than treating accessibility as a final compliance review. The Section 508/ Accessibility Consultant will help teams understand accessibility requirements, review designs and working solutions, identify barriers, recommend practical fixes, and validate that remediated products provide an effective experience for users of assistive technology. The role will support FSA's Human-Centered Data Design work as well as accessibility needs that may arise across cloud tools, dashboards, reporting interfaces, data products, documentation, and other digital services. FSA specifically requires internal-facing data interfaces and reporting templates to comply with Section 508 standards and FSA design patterns.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of Section 508 requirements and WCAG accessibility standards
Experience performing both automated and manual accessibility testing
Experience testing web applications using keyboard-only navigation and assistive technologies
Experience with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, or comparable technologies
Knowledge of accessible HTML, ARIA, semantic markup, forms, tables, navigation, and interactive components
Experience reviewing wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces for accessibility before development
Ability to identify accessibility defects and explain corrective action to designers and developers
Experience documenting accessibility findings and validating remediation
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work effectively with UX designers, software engineers, product managers, analysts, testers, and Government stakeholders
Possess at least 5 years of professional experience in digital accessibility, Section 508 compliance, accessible UX, accessibility testing, or a related field
Possess the ability to pass a 6C Public Trust investigation, including US citizenship

Nice To Haves

Federal Government accessibility experience
Department of Education or Federal Student Aid experience
Experience testing data-intensive applications, dashboards, business-intelligence tools, or analytical interfaces
Experience with accessibility testing tools such as ANDI, axe, WAVE, Accessibility Insights, or similar tools
Experience with accessible document testing and remediation
Familiarity with Design Systems and reusable accessible component libraries
International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) certification such as CPACC, WAS, or CPWA
Experience integrating accessibility testing into Agile, DevSecOps, CI/CD, or automated quality processes
Experience conducting accessibility-focused usability testing with users of assistive technology

Responsibilities

Serve as the team's subject matter expert for Section 508, WCAG, and accessible digital design
Interpret accessibility requirements and translate them into practical design, development, testing, and acceptance criteria
Partner with HCD/UX designers during research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing to identify accessibility needs early
Review wireframes and prototypes before development to identify potential accessibility barriers
Evaluate websites, applications, dashboards, analytical interfaces, data catalogs, reports, documentation, and other digital products for accessibility
Perform manual accessibility testing using keyboard-only navigation and commonly used assistive technologies
Use automated accessibility-testing tools to identify common accessibility defects and support repeatable testing
Test screen-reader behavior, focus order, keyboard navigation, form controls, labels, headings, tables, links, status messages, and dynamic content
Review charts, dashboards, and other data visualizations to ensure that important information is not communicated through color or visual presentation alone
Evaluate color contrast, text resizing, responsive behavior, visible focus indicators, and other visual-accessibility requirements
Review PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and other electronic documents when accessibility compliance is required
Work with developers to identify the cause of accessibility defects and recommend practical remediation approaches
Help engineering teams incorporate accessibility checks into development and testing processes
Develop accessibility acceptance criteria for user stories and product backlog items
Support accessibility testing during sprint, release, and readiness activities rather than waiting until final acceptance
Document accessibility findings, severity, recommended corrective action, and validation results
Retest corrected defects and document closure
Support Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), or similar documentation when required
Help teams establish reusable accessible components, patterns, templates, and design guidance
Provide accessibility training, coaching, office hours, and hands-on support to designers, developers, analysts, product owners, and other team members
Monitor changes to federal accessibility standards and help the team adjust practices when requirements change
Work with FSA personnel and other contractors to resolve accessibility issues that cross organizational or system boundaries
Promote accessibility as part of product quality and user experience rather than as a stand-alone compliance activity