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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
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Federal Reserve Board of Governors

Accessibility for the Website of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is committed to making every page on its World Wide Web server accessible to the widest possible audience, including people who have visual disabilities and are using screen-reading software. All of the agency websites are undergoing review and redesign as necessary to ensure that they meet or exceed the requirements of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Many of the documents on our web server are in HTML or plain-text (ASCII) formats. Pages in these formats are usually accessible to screen-reading software. We also have a large number of documents in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF), a type that reproduces the exact look of a printed page. PDF documents are displayed through Adobe's free Acrobat Reader but may require additional steps to become accessible to screen readers.

Download Adobe's free Acrobat Reader Leaving the Board

Reading Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) Files

PDFs found on this site may be accessible to some screen readers (except for some complex formatting, including graphics and some tables). We are following software developments and will make all elements of PDF documents accessible to screen readers as soon as possible.

If a PDF is not accessible to your screen reader, you can use a free translation service provided by Adobe through their Access Web Pages Leaving the Board, which will translate PDFs to web pages (HTML documents) or to plain text (again except for some complex formatting).

The paragraphs below describe the use of Adobe's translation service and how to obtain paper copies of PDF documents that are on the Board's website.

The Adobe service can be used in one of two ways:

  • At the website of the service, the user can fill out a form, giving the address of the document to be translated. When the form is submitted, the service will translate the PDF document to a web page and return it immediately to the user. Instructions Leaving the Board
  • At the website of the service, the user can send an e-mail message, giving the address of the document to be translated. The service will then translate the document, but in this case the user can choose to have the document translated either to a web page or to plain ASCII text. Only this method will provide translation to plain text. Instructions Leaving the Board

Other Means of Obtaining Documents

If you are seeking a document that is not accessible to you through the Board's website, and you wish to obtain a paper copy of it, you may submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, or you may contact the FOI Office at 202-452-3684 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Deaf and hard-of-hearing users may call the Board's TTY line at 202-263-4869.

We invite comments on our accessibility policies. You may send a letter to the IT Accessibility Coordinator, in care of the Freedom of Information Office, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551, or send an IT Accessibility Section 508 comment.

Procedure for Filing a Complaint under Section 508

The complaint procedures that apply to allegations of discrimination on the basis of disability in Board-conducted programs or activities, which are found in 12 CFR § 268.710, shall apply to complaints filed under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Those procedures provide for the investigation of the complaint and a final decision by the Board.

Any individual with a disability may file a complaint alleging that the Board has failed to comply with subsection (a)(1) of section 508 in providing electronic and information technology. Complaints may be filed regarding only electronic and information technology that is procured after June 21, 2001.

Complaints under section 508 should be filed with

Ms. Sheila Clark
EEO Programs Director
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
20th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20551

Last update: February 22, 2008