Section 508 Accessibility SME & Consulting Manager

Sujatha Balakumar

***** ****** ***** *****, *******, MD 20854

Mobile: 240-***-**** Email: ****************@*******.***

Professional Experience

Section 508 Accessibility SME with 18+ years of experience supporting federal agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs and IRS. Proven expertise in evaluating enterprise-level compliance of Electronic & Information Technology (EIT), developing accessibility policies, and advising leadership on WCAG 2.0 and Section 508 implementation. Strong background in accessibility testing (manual, automated, and assistive technology), policy development, and training. Experienced in collaborating with stakeholders across large organizations to improve accessibility posture and align with federal mandates.

Core Competencies

Section 508 & WCAG 2.0 Compliance

EIT Accessibility Evaluation & Remediation

Federal Policy Development & Implementation

Accessibility Testing (Manual, Automated, AT)

Assistive Technologies (JAWS, NVDA, ZoomText, Dragon)

Office 365 Accessibility & Document Compliance

SharePoint & Collaboration Tools

Accessibility Training & Outreach

Agile / SDLC Integration

Stakeholder Engagement & Advisory

Procurement and FAR ( Federal Acquisition Regulation)

Work with Federal and Commercial Clients to meet compliance requirements.

Provide expert guidance, training, and mentorship on accessibility best practices.

Technical Consulting Manager Section 508 (Oracle Corporation)

Contractor – Veterans Affairs

11/2025 –04/2026

Serve as the primary 508 SME, ensuring accessibility compliance across all deliverables.

Analyze design and code, report accessibility issues, and provide remediation solutions.

Oversee VPAT documentation, accessibility testing, and roadmap resolutions.

Provide expert guidance, training, and mentorship on accessibility best practices.

Collaborate with engineering teams in an Agile environment to implement accessibility solutions.

Ensure compliance for Microsoft Word, PPTX, Excel, PDF, and other templates.

Promote an “accessibility-first” mindset and contribute to design standards and pattern libraries.

Communicate effectively with clients, ensuring their accessibility requirements are addressed.

Work with Federal and Commercial Clients to meet compliance requirements.

Provide expert guidance, training, and mentorship on accessibility best practices.

Senior 508 SME/Accessibility Specialist Zero Delta (BAH Partner)

Contractor – Veterans Affairs

04/2025 – 11/2025

Served as Section 508 SME supporting enterprise-level accessibility initiatives aligned with federal compliance standards.

Evaluated accessibility compliance of several Microsoft Dynamics and Salesforce applications and provided recommendations to improve accessibility posture.

Advised developers on integrating Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 requirements into development of Electronic information and technology (EIT) and procurement processes.

Developed and delivered training to increase awareness and adoption of accessibility standards across project teams.

Supported accessibility compliance audits and coordinated with VA 508 Office to ensure adherence to federal requirements.

Collaborated across teams to implement accessibility best practices within the SDLC in an agile environment.

Work with UX and engineering teams to prevent accessibility defects through early lifecycle engagement.

Senior Lead Technologist 508 Compliance – Booz Allen Hamilton

Contractor – Veterans Affairs

01/2016 – 04/2025

Provided enterprise-level advisory support on Section 508 compliance across multiple VA IT systems and programs.

Evaluated EIT systems for compliance and delivered actionable recommendations to improve accessibility and usability.

Developed and contributed to Section 508 policies, guidelines, and training materials aligned with federal mandates.

Supported governance and oversight efforts by coordinating with the VA 508 Office on audits and compliance reporting.

Conducted manual and automated accessibility testing using tools such as Axe, Color Contrast Analyzer, WAT, and browser DevTools.

Performed assistive technology testing using JAWS, NVDA, ZoomText, and Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

Reviewed SOWs, RFPs, and procurement documentation to ensure Section 508 requirements were properly defined and addressed (including VPATs).

Advised on accessibility requirements in system development, procurement, and maintenance lifecycle activities.

Delivered training and presentations to stakeholders, increasing awareness and adoption of accessibility practices.

Participated in Agile ceremonies, ensuring accessibility requirements were incorporated into planning and execution.

Collaborated with UX and development teams to embed accessibility into design and implementation phases.

Worked independently and as part of cross-functional teams to drive accessibility initiatives forward.

Senior 508 Compliance Specialist – VA 508 Office

Contractor

09/2016 – 12/2016

Supported Department-wide Section 508 compliance efforts through evaluation and remediation guidance.

Conducted compliance assessments of EIT products and provided recommendations for remediation.

Advised stakeholders on accessibility requirements and implementation strategies.

Reviewed technical documentation and identified gaps in compliance with federal standards.

Contributed to policy adherence and accessibility governance efforts.

508 Compliance Specialist / SME – Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Contractor

02/2010 – 07/2015

Evaluated accessibility compliance of enterprise applications, web systems, and electronic documents.

Provided recommendations to improve accessibility of IRS EIT systems in alignment with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0.

Supported procurement and development processes by identifying applicable Section 508 requirements.

Conducted accessibility testing using automated tools and assistive technologies.

Developed technical documentation and accessibility guidance for stakeholders.

Provided impact assessments related to Section 508 Refresh and regulatory updates.

Technical Skills (Tailored)

Accessibility Tools: Axe, ANDI, Accessibility Insights, WAT, Color Contrast Analyzer, Compliance Sheriff

Assistive Technologies: JAWS, NVDA, ZoomText, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, VoiceOver, TalkBack

Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (basic)

Platforms: SharePoint, Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics

Office Tools: Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint – accessibility formatting & compliance)

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