Approximately 5.2 million Veterans in the US have service-connected disabilities, and around 4.6 million have general disabilities, creating a significant need for accessibility services. Roughly 30% to over 37% of Veterans have service-connected disabilities requiring accommodations, often involving VA technology and website accessibility governed by Section 508 and WCAG standards. VA operates a broad portfolio of digital services, tools, and content that must be accessible to Veterans, their caregivers, VA employees, and the public.
Ensuring compliance with Section 508 across VA's ecosystem is both mission-critical and operationally complex. Accessibility compliance is not just a regulatory requirement—it is essential to ensuring equitable access to benefits and services for all Veterans.
Prior to our work on the Section 508 Accessibility Compliance Software Solution contract, VA faced several key challenges:
- Limited visibility into accessibility compliance across websites, SharePoint, and other digital portfolio assets
- Manual, time-intensive auditing processes that limited scale
- Difficulty generating actionable, consolidated compliance reporting across supported systems
- Requirement to align with federal accessibility standards and reporting requirements
- Urgent, high-visibility data calls requiring rapid turnaround
VA needed a partner to deliver enterprise-scale accessibility monitoring, reporting, and enablement, while building sustainable processes for long-term compliance.
IronArch delivered and scaled a comprehensive, accessibility solution combining technology, operations, and user enablement to support VA’s Section 508 compliance mission.
At the core of this effort, our team deployed the Accessibility Management Platform (AMP) within VA’s Enterprise Cloud, establishing a centralized capability for automated scanning, reporting, and compliance tracking across the agency’s digital portfolio. This was complemented by a multi-layered assessment approach, combining automated scans with manual audits across websites, SharePoint, documents, and other digital portfolio assets to ensure comprehensive coverage.
To sustain and scale this capability, IronArch implemented a continuous delivery and operations model, including system monitoring, regression testing, and ongoing compliance updates to maintain reliability and alignment with evolving federal standards. Real-time dashboards and reporting pipelines enabled stakeholders to track performance, identify trends, and prioritize remediation efforts.
Equally critical was user enablement and adoption. IronArch provided helpdesk support, training programs, and self-service resources to empower VA staff to interpret results and take action on accessibility issues, strengthening long-term program sustainability.
The solution also incorporated several key innovations that enhanced performance, security, and scalability:
- Desktop Crawler Application (DCA) to enable scanning of authenticated environments such as SharePoint
- Dynatrace monitoring for real-time system performance and uptime
- Zero Trust-aligned access controls within the approved environment, including Entra ID SSO and least-privilege enforcement
- Automated reporting pipelines enabling rapid, executive-ready insights for leadership and compliance reporting
Through strong program management and stakeholder coordination, IronArch aligned delivery with VA priorities while maintaining the flexibility to respond to emerging needs and high-visibility events.
Together, these capabilities transformed VA’s approach from fragmented, manual compliance efforts to a centralized, scalable, and data-driven accessibility program.
IronArch delivered measurable, enterprise-scale improvements in accessibility compliance and operational efficiency within supported environments under the Section 508 Accessibility Compliance Software Solution contract.
Quantified Outcomes
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Accessibility conformance increased from 26% to 97% (2022–2025)
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Monthly scan volume scaled by 194% (26,000 → 79,000 pages)
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SharePoint scanning coverage increased from 90 sites quarterly to 300 sites monthly
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~500 manual audits completed annually, with turnaround time reduced by 50% (10 → 5 days)
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99% of help desk tickets resolved within SLA
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ATO achieved in under 6 months, significantly faster than VA 324-day baseline
Operational Impact
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Enabled VA to track accessibility compliance across an enterprise portfolio
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Provided program stakeholders with actionable metrics for prioritization and reporting
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Improved system stability and reduced downtime through monitoring and automation
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Empowered staff to independently address accessibility issues through training and support
Mission Impact
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Improved equitable access to digital services for Veterans
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Strengthened VA’s ability to meet federal accessibility mandates
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Established a sustainable foundation for long-term compliance and continuous improvement
Overcoming Challenges
Challenge: Limited early access to actionable metrics
Solution: Deployed a no-cost SaaS AMP instance, enabling reporting within two months of contract start
Challenge: High-volume, time-sensitive data calls
Solution: Delivered rapid surge support, processing hundreds to tens of thousands of URLs within tight timelines
Challenge: Scaling enterprise scanning coverage across supported digital assets
Solution: Enhanced AMP architecture and introduced DCA for authenticated environments
Challenge: Maintaining system stability at scale
Solution: Implemented Dynatrace monitoring, automated server recovery, and regression testing frameworks
These solutions supported scalable accessibility monitoring and reporting while maintaining reliability and performance.
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IronArch Technology, a Department of Veterans Affairs certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), was founded with a mission of providing outstanding service to our clients across our full range of offerings, and doing so with an organization dedicated to hiring top talent.