Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024
Under the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002
Report Prepared For:
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate
Committee on Judiciary, U.S. Senate
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commisson
Attorney General
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
I. Introduction
This report is prepared by the U.S. Access Board (Access Board or Board) pursuant to the requirements of Title II, Section 203, of the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act or Act). The Act requires federal agencies to submit this annual report to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; the President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate; the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; the House Committee on Oversight and Reform; the Senate Committee on the Judiciary; the House Committee on the Judiciary; the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the Attorney General; and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
The Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, information and communication technology, and medical diagnostic equipment under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and other laws. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and enforces accessibility standards that apply to federally funded facilities under the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA).
The Access Board is a micro-agency with a maximum of 30 full-time employees when fully staffed and 13 presidentially appointed part-time special government employees who serve as the Public members on the agency’s Board. This report contains data and analysis concerning equal employment opportunity (EEO) complaint activity at the Access Board. For fiscal year 2024 the Access Board had no complaints filed. Over the past five fiscal years the Access Board has had two EEO Complaints.
II. FY 2024 Complaint Data
A. Civil Cases
During FY 2024, there were zero new cases filed against the Access Board in federal courts. The Access Board had no cases filed in a federal District Court under Federal Antidiscrimination Laws or Whistleblower Protection Laws in the past five years.
B. Reimbursement to the Judgement Fund
During FY 2024 there were no federal district court discrimination cases which resulted in payment from the Judgment Fund on behalf of the Access Board.
C. Types of Disciplinary Actions
There were no disciplinary actions arising from any federal district court discrimination cases in FY2024.
The final fiscal year-end data posted pursuant to Section 301(c)(1)(B) of the No FEAR Act are included in Appendix A. The final year-end data indicate that during FY 2024 there were no new formal EEO complaints alleging discrimination.
E. Policy Description on Disciplinary Actions
Access Board employees are accountable for their actions in accordance with the Access Board’s Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement, which was last issued on February 21, 2025, by Executive Director Sachin Pavithran. This Policy Statement emphasizes the Access Board’s commitment to provide a fair and equitable workplace and subject employees to appropriate disciplinary action for engaging in unlawful discriminatory practices or allowing discriminatory practices to exist. This Statement emphasizes the importance of equal employment opportunity that helps the Board achieve its mission of promoting equality for people with disabilities. Additionally, the Access Board’s anti-harassment policy and procedures provide for the prompt investigation of claims of harassment outside of the EEO complaints process.
F. No FEAR Act Training
The Access Board is planning to provide training to all staff and managers of the Access Board in FY25.
III. Analysis of Trends, Causal Analysis, and Practical Knowledge Gained through Experiences
There were no federal district court cases resulting in judgements, awards, or compromise settlements filed against the Access Board in FY2024 or the past 5 fiscal years. The Board has examined information reported from past fiscal years, namely the two EEO formal complaints, the Access Board believes that the lack of federal district court cases and the low number of EEO cases illustrate the Access Board’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a fair and equitable workplace.
IV. Adjustment to Budget
The Access Board did not make any adjustments to the budget in FY 2024 to comply with the requirements of Section 201 of the No FEAR Act.
V. Actions Taken/Planned to Improve Civil Rights Programs at the Access Board
The Access Board continually seeks to improve its ability to prevent and address discrimination. This fiscal year the Access Board updated its EEO Complaint Procedures. Additionally, the Access Board is working towards providing workforce training in the next fiscal year, to include general EEO training. Additionally, this past fiscal year the Access Board worked with EEO to improve its reporting, its policies, and website compliance.
Appendix A
No FEAR Act Data FY 2024
I. Complaint Activity (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Number of Complaints Filed |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Number of Complainants |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Repeat Filers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
II. Complaints by Basis (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Race |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Color |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Religion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Sex |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| National Origin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Equal Pay Act |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Age |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disability |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Genetic Information |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Non-EEO Basis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
III. Complaints by Issue (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Appointment / Hire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assignment of Duties |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Awards |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Conversion to Full-Time |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disciplinary Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Demotion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Removal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Suspension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Duty Hours |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Evaluation Appraisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Examination / Test |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Non-Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Medical Examination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pay (Including Overtime) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Promotion / Non-Selection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Denied) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Directed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reasonable Accommodation |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Reinstatement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Retirement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Termination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Terms/Conditions of Employment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Time and Attendance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Training |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
IV. Processing Time (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Complaints Pending (for any length of time) During Fiscal Year |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Average Number of Days in Investigation Stage |
0 |
0 |
116 |
337 |
0 |
| Complaints pending (for any length of time) during fiscal year where hearing was requested |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Average number of days in final action stage |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Complaints pending (for any length of time) during fiscal year where hearing was not requested |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Average number of days in final action stage |
0 |
0 |
46 |
0 |
0 |
V. Complaints Dismissed by Agency (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Total Complaints Dismissed by Agency |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Average days pending prior to dismissal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
VI.Complaints Withdrawn by Complainants (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Total complaints withdrawn by Complainants |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
VII. Total Final Actions Finding Discrimination (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Total Number Findings |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Without Hearing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| With Hearing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
VIII. Findings of Discrimination Rendered by Basis (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
A. Total Number of Findings
| |
FY 2020 (#%) |
FY 2021 (#%) |
FY 2022 (#%) |
FY 2023 (#%) |
FY 2024 (#%) |
| Race |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Color |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Religion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Sex |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| National Origin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Equal Pay Act |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Age |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disability |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Genetic Information |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Non-EEO Basis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
B. Findings After Hearing
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Race |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Color |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Religion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Sex |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| National Origin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Equal Pay Act |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Age |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disability |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Genetic Information |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Non-EEO Basis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
C. Findings Without Hearing
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Race |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Color |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Religion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Sex |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| National Origin |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Equal Pay Act |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Age |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disability |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Genetic Information |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Non-EEO Basis |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
IX.Findings of Discrimination Rendereded By Issue (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
A. Total Number Findings
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Appointment / Hire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assignment of Duties |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Awards |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Conversion to Full-Time |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disciplinary Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Demotion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Removal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Suspension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Duty Hours |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Evaluation Appraisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Examination / Test |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Non-Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Medical Examination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pay (Including Overtime) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Promotion / Non-Selection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Denied) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Directed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reasonable Accommodation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reinstatement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Retirement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Termination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Terms/Conditions of Employment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Time and Attendance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Training |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
B. Findings After Hearing
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Appointment / Hire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assignment of Duties |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Awards |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Conversion to Full-Time |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disciplinary Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Demotion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Removal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Suspension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Duty Hours |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Evaluation Appraisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Examination / Test |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Non-Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Medical Examination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pay (Including Overtime) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Promotion / Non-Selection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Denied) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Directed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reasonable Accommodation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reinstatement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Retirement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Termination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Terms/Conditions of Employment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Time and Attendance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Training |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
C. Findings Without Hearing
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Appointment / Hire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assignment of Duties |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Awards |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Conversion to Full-Time |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disciplinary Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Demotion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Removal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Suspension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Duty Hours |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Evaluation Appraisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Examination / Test |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Non-Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Medical Examination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pay (Including Overtime) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Promotion / Non-Selection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Denied) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Directed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reasonable Accommodation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reinstatement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Retirement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Termination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Terms/Conditions of Employment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Time and Attendance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Training |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
D. Findings After Hearing
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Appointment / Hire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assignment of Duties |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Awards |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Conversion to Full-Time |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Disciplinary Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Demotion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reprimand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Removal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Suspension |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Duty Hours |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Evaluation Appraisal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Examination / Test |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Non-Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Harassment (Sexual) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Medical Examination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pay (Including Overtime) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Promotion / Non-Selection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Denied) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reassignment (Directed) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reasonable Accommodation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Reinstatement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Retirement |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Termination |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Terms/Conditions of Employment |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Time and Attendance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Training |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X. Pending Complaints Filed in Previous Fiscal Years by Status (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Total complaints from previous Fiscal Years |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Total Complainants |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Number Complainants Pending |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Investigation |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hearing |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Final Agency Action |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Appeal with EEOC Office of Federal Operations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
XI. Complaint Investigation (FY 2020 to FY 2024)
| |
FY 2020 |
FY 2021 |
FY 2022 |
FY 2023 |
FY 2024 |
| Pending Completion Where Investigation Exceeds Required Time Frames |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
