Orientation sessions

Last Updated: March 26, 2025

This page contains recordings of the various Platform Orientation session for on-demand viewing. If you aren’t sure which videos you should watch, visit the educational tasks page for more information.

Overview information

Overview	High-level overview of http://VA.gov . Reviews history of http://VA.gov , communication norms and channels for working with Platform, and Collaboration Cycle overview.
Who is it for	All new VFS team members
How long is the session	60 minutes
YouTube recording	General Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 01/09/2024
Session materials	General orientation materials
Questions/support	#vfs-platform-support

Overview	High-level overview of https://depo-platform-documentation.scrollhelp.site/. Reviews what information is available on the platform website and how to submit recommendations for new content or changes to existing content.
Who is it for	All new VFS team members
How long is the session	1 minute
YouTube recording	Platform Website Orientation - Va.gov Platform - 08/09/2024
Session materials	Platform Orientation materials
Questions/support	#vfs-platform-support

Overview	High-level overview ofhttps://depo-platform-documentation.scrollhelp.site/support/. Reviews where to find information about what tickets the support team can help with, how to submit a request, and where to go with additional questions.
Who is it for	All new VFS team members
How long is the session	2 minutes
YouTube recording	Platform Support Overview
Session materials	Platform Support Overview materials
Questions/support	#vfs-platform-support

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of design and research expectations for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for designers and researchers.
Who is it for	Designers, Researchers
How long is the session	30 minutes
YouTube recordings	Design and Research Orientation Overview - VA.gov Platform - 08/23/2024 (7 min)
	Intro to research - VA.gov Platform - 08/23/2024 (5 min)
	Intro to Design System and Storybook - VA.gov Platform - 08/21/2024 (5 min)
	Using the Figma Component Library - VA.gov Platform - 09/06/2024 (11 min)
Session materials	Design & Research Orientation materials
Questions/support	#design , #platform-design-system
Office hours	Design Office Hours, Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of analytics expectations for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for front-end developers/engineers and product managers.
Who is it for	Front-end engineers, Product Managers
How long is the session	8 minutes
YouTube recording	Analytics & Insights Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 9/24/2024
Session materials	Analytics Orientation materials
Questions/support	#vfs-analytics
Office hours	Analytics Office Hours, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of front-end expectations for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for front-end developers/engineers.
Who is it for	Front-end engineers
How long is the session	30 minutes
YouTube recording	Front-end Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 10/24/2023
Session materials	Front-end Orientation materials
Questions/support	#platform-cop-frontend

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of back-end expectations for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for back-end developers/engineers.
Who is it for	Back-end engineers
How long is the session	20 minutes
YouTube recording	Back-end Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 8/2024
Session materials	Back-end Orientation materials
Questions/support	#platform-cop-backend

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of QA (quality assurance) expectations for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for front-end developers/engineers, back-end developers/engineers, and product managers.
Who is it for	Front-end engineers, Back-end engineers, Product Managers
How long is the session	20 minutes
YouTube recording	QA Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 01/11/2024
Session materials	QA Orientation materials
Questions/support	#vfs-platform-support

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of accessibility expectations, standards and testing tools for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for product managers, designers and front end developers.
Who is it for	Front-end engineers, Designers and Researchers
How long is the session	75 minutes
YouTube recording	Accessibility Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 08/23/2024
Session materials	Accessibility Orientation materials
Questions/support	#accessibility-help
Office hours	Accessibility Office Hours, Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET

Overview	The term ATO “Authorization to Operate” refers to permission granted in order for VA.gov to continue to be a secured and approved application within the VA.
Who is it for	Product Manager and Engineering Lead of a new VFS team
How long is the session	60 minutes
Session materials	ATO Orientation materials
How do people sign up	Post in the #platform-security Slack channel to schedule, per directions in the New VFS Team ticket

Overview	Aimed at new VFS team members, this training will provide an overview of the Design System and Forms Library for the http://VA.gov Platform. It is recommended for front-end developers/engineers and designers.
Who is it for	Front-end engineers and Designers
How long is the session	30 minutes
YouTube recordings	Design System Orientation - VA.gov Platform - 10/07/2025
Session materials	Design System & Forms Library Orientation materials
Questions/support	#platform-design-system