[Blind-Gov] Casey, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Make Federal Technology More Accessible for People with Disabilities

Thu Jul 25 14:27:08 UTC 2024

Sharing the below - it's a fantastic bill that some of our members helped
advocate for.

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

Pronouns: she, her, hers

From: Linnehan, Misha (Casey) <Misha_Linnehan at casey.senate.gov
<mailto:Misha_Linnehan at casey.senate.gov> > 
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:37 AM
To: Linnehan, Misha (Casey) <Misha_Linnehan at casey.senate.gov
<mailto:Misha_Linnehan at casey.senate.gov> >
Subject: Casey, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Make Federal Technology More
Accessible for People with Disabilities

For Immediate Release

July 24, 2024

Contact

 <mailto:Misha_Linnehan at casey.senate.gov> Misha Linnehan (Casey):
202-839-7782

Taylor Harvey <mailto:Taylor_Harvey at finance.senate.gov>  (Wyden):
202-224-7909

Charlie Hills <mailto:Charlie_Hills at fetterman.senate.gov>  (Fetterman):
202-228-6099

Celia Olivas <mailto:Celia_Olivas at duckworth.senate.gov>  (Duckworth):
202-228-2661

Casey, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Make Federal Technology More Accessible
for People with Disabilities

Casey's new Section 508 Refresh Act
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/section_508_refresh_act_one_page
r.pdf>  would require federal agencies take several steps to ensure people
with disabilities can use federal technology, including websites

While Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal technology to
be accessible for people with disabilities, a
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-investigation-details-wide
spread-failure-by-federal-government-to-ensure-web-accessibility-for-people-
with-disabilities-older-adults-and-veterans> 2022 Casey investigation found
that agency technology still falls short

Casey: "We would not ask someone using a wheelchair to walk up the
courthouse steps, but we are doing something similar when we ask people with
disabilities to use federal website, apps, kiosks, and other technologies
that are not accessible"

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chairman of the
U.S. Senate Finance Committee, John Fetterman (D-PA), and Tammy Duckworth
(D-IL) introduced the Section 508 Refresh Act
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/section_508_refresh_act_one_page
r.pdf> , a new bill that would require federal agencies to take a series of
steps to ensure people with disabilities can use the federal government's
technology. While Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires agencies to
make federal technology accessible, a 2022 Senate Aging Committee
investigation by Chairman Casey found that department and agency technology,
particularly within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is often out of
compliance. In the investigation, Casey showed how these accessibility
failures were creating barriers for people with disabilities who rely on
federal technology for essential services, including health care, employment
services, and Social Security benefits. Casey's new bill will make the first
significant changes to Section 508 since 1998, putting in place a framework
that will hold agencies accountable for accessibility requirements.

"The federal government has an obligation to ensure that its services are
accessible to people with disabilities, including its websites and
technology," said Chairman Casey. "We would not ask someone using a
wheelchair to walk up the courthouse steps, but we are doing something
similar when we ask people with disabilities to use federal websites, apps,
kiosks, and other technologies that are not accessible. I'm introducing the
Section 508 Refresh Act to compel federal agencies to make their technology
accessible and ensure people with disabilities are not locked out of
essential government services and resources." 

"Technology can't serve as a tool to make life easier if people can't access
it in the first place," said Senator Wyden. "Federal agencies shouldn't be
asking people with disabilities to move mountains in order to participate in
everyday life for matters as basic as employment and health care. The
federal government has a responsibility to serve the public by making sure
that everyone can access and benefit from these technologies." 

"It's clear that the federal government is not doing enough to ensure
services are accessible to people with disabilities," said Senator
Fetterman. "People with disabilities deserve better. By updating Section
508, this bill would enact long overdue requirements to ensure people with
disabilities have equitable access to federal government services. I'm proud
to cosponsor it."

Congress last made significant changes to Section 508 in 1998, when many
federal agencies were just starting to use the internet, post online
content, and have all government workers use computers. The Section 508
Refresh Act will enact long overdue updates to the law. Specifically, bill
will:

*	Require federal departments and agencies to include people with
disabilities who consume government services and information or work as
government employees in the acquisition and accessibility testing of federal
technology.
*	Reform the complaint process for Section 508 and establish a new
process for deciding what federal technology is purchased - with rigorous
accountability requirements for ensuring the technology is accessible. 
*	Mandate regular testing to ensure technology being used by federal
departments and agencies is accessible to federal workers and all Americans
using federal programs and information. 
*	Direct each federal department and agency to appoint qualified,
dedicated Section 508 compliance officers to ensure the technology purchased
and used by their departments and agencies is accessible.

Chairman Casey has led the charge to improve the accessibility of government
websites and other technology. In a report issued in December 2022 entitled
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-investigation-details-wide
spread-failure-by-federal-government-to-ensure-web-accessibility-for-people-
with-disabilities-older-adults-and-veterans> Unlocking the Virtual Front
Door, Chairman Casey found that inaccessible federal technology creates
barriers for people with disabilities to access essential services,
including VA benefits, health care, employment, Social Security, and more. 

In 2020, Chairman Casey passed the
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/bipartisan-casey-moran-bill-to-e
nsure-va-website-accessibility-passes-house-goes-to-president-for-signature>
VA Website Accessibility Act that required VA to report on the accessibility
of the Department's websites and kiosks. VA's report to Congress, released
in 2021, found that only 10 percent of VA's websites were fully accessible.
In response, Chairman Casey
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-leads-bipartisan-letter-ur
ging-veterans-affairs-to-make-websites-accessible-for-people-with-disabiliti
es> led a bipartisan push for VA to do better. 

To further advance accessibility at VA, Chairman Casey last year introduced
the bipartisan
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-scott-introduce-bill-to-en
sure-va-services-are-accessible-for-veterans-with-disabilities> Veterans
Accessibility Act, which is supported by 15 veterans service organizations
and disability groups. The legislation would establish a Veterans Advisory
Committee on Equal Access at VA that issues regular reports on VA's
compliance with federal disability laws, including the Americans with
Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. 

Read more about the Section 508 Refresh Act here
<https://www.casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/section_508_refresh_act_one_page
r.pdf> .

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