[Blindtlk] FW: News from the U.S. Access Board - March/ April 2010
Gloria Whipple
fairyfoot at webband.com
Fri Apr 23 16:49:26 UTC 2010
Gloria Whipple
Corrisponding secretary
Inland Empire chapter
nfb of WA
cell number: 509-475-4993
From: United States Access Board
[mailto:access-board at service.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 6:41 AM
To: fairyfoot at webband.com
Subject: News from the U.S. Access Board - March/ April 2010
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us
Access Currents
News from the U.S. Access Board
March/ April 2010
* Board to Set Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment
* Hearings Provide Forum for Public Comment on Draft ICT Rule
* DOT Member Polly Trottenberg Elected Access Board Chair
* FCC's Broadband Plan Addresses Improved Accessibility
* Upcoming Board Webinars and Training Sessions
* U.S. Postal Service Improves Access to Post Offices Nationwide
_____
Board to Set Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment
Image removed by sender. Photo of President Obama signing the healthcare
reform act into lawThe healthcare reform measure recently passed by Congress
and signed into law by President Obama includes provisions to address access
for people with disabilities to medical diagnostic equipment. The "Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act" authorizes the Access Board to develop
new access standards for medical diagnostic equipment including examination
tables and chairs, weight scales, x-ray machines and other radiological
equipment, and mammography equipment. Access to such equipment, which has
been problematic, is not addressed by existing accessibility standards or
regulations, including those issued under the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA).
"The Board welcomes this opportunity to improve access to medical care for
millions of Americans with disabilities," states David Capozzi, the Board's
Executive Director. "The standards to be developed will fill a critical gap
and help ensure that the equipment used to provide such care is accessible
to all." The Board develops and maintains accessibility guidelines and
standards for facilities, outdoor environments, transportation, and
information and communication technologies under the ADA and other laws.
The law directs the Board to issue the new standards within two years in
consultation with the Food and Drug Administration. The standards are to
address independent access to, and use of, medical diagnostic equipment by
people with disabilities to the maximum extent possible. The Board is also
responsible for periodically reviewing and updating the standards. The law
implements these provisions through amendments to the Rehabilitation Act.
For more information, contact David Baquis of the Access Board at
<mailto:baquis at access-board.gov> baquis at access-board.gov, (202) 272-0013
(v), or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).
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_____
Hearings Provide Forum for Public Comment on Draft ICT Rule
On March 25th the Board held a public hearing on its refresh of requirements
for information and communication technologies (ICT) in San Diego at the
25th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities
Conference organized by the California State University at Northridge
(CSUN). The event provided an opportunity for public comment on the Board's
draft rule to jointly update standards for electronic and information
technology in the Federal sector covered by Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act and guidelines for telecommunications products subject to
Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. Attendees who provided comment at
the hearing included representatives from disability groups, Federal
agencies, industry, trade associations, and various organizations, such as
the World Wide Web Consortium.
Many speakers were generally supportive of the draft rule and the work of
the former Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology
Advisory Committee which provided recommendations upon which the rule is
based. Comments addressed a range of topics, including application of the
rule, the relationship between functional and technical criteria, global
harmonization, exceptions, the need for the rulemaking process to keep up
with the quickening pace of technological innovation and change, and
remaining barriers to access, particularly for people with vision
impairments. Mobile technologies, platforms, digital publishing, audio
description, and self-service interactive transaction machines were some of
the specific technologies addressed in comments.
The Board also conducted a public webinar on April 1 to review the draft
rule and to highlight information the Board seeks through questions posed to
the public. Over 300 people attended this online overview of the rule.
The Board will hold a second public hearing on the draft rule on May 12 from
9:00 to noon in downtown Washington, D.C. at the
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTc5NjQyM
SZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC03OTY0MjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NzUzO
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C5jb20mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&102&&&http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/
WASCCES-Embassy-Suites-Washington-D-C-Convention-Center-District-of-Columbia
/index.do> Embassy Suites DC Convention Center, 900 10th Street, N.W. The
draft rule features structural and substantive revisions to the Section 508
standards and Section 255 guidelines to improve accessibility as well as
compliance, address market trends, and promote global standardization. The
Board invites comment on all parts of the draft rule, including its format
and organization, the advantages and disadvantages of specific provisions,
alternative approaches, and information on benefits, costs, and specific
issues raised by the Board in questions to the public. The rule and related
information, including instructions for submitting written comments, are
posted on the Board's website at
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTc5NjQyM
SZtZXNzYWdlaWQ9UFJELUJVTC03OTY0MjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjE1NzUzO
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C5jb20mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&103&&&http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm>
www.access-board.gov/508.htm. The deadline for written comments is June 21.
Those who wish to testify at the hearing are encouraged to pre-register by
contacting Kathy Johnson at <mailto:johnson at access-board.gov>
johnson at access-board.gov(202) 272-0041, or (202) 272-0082 (TTY). Questions
on the rulemaking should be directed to Tim Creagan
<mailto:creagan at access-board.gov> creagan at access-board.gov, (202) 272-0016
(v), or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).
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_____
Image removed by sender. Polly TrottenbergDOT Member Polly Trottenberg
Elected Access Board Chair
Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the
Department of Transportation (DOT), was elected Chair of the Access Board at
its March meeting. In remarks following her election, Trottenberg, who
represents DOT on the Board and oversees development of DOT policy and
regulations, expressed appreciation for DOT's and the Board's long history
of working cooperatively and productively together in addressing access to
public transportation. She noted that DOT is eager to work with the Board to
advance rulemaking in areas of mutual interest, including access to public
rights-of-way and passenger vessels and the update of criteria for
transportation vehicles covered by the ADA. Before being named to her DOT
post last year by President Obama, Trottenberg served as Executive Director
of Building America's Future, a non-profit organization that promotes
investment in the nation's infrastructure. She also worked extensively on
issues concerning transportation, public works, energy and the environment
on Capitol Hill as a Senate staff member and legislative director.
The Board elected as its Vice Chair Nancy Starnes of Arlington, Virginia,
who was appointed to the Board in 2008. Starnes is the former Director of
External Affairs for the National Organization on Disability and has been
active in disability rights advocacy for over 30 years. Board officers serve
for a term of one year.
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_____
FCC's Broadband Plan Addresses Improved Accessibility
Image removed by sender. FCC broadband plan (cover)The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a comprehensive blueprint
to expand the availability and benefits of broadband technology, including
high-speed internet service, throughout the nation. The plan offers
strategies to make broadband available to all Americans and to maximize its
use in order to improve economic output, education, homeland security,
healthcare, and energy efficiency. "Connecting America: The National
Broadband Plan" recommends actions the FCC and other Federal agencies, as
well as Congress, can take to achieve key goals, including making broadband
available to all Americans and improving access for people with disabilities
to enabled technologies.
"We must make clear that building in accessibility at the design and
development stage is cost-effective, and that all of society benefits from
the widespread use of accessibility features such as captioning, speech
recognition, and speech output," stated FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in
announcing release of the plan. He noted that broadband-enabled applications
create unique opportunities for accessibility and that recommendations of
the plan will maximize broadband use by people with disabilities, the
majority of whom do not have broadband connection in the home.
The plan calls for the Federal government to become a model for
accessibility and recommends creation of a working group of Federal
agencies, including the Access Board, to coordinate efforts to improve
accessibility and compliance with laws such as Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act. It also recommends creation of a forum where
stakeholders, including consumers, manufacturers, and service providers, can
share best practices, promote innovation, and develop accessibility
solutions. In addition, the plan advises the FCC and Congress to update laws
and regulations, including FCC rules issued under Section 255 of the
Telecommunications Act and the Hearing Aid Compatibility Act, to address
access to Internet Protocol-based communications and video-programming
technologies. Other agencies, such as the Department of Justice, are urged
to address access to digital content in the private sector under the ADA.
The plan is available online at
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_____
Upcoming Board Webinars and Training Sessions
The next scheduled webinars in the Board's free monthly series will cover
access to parking and passenger loading zones (May 6), sidewalks and street
crossings (June 3), and signage (July 6). The webinars, which are scheduled
from 2:30 - 4:00 (ET), are made available in cooperation with national
network of ADA centers known as Disability and Business Technical Assistance
Centers (DBTACs). Registration is free, but a modest fee is charged by the
DBTACs to process continuing education credits. For more information,
including registration instructions, visit
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C5jb20mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&105&&&http://www.accessibilityonline.org/>
www.accessibilityonline.org.
The Board also provides training on its guidelines and standards on a
regular basis at various events across the country. Upcoming venues for
Board programs include the annual National ADA Symposium in Denver (June 20
- 23) and the Southwest Conference on Disability in Albuquerque (October 7 -
9). In addition, the Board provides training upon request to Federal
agencies, local and state governments, advocacy and trade groups, and
private firms and companies. Recently, the Board conducted a series of
trainings on updated facility standards for the U.S. Naval Facilities
Engineering Command in California, Washington, and Virginia. Training
programs are typically tailored to the needs and interests of each audience.
For more information, visit the Board's website at
<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTc5NjQyM
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C5jb20mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&106&&&http://www.access-board.gov/training.htm>
www.access-board.gov/training.htm or contact Peggy Greenwell, the Board's
Training Coordinator, at <mailto:training at access-board.gov>
training at access-board.gov, (202) 272-0017 (v), or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).
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_____
U.S. Postal Service Improves Access to Post Offices Nationwide
Image removed by sender. US Postal Service logoAlthough the volume of mail
sent through the U.S. Postal Service has declined in recent years, the
availability of local post offices remains popular with the public. Polls
indicate that majorities of Americans support cost-saving measures, such as
suspension of Saturday delivery, but not the closing of post offices in
their area. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has undertaken a comprehensive
program to improve access to post offices with a focus on leased properties,
which comprise the majority of its inventory. Through its Leased Space
Accessibility Program, USPS is surveying all of its approximately 27,000
leased facilities according to updated accessibility standards. These
standards, which USPS adopted based on guidelines issued by the Board,
include new provisions for customer service counters, a common subject of
access complaints, and updated provisions for leased facilities. To date,
USPS has surveyed more than half of its leased post offices and completed
improvements and corrections at over 6,000 sites.
USPS also regularly addresses access concerns among the over 8,000 post
offices it owns. Like other Federal facilities, postal facilities built or
altered after 1969 are required to be accessible under the Architectural
Barriers Act (ABA). The Access Board is responsible for enforcing the ABA
through the investigation of complaints and works cooperatively with USPS to
resolve cases concerning postal facilities. To improve compliance, USPS has
conducted an extensive program to train facility personnel and contractors
on the updated access standards. In addition, USPS is also improving access
to self-service machines and kiosks, a staple at most post offices. New
automated Postal Center machines being installed in post offices across the
country provide accessible and user-friendly interactive features.
For further information on these programs, contact Jennifer Beiro-Reveille
of USPS at <mailto:jennifer.g.beiro-reveille at usps.gov>
jennifer.g.beiro-reveille at usps.gov or (703) 526-2750. Questions about access
to a particular post office or other federally funded facility can be
directed to the Board's Office of Compliance and Enforcement at
<mailto:enforce at access-board.gov> enforce at access-board.gov, (800) 872-2253
(v), (800) 993-2822 (TTY), or through the Board's website at
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www.access-board.gov/enforce.htm.
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_____
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