[Home-on-the-range] FW: [WebAIM] DoJ delays website accessibility rules

Stanzel, Susan - FSA, Kansas City, MO Susan.Stanzel at kcc.usda.gov
Tue Aug 6 13:06:25 UTC 2013


Good morning Everyone,

I am simply forwarding a long message. The business community is fighting hard to keep us out of our right to web accessibility. Please read this and see what you can do. Naturally, it is the newest message followed by older postings.

Susie

-----Original Message-----
From: webaim-forum-bounces at list.webaim.org [mailto:webaim-forum-bounces at list.webaim.org] On Behalf Of Chagnon | PubCom
Sent: Monday, August 05, 2013 4:19 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] DoJ delays website accessibility rules

Jennison wrote: "Perhaps this is happening behind the scenes."

Not at all. What's happening behind the scenes is that the business community (via their lobbyists) is working against accessibility. They view it as just another "blanking" regulation by the Federal government that reduces their profits.

Remember, the political climate in Washington is very conservative, very libertarian, and very anti-government. Reade my lips: no more regulations.

Jennison wrote: "it would be great to see the national disability advocacy organizations come together and lobby the DoJ as one voice to inspire movement."

It's essential that this happen; otherwise you'll never be able to counter "the force" and get your message heard by not only the Dept. of Justice, but also the White House (which controls DOJ) and both houses of Congress (which are controlled by the political parties and fractions).

Accessibility isn't on the radar screen of any of the big guys in Washington, so start putting it there.

You can start right now by emailing, first, President Obama (he's DOJ's
boss) about your concern about this postponement. And most importantly, talk about your personal need for this ruling, how inaccessible websites and documents affect your life. I suggest also mentioning getting the Section
508 Refresh "refreshed" and submitted into the Federal Register. He has oversight of the US Access Board.

Here's the White House online form: you have 2,500 characters in the "message" field. Use them well! If you can find some links to online articles about accessibility, such as the Wall Street Journal's from earlier this year, it would be effective to include them in your message.

Also email the White House Office on Disability Issues:
www.whitehouse.gov/issues/disabilities

Second, write your congressional representative and 2 senators. Congress'
websites are:

www.Senate.gov and use the field at the top of the page to "Find Your Senators." From there you'll find links to email them.

www.House.gov and use the field at the top of the page to "Find Your Representative." Again, you'll have a link on his/her webpage for email.

Third, contact DOJ's ADA office and let them know your concern. Their main website  is http://www.ada.gov , and their contact webpage is http://www.ada.gov/contact_drs.htm .

Every US citizen who is disabled, or has someone close to them who is disabled, should do these simple actions. You'd generate a lot of buzz and that's the first step of getting on the radar screen.

But more importantly, this starts the awareness program the community must undertake in order to make any headway.

Back when I did PR and political campaigns, the saying went something like "change people's minds first, and then you can get the laws changed." This was what the civil rights, human rights, women's rights, gay rights, pet rights and all the other rights groups have done, all very successful.

But I've never heard anyone discuss "accessibility rights."

-Bevi Chagnon
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-----Original Message-----
From: webaim-forum-bounces at list.webaim.org
[mailto:webaim-forum-bounces at list.webaim.org] On Behalf Of Jennison Asuncion
Sent: Monday, August 05, 2013 3:42 PM

Bevi
Re your comment: "How do we get these corporations, both large and small, to address accessibility?"

Perhaps this is happening behind the scenes, but it would be great to see the national disability advocacy organizations come together and lobby the DoJ as one voice to inspire movement.

Jennison

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