[Nfbmo] Fw: [Missouri-l] Consumer input on accessibility standards

[Fred Olver]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "peter altschul" <paltschul at centurytel.net>
To: "Missouri Blind" <Missouri-L at moblind.org>
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 11:51 AM
Subject: [Missouri-l] Consumer input on accessibility standards


> ---- Original Message ------
> From: Jamal Mazrui <empower at smart.net
> Subject: Consumer input on accessibility standards
> Date sent: Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:19:08 -0400 (EDT)
>
> All,
> We are in a period of time when accessibility standards for technology are
> being updated in a more comprehensive manner than ever before, and our
> input is vital.  After a decade of experience in the U.S.  implementing
> Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the
> Communications Act, agencies will be refreshing their regulations to
> account for new technologies, fill gaps, and clarify incentives.  The
> regulations are being harmonized, not only across federal agencies, but
> with international standards on usability and interoperability, such as
> those of the World Wide Web Consortium.
>
> Twenty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed as a
> landmark civil rights law for people with disabilities, mandating
> universal design of our physical world wherever possible.  The standard
> setting process underway today could be called ADA 2.0 for the virtual
> world.  It will affect how often each of us encounters a
> disability-related barrier when we seek to participate in professional,
> community, or personal spheres of life.  The virtual world is superseding
> the physical world at an accelerated rate, and these standards will affect
> our access to society for many years to come.
>
> The good news is that a world built on software and information, rather
> than bricks and mortar, is much easier to make accessible.  Software is
> malleable, with few limitations beyond the reaches of our imagination.  We
> can thus help to create a more accessible world than any prior generations
> have experienced.
>
> Though there will be successive deadlines in the standard setting process,
> the next one is now just a few days away, on June 21 at midnight.  If you
> have not done so already, please consider learning about the current
> proposal of the U.S.  Access Board, and expressing your opinion on any of
> its questions.  An excellent set of material about this proposal has been
> done by the Trace Research and Development Center, available at
> http://508-255-refresh.trace.wisc.edu/
>
> The American Council of the Blind has posted extensive analysis and
> suggestions at
> http://acb.org/ACB-Section-508-255-and-ADAAG-comments.htm
>
> The American Foundation for the Blind has other resources at
> http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=135&DocumentID
> =5251
>
> Regards,
> Jamal
>
>
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