Technology
Accessibility
New Regulations, New Reporting
Technology Accessibility
• Technology is everywhere!
• Ensure that people with disabilities can use Information and
Communication Technology (ICT)
• With or without assistive technology
• Account for different interactions with technology
Section 508
• Part of Federal Rehabilitation Act
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
procurement policy
• Directly applies to federal government and contractors
• Applies to state governments that receive funding through
Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
Act of 1988
• Foundation for several state laws and policies
What’s This Refresh?
• Started in 2006 by U.S. Access Board
• Goals
• Update technical standards
• Clarify regulation and applicability
What’s Going On?
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in February
• (Probably) final draft of refreshed Section 508
(http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-andstandards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh/newsrelease)
• Public comment period closed May 28
• Expect new Rule late summer/fall
• Implementation period to follow
WHAT IS IN THE
REFRESHED RULE?
Some New, Some Old
New Standards!
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, Level AA
included by reference
• No more US-only standards
• PDF/UA-1 included by reference
• Specific to PDF documents
Specific Applicability!
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Web
Installed software, operating systems
Mobile
Non-web ICT
• Digital documents like Word, PDF, PowerPoint (more later…)
• Hardware
• Closed systems, like information kiosks
• Agency Official Communications
Functional Performance
Criteria
• Reminder that standards are about people
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Without vision
With limited vision
Without perception of color
Without hearing
With limited hearing
Without speech
With limited manipulation
With limited reach and strength
Closed Products
• Cannot add or attach assistive technology
• Kiosks, self-service machines
• Speech output
• Volume control
• Character specifications
• Sans serif font, for example
Additional Considerations
• Biometrics
• Standard connections for assistive technology
• Operable parts
• Keyboard keys with contrasting letters
• One “tactilely discernable” input control
• Nib on a keyboard
• Real-time speech must provide real time text
• Must support audio descriptions
IS THIS AN
IMPROVEMENT
Preview Answer: Yes!
WCAG 2.0, Level AA
• More modern and flexible
• Harmony
• Referenced, not incorporated into draft
1998
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WCAG 1, more focused on specific technology
Star Trek: The Next Generation on TV in first run
Desktop computers
Mainframes
Huge floppy disks
2015
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WCAG 2, more focused on function
Desktops
Laptops
Tablets
Smartphones
Phablets
JavaScript
Challenges, New and Old
• Little focus on people with cognitive disabilities, low vision
• Inherited from WCAG
• Multimedia accessibility
• Adjustment for those that work with current 508
MORE CHANGES
Performance Measure Data, Accessibility,
and You
New Reporting
Requirements
• ICT accessibility as a Performance Measure
• Focus on training outcomes from participants
• Policy, procedure, or practice improvement
• Training or technical assistance development
• Unknown
Opportunities
• Create more technology accessibility awareness
• Increase skills and understanding
• Ours and our audiences’
• Help our states to meet obligations
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Federal Rehabilitation Act
• State statutes
Challenges
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We’re awesome at AT, but this accessibility thing?
Where to start?
Where to go?
How do we build this expertise?
You Are Not Alone!
• ATAP training you to train
• Webinar series of the past
• Monthly
• Focus on introduction, accessibility in Word, PowerPoint, and
multimedia
• Webinar series of the future…
• What topics will help you?
• What will motivate you to
participate?
• What formats work best?
• How much notice do you need?
Rough Ideas
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Every other month
Survey or surveys to see what will help
Regular schedule
Variety of topics under ICT accessibility umbrella
• Testing
• Standards
• Organizational implementation
Questions?
Rob Carr, Accessibility Coordinator
rgcarr@okstate.edu
Oklahoma ABLE Tech
Oklahoma State University
1-888-885-5588
@OKABLEtech, @rgcarrjr on Twitter
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