A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

New Accessible Technology Rules Approved

New federal standards to make technology accessible to people with disabilities were approved by the Access Board in November, and may finish final reviews and be published by late this month.

The new rules, which would require agencies to ensure that all newly purchased electronic and information technology is accessible to disabled citizens and workers whenever practical, would be enforceable six months after they are published in the Federal Register. Therefore, the rules could take effect by this summer.

The rules are derived from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. With the new rules, agencies would have to make sure all their Web sites, computer software, computers, copy machines and other electronic and computer equipment are accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities.

Fortunately, ED employees already have been receiving most of the benefits that will come to other agencies with Section 508. That's because OCIO's Assistive Technology Team took the lead in this area and developed guidelines in 1997 that required all new Department equipment and software to be accessible.

previous article - Assistive Technology Team   |   next article - Security Threat