Sounds like you are doing GREAT!!! I will not be at Midwinter, but I sure
would like to help with things in the future.
Susan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Library Access -- http://www.rit.edu/~easi
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Audrey Gorman
> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 5:44 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: A for ACCESSIBILITY
>
>
> Susan,
>
> Thanks for your suggestion. It makes me feel like I'm on the
> right track, since I'll be meeting with Carol Boyer at RESNA
> either tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday. This is one of the items
> for discussion. Anyone else at RESNA I should try to talk to?
>
> Audrey
>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 01/08/01 16:08 PM >>>
> Audrey,
> I suggest that you invite the people from RESNA (Rehab
> Engineers Society of
> North America) to exhibit. I am a member of RESNA, and find that the
> publications and listservs bring a helpful tilt to my lenses. They have an
> Education Special Interest Group as well as one for users of the services.
> Susan
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Library Access -- http://www.rit.edu/~easi
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Audrey Gorman
> > Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 3:57 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: A for ACCESSIBILITY
> >
> >
> > Ron,
> >
> > Thanks for your clarification. I agree with most of what you
> > have to say. However, my information came from direct questions
> > to contact people at the Department of Education, so my take is
> > that we really don't know anything yet for sure. It's all
> > educated guesses/speculation. And I'm no lawyer either!
> >
> > I can only hope that the interpretation that includes the largest
> > number of libraries will be the one that emerges! My plan is to
> > work within ALA to get an official interpretation that all
> > libraries can work from with confidence. In the meantime, we're
> > hoping that we can get the proposed ALA policy "Library Services
> > for People with Disabilities" passed by ALA Council at the
> > Midwinter meeting. And I'm working on a new area in the exhibit
> > for the Annual Conference in San Francisco. It will be called
> > the "Accessibility Pavillion." Any suggestions for vendors to
> > include or help with recruiting vendors would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > In the meantime, I heartily agree that Section 504 applies to
> > libraries and that they would be very wise indeed to use the
> > Access Board 508 standards as a jumping-off point or renewal
> > touchstone for their own accessibility efforts. Further,
> > Department of Justice interpretations of ADA-related cases have
> > stated that web sites and other means of information
> > dissemination are communication covered by ADA as well. The
> > handwriting on the wall is very clear so far.
> >
> > The real issues go much deeper. To put it crassly: What it really
> > comes down to is who needs a strong stick to even slavishly
> > follow the letter of the law versus who understands the spirit of
> > disability law as a body and is willing to do the right thing
> > without being coerced. There are lots of people and organizations
> > that fal somewhere between these poles, of course. There's lots
> > of work to do. Our core mission in this area, as I see it, is to
> > help libraries provide the greatest access to the most
> > information to the largest number of people possible.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Audrey
> > Chair, ALA Web Accessibility Task Force
> > Director, Roads To Learning
> >
> > >>> [log in to unmask] 01/04/01 17:57 PM >>>
> > First I must state that I am not a lawyer so this is not a
> legal opinion,
> > but let me share with the list a briefing paper that I prepared for my
> > university. This letter is based on the best information currently
> > available, but also represents a proactive interpretation of
> the impact of
> > Section 508. I should also note that this discussion is somewhat
> > rhetorical,
> > because if you are subject to Section 504 of the Rehab Act then
> > it would be
> > in the best interest of your institution to have the kind of
> standards 508
> > mandates in place anyway.
> >
> > I am very sure the courtswill be involved in the final determination of
> > this, and additionally I would not be surprised if 508 does not get some
> > more revision in the next session of congress. For those of us that have
> > followed OCR rulings and case law particularly on the west coast
> > I think the
> > legal trends are very evident. The other thing that should be
> > noted is that
> > these are Standards not Guidelines, and that is very important
> > from a legal
> > perspective.
> >
> > I do not think anyone would be naive enough to state that it does
> > not apply
> > to state agencies, that is clearly stated in the provisions of
> > the Tech Act,
> > and in the letters of assurance states have had to submit as a
> > part of their
> > receipt of Tech Act funds. What is in question is what a "State
> > Agency" is.
> > What the Department of Ed. will be providing is guidance on
> > compliance, not
> > clarification of its applicability. The one thing that is up in
> the air is
> > who will be responsible for enforcement, and I would venture to guess it
> > will not be the OCR, but may be directly enforced by the Department of
> > Justice.
> >
> > If you want more informatin on this I would suggest you consult the
> > following web sites:
> >
> > http://www.resna.org/taproject/policy/initiatives/508.html
> >
> > http://www.section508.gov/docs/508law.html
> >
> > http://www.section508.gov/docs/AT1998.html
> >
> > http://www.section508.gov/requirements.html
> >
> > Ron
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Ron Stewart, Director
> > Technology Access Program
> > Information Services
> > Oregon State University
> > 109 Kidder Hall
> > Corvallis, Oregon 97331
> > Phone: 1.541.737.7307
> > Fax: 1.541.737.2159
> > E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> > WWW: http://tap.orst.edu
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Schmetzke, Axel [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 3:14 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: A for ACCESSIBILITY
> >
> >
> > Hi Ron,
> >
> > I read with much interest your response to Audrey's posting. I'm a bit
> > puzzledby your statement that Sect. 508 "will most likely apply to ....
> > public and college university libraries in the majority of instances." I
> > thought that this is really up in the air at this point--an
> > impression that
> > got confirmed by what Doug Wakefield stated during the recent EASI
> > interview. According to Doug, the applicability of Sect. 508 to State
> > universities has to be clarified by the Department of Education
> > (recent EASI
> > interview). Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if, ultimately,
> the courts
> > would also have a say in this matter.
> >
> > Would you share with us your information source? What information do you
> > have that has shaped your opinion on this issue?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Axel
> >
> > Axel Schmetzke
> > Library
> > University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ron Stewart [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 3:13 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: A for ACCESSIBILITY
> >
> >
> > I would like to make a couple of clarifications to your message.
> > Section 508
> > applies to "State Agencies" in states that have received
> funding under the
> > Tech Act, which in a nutshell is all states. The issues come up
> > in what is a
> > state agency, ad here is were you may find that most local libraries are
> > exempt, since they are not state agencies. It will most likely apply to
> > state libraries, and public and college university libraries in
> > the majority
> > of instances.
> >
> > They current standards will go into effect on February 21st, 2001, and
> > agencies will have six months from that date to comply with the
> standards.
> >
> > Ron Stewart
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Audrey Gorman [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 9:18 AM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: A for ACCESSIBILITY
> >
> >
> > Ellen and all,
> >
> > I too believe that Section 508 may be a big help to accessibility
> > advocates
> > in the long run. However, 508 applies (ie, has lgal teeth)for federal
> > agencies, not the society at large. There are even some
> federal agencies
> > that are exempt. It may apply to some state functions when
> > federal money is
> > involved, maybe even state libraries. That's still being teased
> > out by the
> > Department of Justice and others.
> >
> > But experts on 508 whom I've asked say that most libraries
> > probably are not
> > subject to the requirements of the statute. Besides that, the federal
> > accessibility standards still must go through a comment period from
> > Congress. At best, they won't be technically applicable even to federal
> > entities until at least June of 2001. As far as libraries are
> > concerned, we
> > need to get an official legal opinion through appropriate channels.
> >
> > Section 508 may be a sign of things to come (let's support and
> work toward
> > that bright time), but it's not there yet. If, as we know,
> libraries are
> > not yet compliant with the ADA and Section 504, which do apply to
> > them, why
> > ask them to wave the flag for or get excited about a statute that
> > doesn't or
> > might not?
> >
> > Let's use Section 508 as an example, a shining bellweather, when we talk
> > about the bigger issue of accessibility. Let's talk about
> vendor reaction
> > and the companies that are jumping on the bandwagon. Let's not tell
> > libraries that 508 definately applies to them. T do so would be a very
> > negative thing, with potentially devestating backlash and loss of
> > credibility for all of us who advocate for access for all,
> > including people
> > with disabilities.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Audrey
> >
> >
> > >>> [log in to unmask] 01/02/01 15:55 PM >>>
> > Dear Accessibility Advocates-Everyone:
> >
> > A happy, healthy, and thanks t the Access Board and the new
> > Section 508, ACCESSIBLE New Year!
> >
> > Whatever meetings and sessions we attend at ALA Midwinter and
> > elsewhere, the "Digital Divide" program included, let us
> > celebrate the new Section 508 standards by making our slogan,
> > chorus, and refrain that we "sing" proudly in uniso:
> >
> > ACCESSIBILITY!
> >
> > - The need for accessibility is universal. Everyone needs
> > access, whether it be to healthcare, the local grocery store, the
> > Post Office, a mode of transportation (especially after a 20-foot
> > snowstorm), information, reading materials, or the Internet, etc.
> > So everyone inherently personally relates, appreciates, and thus
> > supports accessibility - when framed as "accessibility" in
> > positive terms.
> >
> > - Accessibility is POSITIVE language at its finest. As Madison
> > Avenue teaches us so well: Positive Language Sells. Positive
> > Language Wins.* Every Time.
> >
> > [*ex. The title of the successfully passed "Children's Internet
> > Protection Act" - also an accessibility issue]
> >
> > - Accessibility puts us at the top of every [English-language]
> > index, and through positive language, at the top of everyone's
> > agenda.
> >
> > Ellen Perlow
> > Chair, ALA ASCLA Century Scholarship Committee
> > "Celebrating a New Century that Celebrates Diversity"
> > http://www.ala.org/ascla/centuryscholarship.html
> > Next Application Submission Deadline: March 1, 2001
> > ALA 2001 Scholarship Application page:
> > http://www.ala.org/work/awards/scholars.html
> > Have YOU recruited/applied to be a Century Scholarship applicant today?
> > ----------------------------------------------------
> > Manager of Information Services
> > School of Library and Information Studies
> > Texas Woman's University
> > P.O. Box 425438
> > Denton, TX76204-5438
> > Tel.: 940-898-2622 Fax: 940-898-2611
> > Web: http://twu.edu/~s_perlow/
> > E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
> >
>
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