I just got an email from Doug Wakefield correcting the information that I
had. The effective date will be June 21st, six months after the publication
in the FedReg.
Sorry if this created any confusion. It is a letter of the law versus the
reality of the law issue.
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Kelly Ford
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 1/5/01 4:57 AM
Subject: Re: A for ACCESSIBILITY
Hi Ron,
Do you know for certain that the six month clock starts ticking in
February? I've read in some quarters that for purposes of the six month
clock, the effective date was indeed back in December?
Kelly
At 01:13 PM 1/4/01 -0800, you wrote:
>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, and 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 legal 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. To 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 unison:
>
>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, TX 76204-5438
>Tel.: 940-898-2622 Fax: 940-898-2611
>Web: http://twu.edu/~s_perlow/
>E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
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