Though cynicism is sometimes justified, doing nothing because "the industry
will do what it wants," is just a cop out for being lazy and uninvolved.
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pratik Patel
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 10:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Consumer input on accessibility standards
I certainly hope that I didn't put in hundreds of hours of time to craft
ACB's comments to see "industry do what it wants." Change can only happen
if one is willing to do something about it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Poehlman
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 12:53 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Consumer input on accessibility standards
the industry will do what it wants.
On Jun 18, 2010, at 12:51 PM, peter altschul wrote:
---- Original Message ------
From: Jamal Mazrui <[log in to unmask]
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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