---- 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


    VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
    http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
    Signoff: [log in to unmask]
    Subscribe: [log in to unmask]