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 exhibits
> 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 courts will 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
> puzzled by 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 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. 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 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, 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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