Accessibility for Users with Disabilities
There are several sources of guidance about accessibility. They include acquisition guidance in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Public Laws, and non-regulatory guidance.
In acquiring information technology (IT) pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) section 39.101, agencies should identify their requirements pursuant to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130, including consideration of security of resources, protection of privacy, national security and emergency preparedness, accommodations for individuals with disabilities, and energy efficiency.
Two laws set forth Federal agency responsibilities for IT accessibility: the 1986 Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Public Law 99-506, Section 508) and the Telecommunications Accessibility Enhancement Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-542). Public Law 99-506, Section 508 is intended to ensure that people with disabilities can access and use the same data bases and applications programs as other people, ensure that people with disabilities shall be supported in manipulating data and related information resources to attain equivalent end results as other people, and ensure that when electronic office equipment is part of a telecommunications system, that people with disabilities can transmit and receive messages in a manner that supports their needs and provides the capability to communicate with other users of the system.
However, Public Law 102-569 dated October 29, 1992, has shifted and expanded the focus from just "Electronic Equipment Accessibility" to a broader concept of "Electronic Information Technology (IT)". This new term includes; any equipment, software, interface systems, operating systems, or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment used in the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information. Comparable access means that individuals with disabilities can produce and have access to the same or equivalent information processing resources, with or without special peripheral, as individuals without disabilities. Public Law 100-542 serves to reinforce this concept and make explicit Federal agency responsibilities to provide telecommunications access to current and future services by people with hearing or speech impairments.
Concomitant with regulatory requirements, it is important that Federal agencies provide accessibility to disabled persons to IT because of the rapid advances in the industry over the past ten years which have substantively changed business processes and the work place. While these technological changes in the work place provide many opportunities, they also require workers in both government and industry to constantly acquire, update and maintain new computer skills and knowledge of the latest products and services. The lack of access by any employee disabled or otherwise, to the appropriate IT and its advancements has a negative impact on business processes and can clearly impair an individuals worker's ability to be productive.
As challenging as it is to keep pace, it can be even more difficult for a disabled worker to keep pace in an information intensive work place. Introduction of new or changed office automation technologies can place even the best accommodation practices in a catchup role. Furthermore, new products may render existing accommodations useless for workers with disabilities because of substantive changes in the business process. the net effect of these changes may diminish disabled workers opportunities to be productive and further remove them from the mainstream of information applications.
GSA has been working with other agencies to provide guidance and emphasis about Federal agencies IT accessibility responsibilities. These actions include the inclusion in 1996 of accessibility guidance in FAR section 39.101, promoting awareness through government-wide training programs, conferences and forums as well as including accessibility in GSA's IT policy homepage. GSA has also made available on a non-fee basis, its Center for Information Technology Accommodation (CITA) to assist Federal agencies with technology approaches to meet accessibility needs.
GSA maintains an open door and meets with advocacy groups to discuss their concerns about the impact of changes to ensure that policies regarding Federal agencies incorporation of IT advances do not ignore or adversely impact people with disabilities.
GSA's interests include working with Federal agencies, advocacy groups and the computer industry to incorporate accessibility requirements into the mainstream of information products and technologies. In this way, GSA continues to seek ways to mitigate the effects of stand alone and one time solutions which tend to isolate or delay access by disabled workers to appropriate IT and applications.
Through this mainstreaming approach GSA believes that accessible information environments can be established which promote the introduction of innovative interfaces to enhance information access for all users, disabled or otherwise. With the expanded scope of Public Law 102-569, this concept of mainstreaming computer accommodation features in all applicable IT acquisitions becomes even more important. Such an approach promotes the government's ability to recruit and retain quality employees and supports effective interaction with the diverse groups of citizens which comprise Federal agencies client base.
There is a continuing need to understand and promote Federal agencies progress in achieving the inclusion of accessibility requirements in IT procurements. For additional information regarding accessibility, visit the Center on Information Technology Accommodation at: http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/coca/index.htm.
Other sources for information onAccess Technologies.
This report was prepared by John Clark of the Strategic IT Analysis Division, Office of Information Technology, Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services Administration. For further information, contact John Clark at (202) 501-4362 or john.clark@gsa.gov.