18032096
submission
beetle496 writes:
One of the things Microsoft has done well for many years now (since they got called on the carpet about Windows 95) is providing compatibility with assistive technology used by the blind. Their current push is for a set of APIs called User Automation. Many of us in the field have remained skeptical of the early promises, especially those related to cross-platform compatibility. The news that Microsoft is now backtracking is disappointing, but hardly surprising. It looks like IAccessible2 is the way to go.
15982596
submission
beetle496 writes:
Chicago, 30 Sept. Listening Session: In order to better understand the needs of diverse communities and provide better solutions, the U.S. Council of CIOs, in collaboration with the Chief Acquisition Officers Council, the GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy and the U.S. Access Board, is holding the first in a series of listening sessions to engage citizens and employees in expressing concerns and proposing ideas. This continues a recent theme.
14658272
submission
beetle496 writes:
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on the Accessibility of Web Information and Services Provided by Entities Covered by the ADA (i.e., State and Local Government Entities and Public Accommodations). You can read the fact sheet, or the entire notice. In short, the Department is seeking comments on their desire to revise regulation to “establish specific requirements for State and local governments and public accommodations to make their websites accessible to individuals with disabilities”. The Department is seeking specific comment on many things including the standards they should adopt, and if there should be any exemptions for certain entities (e.g., small business) before they publish their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This is amazing news! The impact that this will have for individuals with disabilities cannot be expressed. It is time for our digital society to forever include individuals of all abilities. The period of public comment is open for 180 days.
10706268
submission
beetle496 writes:
Accessibility (to people with disabilities) gets its fair amount of play on /. so news that the Access Board is updating its Federal ICT standards should be of interest. The current requirements (which will not be changing anytime soon) date from 2000, so they have gotten more than a little obsolete. The last real benchmark for accessibility standards (WCAG 2.0) generated predicable comments, so how about stepping up your game and making a submission to Regulations.gov instead?
