Hi5!
White House Disability, Tech Announcement, ADA, Rehab Act Section 508
Technology Announcement on the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Tue, July 26, 2011 8:23:45 AM
From: White House Disability Group
If you did not receive this
email yourself and you’d like to receive updates on disability issues from the
White House, send us an email at disability@who.eop.gov and we will sign you
up.
Please circulate. You will
hear more about the below announcement on Section 508 on tomorrow's disability
monthly call. As a reminder, that call (which is off the record and not for
press purposes) takes place on Wednesday, July 27, at 1:00 Eastern. The dial in
number is (866) 298-7926 and the title/code is
White House Disability Call. And, for captioning (only for those who are deaf or
hard of hearing and need captioning), the link is http://www.fedrcc.us//Enter.aspx?EventID=1796804&CustomerID=321
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press
Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
July 26, 2011
On (the) Anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act, Obama Administration Recommits to Enforcing and
Protecting the Civil Rights of All
On July 26, 1990, the
Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. That landmark civil rights
legislation reaffirmed the idea that all our citizens, regardless of disability,
are entitled to the same privileges, pursuits, and opportunities as everyone
else. As the Obama Administration marks that anniversary, there still remain
many steps we must take together to ensure that the spirit and letter of that
law are upheld.
“The promise of the ADA was
that all Americans should have equal access and equal opportunity, including
Americans with disabilities,” said President Obama. “The ADA was about
independence and the freedom to make of our lives what we will. We celebrate
that today, and we recommit ourselves to ending discrimination in all its
forms.”
Since its enactment, the ADA
has opened many doors and sought to level the playing field for employment of
Americans with disabilities. Still, however, the unemployment rate for persons
with disabilities remains high. Last year, President Obama signed an Executive
Order to make the federal government a model employer for individuals with
disabilities.
Today, following on other
steps already taken, the Obama Administration announced new efforts that will
continue to support increased employment opportunities for persons with
disabilities and will also help make the government more open and accessible to
all citizens. Specifically, the administration is working to release a draft
comprehensive strategic plan to improve compliance with Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act.
Section 508 requires that
federal agencies' electronic and information technology be accessible to people
with disabilities, both inside and outside the government. 12 years after this
law was enacted, many technological barriers still exist, limiting the ability
of persons with disabilities when they try to interact with the federal
government, whether as an employee or as a citizen seeking information or
services.
Making electronic and
information technology, such as websites, 508 compliant will ensure that
applicants have equal access to apply for job opportunities. 508 compliance also
will promote increased retention, as federal employees will be able to
successfully utilize the technology - whether it be computers, telephones, fax
machines, websites and many other technological tools - necessary to perform
their duties. Moreover, it will make the government more open and accessible as
people with disabilities will be able to better access all the information the
federal government has placed online.
ENJOY!
References & Resources
Official website for Section 508 of the
US Rehabilitation Act.
Disability.gov
@Disabilitygov USA
The Official U.S. Government Website for Information on Disability-Related Programs, Services, Laws & Benefits (RT and/or Following Do Not Imply Endorsement.)
