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1
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
2 THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
3 MY NAME IS RICHARD HORNE AND I'M A SENIOR POLICY
4 ADVISOR WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE ON ADULTS
5 WITH DISABILITIES.
6 TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT
7 POLICY IN REGARDS TO INCREASING THE EMPLOYMENT OF
8 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITYS IN THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE.
9 AND WITH US WE'VE GOT A GREAT PANEL OF FOLKS WHO I'VE
10 HAD A GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH.
11 GENE GOALBERG, DINAH COHEN IS WITH US FROM THE CAP
12 PROGRAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
13 WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A BROAD RANGE OF POLICIES
14 AND PRACTICES AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND
15 TECHNOLOGY AND COVER A HOST OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND
16 WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PANEL FIRST, AND THEN
17 WE'RE GOING TO TO ALLOW FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
18 UNLESS YOU HAVE A BURNING QUESTION, THEN WAVE YOUR
19 HANDS UP AND WE'RE WE'LL TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.
20 SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT RIGHT IMMEDIATELY TO...
21 >> GOOD MORNING.
22 S AS RICHARD MENTIONED I'M AN ATTORNEY AT THE EEOC.
23 I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND PRIOR TO
24 THAT I WAS IN PRACTICE FOR 10 YEARS DOING PRIMARILY
25 EEO LITIGATION.
2
1 WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS A TOPIC THAT
2 MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IN PART WHICH IS
3 FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION
4 PRESIDENT CLINTON ISSUED ON JULY 26, 2000 EXECUTIVE
5 ORDER 136 FOUR, WHICH FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ALL
6 FEDERAL AGENCIES INSTITUTE PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING
7 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS UNDER SECTION 501
8 OF THE REHAB ACT.
9 PRIOR TO THAT TIME SOME AGENCIES HAD PROCEDURES, SOME
10 DIDN'T SOME HAD POLICIES BUT NOT PROCEDURES, WHICH
11 EXPLAINS TO THE EMPLOYERS AND MANAGERS EXACTLY WHAT
12 TO DO WHEN RECEIVING A REQUEST AND WHAT THE
13 REQUIREMENTS OF THE REHABILITATION ACT ARE.
14 WITHOUT OVERSTATING THE CASE, I THINK WE'VE TRULY
15 SEEN IN THE IMPLEMENTATION SO FAR THAT THIS ONE AND A
16 HALF PAGE EXECUTIVE ORDER PROMISES TO BE A REAL GIANT
17 STEP IN BOTH EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
18 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND IN TERMS OF ENSURING
19 COMPLIANCE WITH NONDISCRIMINATION LAW.
20 IT'S BASED ON ONE SIMPLE CONCEPT WHICH IS HELP ENSURE
21 THAT EMPLOYEES AT FEDERAL AGENCY KNOW HOW TO MAKE
22 ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS AND THAT SUPERVISORS AND
23 MANAGERS KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY RECEIVE ONE.
24 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS STRUCTURED TO ALLOW GREAT
25 LATITUDE FOR AGENCIES TO DEVISE PROCEDURE COMES FIT
3
1 THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
2 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIMPLY MANDATES THAT THERE ARE 10
3 COMMON ELEMENTS WHICH MUST BE PRESENT IN EACH
4 AGENCY'S PROCEDURES.
5 AND OTHERWISE THEY LEAVE IT TO THE AGENCY TO DRAFT
6 SOMETHING THAT SUITS ITS OWN NEEDS.
7 THE MANDATORY ELEMENTS INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION FOR HOW
8 ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS OCCUR INITIATEED AND HOW
9 THEY'LL BE PROCESSED.
10 TIME LIMITS FOR PROCESSING REQUESTS, AN EXPLANATION
11 OF WHEN AND HOW MUCH MEDICAL INFORMATION AN AGENCY
12 CAN OBTAIN WHEN PROCESSING A REASONABLE ACOMMENDATION
13 REQUEST AND CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS THAT APPLY
14 TO ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT IS OBTAINED DURING THE
15 ACCOMMODATION PROCESS.
16 AN EXPLANATION OF REASSIGNMENT AS THE ACCOMMODATION
17 OF LAST RESORT, AND A REQUIREMENT THAT DENIALS OF
18 REASONABLE,A COMMENDATION BE IN WRITING, SPECIFYING
19 THE REASONS FOR DENIAL AND EXPLAINING TO THE PLANT
20 FOR WAYS IN WHICH THEY CAN FILE FOR RECONSIDERATION
21 OR FILE AN EEO COMPLAINT.
22 THERE ARE ALSO VARIOUS RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS
23 AND FINALLY A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PROCEDURES IN SOME
24 WAY ENCOURAGE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION WHETHER IT'S IN
25 A RECONSIDERATION PROCESS OR WHETHER IT'S IN TERMS OF
4
1 TRADITIONAL ADR.
2 AS IS REQUIRED UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, ON OCTOBER
3 20, 2000 THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION ISSUED A
4 POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ENTITLED ESTABLISHING
5 PROCEDURES TO FACILITATE THE PROCEDURES OF REASONABLE
6 ACCOMODATION.
7 AND THIS IS INTENDED AS A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR
8 AGENCIES IN FOLLOWING IN PREPARING THEIR PROCEDURES
9 UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
10 IT EXPLAINS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IN VERY PRACTICAL AND
11 SPECIFIC TERMS, AND IT LEAVES THE EXECUTIVE ORDER
12 REQUIREMENTS TOGETHER WITH THE INFORMATION UNDER EACH
13 TOPIC IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REHABILITATION ACT HAS
14 ALREADY BEEN INTERPRETED TO REQUIRE IN OTHER
15 GUIDANCES IN DECISIONS, IN THE FEDERAL SECTOR THAT
16 HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY IN EEO
17 COMPLAINTS.
18 IT'S TELLS THE AGENCY EVERYTHING IT WOULD NEED TON IN
19 PREPARING ITS OWN REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
20 PROCEDURES.
21 YOU CAN FIND THIS DOCUMENT AS WELL AS ANYTHING AND
22 EVERYTHING ELSE YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
23 EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE REHABILITATION
24 ACT AND ALSO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW UNDER ALL
25 THE OTHER STATUTES THAT THE EEOC ENFORCES ON OUR WEB
5
1 SITE SINCE I ONLY HAVE 12 MINUTES I'M GOING TO PUT MY
2 COMMERCIAL PLUG RIGHT UP HERE AT THE FRONT.
3 OUR WEB SET IS WWW.EEOC.GOV.
4 AND PLEASE BEAR WITH ME WHILE I SHARE WITH YOU TWO
5 STEPS ON HOW TO ACCESS THIS INFORMATION ONCE YOU LOG
6 ON TO WWW.EEOC.GOFF.
7 SCROLL DOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE AND CLICK ON LAWS,
8 REGULATIONS AND POLICY GUIDANCE AND THEN CLICK ON THE
9 HEADING ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE AND RELATED DOCUMENTS.
10 AND THERE AS I SAID I THINK YOU'LL FIND A VIRTUAL
11 TREASURE TROVE OF ALL THE STATUTES WE ENFORCE IN
12 ADDITION TO THE OCTOBER 20, 2000, THERE ARE TWO VERY
13 IMPORTANT POLICY GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS ON THAT SPOT IN
14 OUR WEB SITE WHICH IF YOU DO ANY WORK IN THE
15 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AREA, I WOULD COMMEND TO YOU
16 TO PRINT OUT TO YOU TO THEY'RE A GREAT DESK REFERENCE
17 FOR SUPERVISORS, MANAGERS, OR ANYONE ELSE.
18 ONE IS OUR JULY 272000 ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE ON
19 DISABILITY INQUIRYS AND MEDICAL EXAMS.
20 TELLS YOU ALL THE RULES ON WHEN AND HOW AN EMPLOYER
21 CAN ASK AN EMPLOYEE TO DO A MEDICAL EXAM.
22 THE SECOND ONE IS OUR MARCH 1, 1999 ENFORCEMENT
23 GUIDANCE ON REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION AND UNDUE
24 HARDSHIP.
25 THAT REALLY REVIEWS FROM A SUBSTANTIVE PERSPECTIVE
6
1 THE LAW ON THIS AREA.
2 THAT'S THE END OF THE COMMERCIAL MESSAGE.
3 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO REQUIRING THAL ALL AGENCIES
4 ACTUALLY SUBMIT THESE PROCEDURES ONCE THEY'RE
5 PROMULGATED TO THE EEOC AND THAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN
6 DONE BY THIS PAST JULY 26.
7 TO DATE WE'VE RECEIVED PROCEDURES FROM ABOUT HALF OF
8 THE FEDERAL AGENCIES OVER WHICH WE HAVE JURISDICTION
9 ALTHOUGH THEY STILL COMING IN ON A ROLLING BASIS, SO
10 I HOPE AND EXPECT THAT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
11 MONTHS WE'LL HAVE THEM ALL.
12 AND A UNIT WITHIN THE OFFICE OF FEDERAL OPERATIONS AT
13 THE EEOC IS REVIEWING EACH AGENCY'S SUBMISSION. AND
14 WE'RE PREPARING A FEEDBACK LETTER TO EACH AGENCY AND
15 THESE HAVE BEGUN TO GUT G OUT ON A ROLLING BASIS.
16 MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR MODIFYING THE PROCEDURES.
17 WHAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NOW AND REALLY FOCUS ON
18 MY TALK TODAY IS THE TRENDS WE'VE SEEN SO FAR IN OUR
19 REVIEW OF THE AGENCY PROCEDURES WE'VE RECEIVED.
20 THERE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING POINTS AND OVERALL
21 AGENCIES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE
22 SEEN.
23 THE FIRST INTERESTING THING WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF
24 THE REQUIREMENT IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT EVERY
25 AGENCY MAKE CLEAR IN HIS PROCEDURES THAT AN
7
1 ACCOMODATION REQUEST BE MADE EITHER ORALLY OR IN
2 WRITING.
3 I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SIMPLE RULE BUT IT'S
4 PROVEN VEXING FOR AGENCIES IN TERMS OF PREPARING A
5 WORKABLE PROCEDURE BECAUSE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER STATES
6 AN AGENCY MUST ACCEPT ORAL REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION,
7 BUT IT ALSO STATES THAT AN AGENCY CAN REQUIRE AN
8 INDIVIDUAL WHO'S REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION TO COMPLETE
9 A WRITTEN FORM FOR RECORD KEEPING PURPOSES.
10 WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT WHILE AN AGENCY CAN REQUIRE
11 AN INDIVIDUAL COMPLETE A RECORD KEEPING FORM OR
12 SUBMIT SOME TYPE OF WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF THEIR
13 REQUEST, THE AGENCY CAN'T WAIT UNTIL AFTER IT'S
14 GOTTEN THAT WRITTEN FORM BEFORE IT BEGINS TO PROCESS
15 AN ACCOMMODATION Q. AN ORAL REQUEST IS THE SAME AS A
16 WRITTEN ONE AND THE PROCESSING MUST BEGIN AS SOON AS
17 IT'S RECEIVED.
18 IT'S A VIABLE REQUEST.
19 AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT AGENCIES HAVE PREPARED
20 THESE PROCEDURES, THEY HAVE ATTACHED A CONFIRMATION
21 RECORD KEEPING FORM TO THE PROCEDURES WHICH THEY
22 REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS TO FILL OUT AFTER MAKING AN ORAL
23 REQUEST, BUT THE FORM ITSELF HAS EXCEEDED THAT
24 ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD KEEPING PURPOSE THAT'S ALLOWED.
25 SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS IN ONE PLACE ON ONE PAGE IN AN
8
1 AGENCY'S PROCEDURES THEY STATE THE GENERAL RULE, ORAL
2 REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATION ARE PERMISSIBLE, WE WILL
3 PROCESS THEM.
4 AND THEN ELSEWHERE IS ATTACHED A RECORD KEEPING FORM
5 THAT HAS TO BE COMPLETED WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT
6 NOTHING WILL HAPPEN UNTIL THE FORM IS RECEIVED.
7 SO IT'S TANTAMOUNT TO REQUIRING A WRITTEN REQUEST
8 BEFORE ANY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
9 OR WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT AN AGENCY'S PROCEDURES
10 HAVE INCORRECTLY REQUIRED THAT IF AN EMPLOYEE
11 REQUESTS AN ACCOMMODATION WHICH THEY'RE LIKELY TO
12 NEED ON A RECURRING BASIS, FOR INSTANCE A SIGN
13 LANGUAGE INTERPRETER THAT THE FORM SEEMS TO INDICATE
14 THAT THE EMPLOYEE WILL NEED TO SUBMIT THE FORM EVERY
15 TIME AN ACCOMMODATION IS UTILIZED.
16 OR ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE'VE SEEN IS AGENCIES
17 IMPROPERLY USING THIS RECORD KEEPING FORM TO GO
18 BEYOND MAKING A RECORD OF THE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST
19 AND REALLY ACTUALLY ASKING ALL MANNER OF INFORMATION
20 ON THE FORM ABOUT THE DISABILITY, AUTOMATICALLY
21 ASKING FOR SUPPORTING MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION AND GOING
22 BEYOND WHAT IS PERMITTED WHICH LEADS ME TO THE NEXT
23 ISSUE WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS REQUIREMENT THAT
24 THE AGENCY'S PROCEDURES MAY NOT ALLOW THE AGENCY TO
25 OBTAIN MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION IN SUPPORT OF EVERY
9
1 SINGLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST REGARDLESS OF THE
2 CIRCUMSTANCES.
3 MENT THE AGENCY'S PROCEDURES HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT THE
4 AGENCY CAN ONLY REQUEST SUPPORTING MEDICAL
5 DOCUMENTATION WHERE THE DISABILITY AND/OR THE NEED
6 FOR THE REQUESTED ACCOMMODATION IS NOT OBVIOUS OR
7 ALREADY KNOWN TO THE AGENCY.
8 SO CLEARLY AN AGENCY IS ENTITLED OF COURSE IN EVERY
9 INSTANCE BEFORE GRANTING AN ACCOMODATION REQUEST TO
10 KNOW THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS COVERED BY THE
11 REHABILITATION ACT, THAT THEY HAVE A PHYSICALO MENTAL
12 IMPAIRMENT WHICH ESSENTIALLY LIMITS THEM IN A MAJOR
13 LIFE ACTIVITY OR THAT THEY HAVE A RECORD OF SUCH AND
14 THAT THEY NEED THE ACCOMMODATION THEY'VE REQUESTED,
15 IN OTHER WORDS THAT IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR THEM.
16 BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN MANY INSTANCES AGAIN IS THAT
17 THE PROCEDURES IN ONE PLACE STATE THIS GENERAL RULE
18 QUITE CORRECTLY AND THEN ELSEWHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
19 PREPRINTED FORM SAYS IT'S A ONE SIZE FITS ALL TYPE OF
20 FORM AND SAYS ATTACH SUPPORTING MEDICAL
21 DOCUMENTATION.
22 AND OBVIOUSLY THE AGENCY CAN'T DO THIS IN PART
23 BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SITUATIONS WHERE THE
24 DISABILITY AND THE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION ARE ALREADY
25 KNOWN TO THE AGENCY OR THEY ARE OBVIOUS BASED ON THE
10
1 PRESENTATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTING
2 ACCOMMODATION AND SO NO MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION CAN BE
3 REQUESTED.
4 ALTERNATIVELY, EVEN IF IT'S A SITUATION
5 WHERE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION CAN BE REQUESTED AND THIS
6 IS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT, THE AGENCY IS NOT GOING TO BE
7 ENTITLED TO SEEK THE VERY SAME MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION
8 IN EVERY SITUATION.
9 THE TYPE OF MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION OR THE EXTENT OF
10 MEDICAL INFORMATION WHICH CAN BE SOUGHT IS GOING TO
11 DIFFER IN EVERY CASE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE
12 INDIVIDUAL'S SITUATION IS, WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN TO
13 THE AGENCY, WHAT ACCOMMODATION THEY'RE REQUESTING,
14 AND SO THE REQUEST FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION IN SUPPORT
15 OF THE ACOMMENDATION REQUEST IF THE AGENCY DOES MAKE
16 IT, HAS TO BE TAILORED, INDIVIDUALIZED TO THE PERSON
17 REQUESTING ACCOMMODATION.
18 I SHOULD NOTE THAT MANY AGENCIES IN THEIR PROCEDURES
19 HAVE DONE WHAT THE EEOC HAS DONE IN OUR OWN
20 PROCEDURES WHICH IS TO PROVIDE THAT IF THE SUPERVISOR
21 OR MANAGER WHO'S PROCESSING THIS ACCOMMODATION
22 REQUEST HAS ANY QUESTION AT ALL ABOUT WHETHER THIS
23 PERSON IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY, IS
24 ENTITLED TO ACCOMMODATION UNDER THE REHAB ACT, THEY
25 REFER THE WHOLE MATTER TO THE DISABILITY PROGRAM
11
1 MANAGER, OR SOME AGENCIES HAVE CREATED A POSITION
2 LIKE THAT, AND THAT PERSON CREATES THE WHOLE THING IN
3 TERMS OF DECIDING WHETHER MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION IS
4 NEEDED, MAKING THE DETERMINATION IF THE PERSON IS
5 COVERED.
6 ONCE THAT DETERMINATION IS MADE, REFERRING IT BACK TO
7 THE DECISION MAKER ON THE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST SO
8 YOU DON'T HAVE FRONT LEAN SUPERVISORS HAVING TO
9 NECESSARILY MAKE CALLS THEY MIGHT NOT FEEL
10 COMFORTABLE MAKING AND HAVING THAT RESOURCE AVAILABLE
11 IS GREAT.
12 IT'S NOT REQUIRED THAT AGENCIES DO IT IN THAT MANNER
13 AND IN FACT WE ENCOURAGE AGENCIES TO AUTHORIZE THEIR
14 FRONT LINE SUPERVISORS TO PROCESS THE WHOLE REQUEST
15 IF POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THINGS, BUT IN
16 GENERAL TERMS MANY AGENCIES HAVE DECIDED TO -- WE'VE
17 ALSO SEEN THAT MANY AGENCIES THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY
18 HAVE ANY TYPE OF DISABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER OR
19 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION COORDINATORVILLE CREATED
20 THAT POSITION AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO INSTITUTE
21 THESE PROCEDURES AND THAT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL
22 DEVELOPMENT SIMPLY EVEN TO HAVE THAT PERSON AS A
23 RESOURCE EVEN IF THE PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A FORMAL
24 ROLE IN PROCESSING A REQUEST.
25 THE NEXT REQUIREMENT IS THAT THE AGENCY DESIGNATE A
12
1 TIME PERIOD FOR PROCESSING ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS.
2 AND THE A PARTICULAR TIME LIMIT IS NOT SPECIFIED IN
3 THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
4 TIME LIMITS HAVE TO BE AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.
5 IN REVIEWING WHAT'S COME IN SO FAR FROM AGENCIES,
6 THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE SUBMISSION IN WHICH WE'VE
7 TOLD AGENCY THAT TIME FRAME THEY'VE A LOTED
8 THEMSELVES IS TOO LONG.
9 THE KIND OF FEEDBACK, HOWEVER, THAT WE HAVE GIVEN
10 AGENCYS ON TIME FRAMES THEY'VE SELECTED IN GENERAL
11 HAS BEEN FOR EXAMPLE WHERE AN AGENCY HAD DESIGNED ITS
12 TIME FRAME TO RUN FROM THE TIME THE DECISION MAKER
13 GETS THE REQUEST.
14 WELL, OFTEN A REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATION IS MADE TO
15 SOME OTHER AGENCY OFFICIAL.
16 IT MIGHT HAVE GONE TO THE EEO OFFICE, IT MIGHT HAVE
17 GONE TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND IT
18 HAS TO BE REFERRED TO WHOEVER IS DESIGNATED UNDER THE
19 PROCEDURES TO PROCESS THE REQUEST.
20 SO WE'VE ADVISED AGENCIES PUT A TIME FRAME IN IN
21 REFERRING A REQUEST TO THE DECISION MAKER SO THAT THE
22 ENTIRE PROCESS KEEPS MOVING ALONG ANDING IN NOTHING
23 GETS LOST IN THE CRACKS.
24 AND WE HAVE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN SOME SITUATIONS
25 AGENCIES HAVE EXEMPTED FROM THEIR TIME FRAMES
13
1 ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS WHERE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION
2 NEEDS TO BE INVOLVE EVALUATED.
3 AND OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT FOR A
4 WHOLE CATEGORY OF ACCOMMODATION REQUEST.
5 BUT WHAT WE'VE SUGGESTED IS THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO
6 TOLL THE TIME FRAME WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR AT
7 DOCUMENTATION FROM A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BBUT AS
8 SOON AS THEY'VE GOTTEN WHAT'S APPROPRIATE THEN THEY
9 HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT'S PREDETERMINED IN
10 WHICH TO RENDER THEIR DECISION, AGAIN TO KEEP THEIR
11 WHOLE THING MOVING ALONG.
12 WE HAVE NOTED IN OUR FEEDBACK LETTERS TO AGENCIES
13 THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TIME FRAME DESIGNATED
14 IN THEIR PROCEDURES AND JUST BECAUSE A SUPERVISOR OR
15 MANAGER COMPLIES WITH THAT TIME FRAME, THAT DOESN'T
16 ENSURE THAT THE REHABILITATION ACT WON'T HAVE BEEN
17 VIOLATED BECAUSE THERE ARE OF COURSE SOME
18 ACOMMENDATIONS WHICH CAN BE PROVIDED IN LESS TIME.
19 THERE ARE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS THAT CAN BE PROVIDED IN
20 AN HOUR OR A DAY OR THREE DAYS, SO THE REHABILITATION
21 ACT STILL REMAINING THE GOVERNING STANDARD IN TERMS
22 OF ASSESSING WHETHER THERE'S BEEN SOME KIND OF UNDUE
23 DELAY THAT REALLY WAS NOT DUE TO ANY EXTENUATING
24 CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THE AGENCY'S CONTROL IN
25 PROCESSING THE REQUEST.
14
1 AND OF COURSE JUST TO REMIND AGENCIES THAT
2 SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT TO
3 KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING.
4 ANOTHER REQUIREMENT UNDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS THAT
5 THE PROCEDURES ADDRESS HOW REASSIGNMENT WILL --
6 SEARCHES AS REASSIGNMENT WILL OCCUR.
7 AGENCIES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN ADDRESSING THIS
8 PROPERLY IN MANY OF THE PROCEDURES WE'VE SEEN
9 PROVIDING THAT THE SEARCH FOR REASSIGNMENT HAS TO BE
10 NATIONWIDE INCLUDING OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE AGENCY,
11 OTHER GEOGRAPHIC AREAS UNLESS IT WOULD POSE AN UNDUE
12 HARDSHIP.
13 THIS IS REALLY, I HAVE TO UNDERSCORE, AN EXCELLENT
14 DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IN THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS THE
15 COMMISSION HAS ISSUED MANY APPELLATE DECISIONS ON
16 FEDERAL SECTOR EEO COMPLAINTS FINDING LIABILITY UNDER
17 THE REHAB ACT BECAUSE A SUPERVISOR OR MANAGER SIMPLY
18 DIDN'T KNOW, I'M SURE THEY DIDN'T INTEND BUT JUST
19 DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD TO LOOK OUTSIDE THEIR OWN
20 FACILITY FOR A POSSIBLE VACANT FACILITY TO ASSIGN
21 SOMEONE OR OUTSIDE THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
22 AND SO THIS IS REALLY I THINK IMPORTANT.
23 ALSO BECAUSE MANY SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS ARE SIMPLY
24 UNAWARE THAT THEY EVEN HAD TO CONSIDER REASSIGNMENT
25 AS AN ACCOMMODATION OF LAST RESORT EVEN WHERE THE
15
1 INDIVIDUAL DIDN'T REQUEST THAT AS THEIR
2 ACCOMMODATION.
3 THEY MIGHT HAVE REQUESTED SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THAT
4 SOMETHING ELSE WOULD POSE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP OR FOR
5 SOME REASON CAN'T BE DONE, A LOT OF SUPERVISORS OR
6 MANAGERS HAVEN'T KNOWN THAT THEY NEED TO CONSIDER IF
7 THE PERSON CAN'T PERFORM THEIR CURRENT POSITION
8 BECAUSE OF THEIR DISABILITY.
9 IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO ELIMINATE MANY, MANY
10 VIOLATIONS OF THE FACT THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE
11 PAST THAT WERE THE RESULTS SIMPLY OF LACK OF
12 KNOWLEDGE ON THE PART OF MANAGERSES AND SUPERVISORS.
13 AND LASTLY, AS I SAID THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECORD
14 KEEPING REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AND IN
15 PARTICULAR AGENCY PROCEDURES NEED TO SPELL OUT
16 CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL INFORMATION.
17 MANY AGENCY SUBMISSIONS WE'VE RECEIVED HAVE PROPERLY
18 IDENTIFIED THAT MEDICAL INFORMATION RECEIVED,
19 DOCUMENTATION OR OTHER KIND OF INFORMATION NOTES
20 ABOUT MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN'T BE IN THE PERSONNEL
21 FILE.
22 IT NEEDS TO BE IN A SEPARATE FILE AND THAT'S PART OF
23 ENSURING CONFIDENTIALITY. AND MOST AGENCIES AS I
24 HAVE SAID HAVE GOTTEN THAT RIGHT.
25 BUT MANY HAVE NOT LISTED ON THE FACE OF THEIR
16
1 PROCEDURES THE EXCEPTIONS FOR DISCLOSURE AND WE'VE
2 ASKED THEM TO SPELL THAT OUT NOT SIMPLY TO REFER TO
3 THE PRIVACY ACT AND ITS EXCEPTIONS OR WHATNOT WHICH
4 WE'VE SEEN BECAUSE THE REHABILITATION ACT HAS BEEN
5 INTERPRETED TO REQUIRE CONFIDENTIALITY FOR MEDICAL
6 INFORMATION, HAS ITS OWN EXCEPTIONS, AND SO WE'VE
7 ASKED AGENCIES TO SPELL THAT OUT.
8 AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN SENDING INDIVIDUALIZED FEEDBACK
9 LETTERS AND WE HOPE THAT AS AGENCIES PROMULGATE THESE
10 PROCEDURES AND MODIFY THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
11 ADVICE WE'RE GIVING AND THE INFORMATION GETS
12 DISSEMINATED TO EMPLOYEES AND MANAGERS THAT THIS IS
13 JUST REALLY TRULY GOING TO BE A MASS EDUCATION EFFORT
14 AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE RIPPLE EFFECT IN
15 TERMS OF EEO COMPLAINTS WHICH WE DO NOT SEE FILE
16 WOULD IN THE COMING YEARS AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE
17 ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THE END.
18 THANK YOU.
19 >> GOOD MORNING.
20 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
21 I FORGOT TO WEAR A MICROPHONE FRIEND SUIT.
22 SO I GOTTA TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I'M GOING TO PUT
23 THIS.
24 THIS IS A PROBLEM.
25 MEN HAVE IT EASY.
17
1 USUALLY YOU HAVE A POCKET SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN
2 STICK THE MICROPHONE ON, SO HOLD ON.
3 SO I CAN FIND A PLACE FOR THIS.
4 GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
5 I'M DINAH COHEN AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPUTER
6 ELECTRONIC ACCOMMODATIONS PROGRAM, BETTER KNOWN AS
7 CAP.
8 AND I'LL BE FOCUSING A LITTLE BIT ON OUR CAP PROGRAM,
9 THE ISSUES OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH
10 DISABILITIES AND THE KIND OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
11 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD OF CAP?
12 RAISE YOUR HANDS.
13 HOW MANY OF YOU ARE WITH DOD?
14 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN MAYBE ONE OF MY PARTNERS
15 LAST YEAR?
16 HOW MANY OF YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SIGN UP WITH ME
17 THIS YEAR?
18 OH, ALL OF YOUR HANDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP.
19 ALL RIGHT.
20 WE'RE GOING TO TALK.
21 FIRST I WANT TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE ISSUE OF THIS
22 CONFERENCE WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A 508
23 CONFERENCE.
24 SO LET'S START OFF WITH A WHOLE ISSUE OF
25 ACCESSIBILITY VERSUS ACCOMMODATIONS.
18
1 YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT SECTION 508.
2 AND 508 IS REALLY FOCUSING ON HAVING GOVERNMENT HAVE
3 AN INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE AND
4 USABLE BY ALL PEOPLE.
5 AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE DATA BASES WE'RE
6 USING, THE E-MAIL PRODUCTS, ALL THE INFORMATION WE
7 WANT TO ACCESS, ALL THE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY WE WANT
8 TO USE IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE WITH
9 DISABILITIES CAN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO IT.
10 THAT'S WHAT 508 IS TALKING ABOUT.
11 ACCOMMODATIONS DEALS WITH A SPECIFIC TOOL THAT AN
12 INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY MAY NEED TO DO THEIR
13 PARTICULAR TASK OR JOB.
14 SO 508 IS TALKING ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE.
15 ACCOMMODATION TALK TAABOUT THE ONE TO ONE TOOLS.
16 AND THAT REALLY ADDRESSES MORE OF THE SECTION 501 AND
17 504. SO I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT MYSELF AS A 504 KIND
18 OF A GAL.
19 SINCE MY VERY BEGINNING MY MISSION HAS BEEN VERY
20 CLEAR ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
21 MY MISSION FROM THE BEGINNING WITH THE CAP PROGRAM IS
22 TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE
23 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENSURE
24 THEY HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
25 AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
19
1 AND AS I AM GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ON OCTOBER 30
2 OF 2000, LAST OCTOBER 30 PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED THE
3 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT WHICH GAVE CAP THE
4 AUTHORITY TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM EXPANDED TO ALL
5 FEDERAL AGENCIES.
6 WITH THIS MISSION, I TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE OF MAKING
7 SURE THAT AGENCIES AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE THE TOOLS
8 THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS.
9 THAT'S WHAT THE CAP MISSION IS.
10 IS PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH TOOLS SO THEY CAN BE PART OF
11 TODAY'S ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT.
12 TO ME 508 IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY MAKING MY
13 JOB EASIER.
14 IT WAS NOT THAT UNCOMMON FOR CAP TO PROVIDE MAYBE A
15 SCREEN READER FOR SOMEBODY.
16 THEY LOAD IT ONTO THEIR SYSTEM, BUT THEY STILL CAN'T
17 ACCESS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED BECAUSE 508 HADN'T
18 BEEN ADDRESSED AND WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INFORMATION
19 ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWED THESE TOOLS TO TALK
20 TOGETHER.
21 SO 508 IS GOING TO MAKE MY JOB EASIER AND AS ANYONE
22 KNOWS, I'M THE WORLD'S MOST LAZIEST PERSON, SO 508 IS
23 HERE TO MAKE THINGS MOVE FASTER AND BETTER AND TO
24 MAKE SURE THE TOOLS I PROVIDE TO EMPLOYEES WITH
25 DISABILITIES ARE GOING TO WORK WELL TOGETHER.
20
1 SO THAT'S MY MISSION.
2 LAST YEAR WE KICKED OFF THE PROGRAM AND IN
3 NY2001 WE HAD 45 PARTNERS SIGN UP FOR THE CAP
4 PROGRAM.
5 AND THAT INCLUDED DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, DEPARTMENT
6 OF COMMERCE, MY COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE HERE, OPM AND
7 EOC, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT YET
8 THIS YEAR.
9 >> SOON.
10 >> ALL RIGHT.
11 WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH SEC, FCC, AND IF YOU KNOW
12 ALL THESEARC NIMS YOU'VE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT TOO LONG.
13 SO NOW WE'RE STARTING OFF WITH 2002.
14 THIS IS THE THIRD DAY OF 2002 AND WE ALREADY HAVE 16
15 INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS.
16 MANY OF THEM ARE REPEATERS AND WE EVEN HAVE SOME NEW
17 AGENCIES ARE JOINING US THIS YEAR SO WE CAN PROVIDE
18 THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS.
19 NOW, THE KEY TO THIS WHOLE CONCEPT, AND I WANT TO
20 MAKE SURE YOU HEAR IT CLEARLY, WE PICK UP THE TAB.
21 WE ARE NOW THE CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR
22 ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAM.
23 THE MONEY COMES OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
24 BUDGET TO SUPPORT OTHER AGENCIES.
25 SO WE'RE PAYING FOR THE ACCOMODATIONS FOR ALL OF OUR
21
1 FEDERAL PARTNERS.
2 SO YOU PEOPLE STARTED TO SAY, GEE, THAT SOUNDS TOO
3 GOOD TO BE TRUE. AND I'M LIKE, WELL, EVERY ONCE IN A
4 WHILE SOMETHING ACTUALLY WORK LOS ANGELES.
5 AND THIS IS ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
6 TASK FORCE WHERE THEY LOOK AT MANY OF THE IMPEDIMENTS
7 THAT WERE HOLDING PEOPLE BACK WHEN IT COMES TO
8 EMPLOYING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
9 ONE WOULD BE THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION.
10 LET'S HAVE A CENTRALLY AND TRULY LEVEL THE PLAYING
11 FIELD WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES F. A MANAGER
12 DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO
13 COST TO ACCOMMODATE A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY,
14 CHANCES ARE THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE WITH
15 DISABILITIES.
16 SO WE'RE NOW THE CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR THE
17 GOVERNMENT AND WE ALREADY HAVE 16 PARTNERS FOR 2002.
18 CAN YOU BELIEVE IT'S 2002?
19 THIS IS HOW WE DO THE PROCESS ITSELF.
20 WE HAVE VERY CLEAR OBJECTIVES.
21 FOR AN AGENCY TO BECOME A PARTNER WITH THE CAP
22 PROGRAM, THE FIRST THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THE
23 HEAD OF THE AGENCY NEEDS TO SIGN THE INTERAGENCY
24 AGREEMENT.
25 AND THE REASON PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY DOES
22
1 IT HAVE TO GET TO THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY?
2 MY GUY'S KIND OF BUSY.
3 AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING FREE
4 MONEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
5 BECAUSE IT SOMEWHAT CONTRADICTS THE ECONOMY ACT THAT
6 YOU'RE ASKING ANOTHER AGENCY TO PAY FOR SOMETHING
7 THAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.
8 BUT WE KNOW THIS IS GOOD BUSINESS, AND WE KNOW WE CAN
9 DO IT WELL, SO FOR IT TO HAPPEN WE WANT THE HEAD OF
10 THE AGENCY TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOW GETTING SUPPORT
11 FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
12 SO THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE NEED AN
13 INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT FROM THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY.
14 ONCE WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE AND WE CAN START TO
15 PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES WITH
16 DISABILITIES.
17 WE PROVIDE THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND
18 ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENSURE YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE
19 TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS.
20 VERY SIMPLE.
21 IN PLAIN ENGLISH, WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE BUY IT, WE
22 PAY FOR IT, WE GET IT TO THE USER.
23 IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.
24 AND I I'VE BEEN IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR NOW 10
25 PLUS YEARS SO I TEND TO BECOME A LITTLE BIT ANAL OVER
23
1 THE YEARS AND I LIKE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE DO OUR
2 JOB L. NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATIONS,
3 WE'RE ALWAYS CHECKING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS DID WE DO A
4 GOOD JOB.
5 WE SEND OUT CONSTANTLY FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS.
6 DID YOU GET YOUR ACCOMMODATION YOU REQUESTED IT?
7 DID IT WORK OUT?
8 WAS IT THE TOOL YOU NEEDED?
9 MOST PEOPLE WILL SEND THEIR SURVEYS BACK.
10 I TEND TO READ ALL THE SURVEY RESULTS BECAUSE I'M
11 JUST THAT KIND OF GAL.
12 AND I READ ONE OF THESE AND I SEE THE SURVEY AND I
13 START TO GET A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE THE SURVEYS,
14 THE RESPONSE CAME BACK LIKE THIS: I'M A LITTLE
15 DISAPPOINTED WITH CAP.
16 YOU CLAIM YOU CAN PROVIDE ACCOMODATIONS BETWEEN 7 AND
17 10 DAYS, WHICH I THINK IS PRETTY GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT.
18 YOUR INFORMATION IS INACCURATE.
19 I WAS ABLE TO GET MY ACCOMMODATION AND INSTALLED IN
20 THREE DAYS.
21 AND I'M LIKE YES! THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR.
22 WE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE -- TO BE ABLE TO BUY AND
23 PAY FOR THAT RAH COMMENDATION, GET IT TO THAT USER IN
24 SOMETHING AS SHORT AS THREE DAYS.
25 WE SAY 7 TO 10 BECAUSE MANY VENDORS ARE A LITTLE
24
1 SLOWER THAN OTHERS.
2 SOME COMPANIES ARE A LITTLE BETTER AT DELIVERING.
3 WE TEND TO BE ABOUT 7 TO 10 DAYS BUT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
4 OR TOTALLY UNCOMMON THAT AS THIS PERSON SAID, DELIVER
5 AND INSTALL IN THREE DAYS.
6 SO THAT'S ONE OF THE -- THAT IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF
7 THE CAP CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAM.
8 WE'RE HERE TO ALSO HELP WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYMENT
9 AND RETENTION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
10 THE SAME DAY THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED THE
11 EXECUTIVE ORDER DEALING WITH ACCOMMODATION, HE SIGNED
12 ANOTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL
13 GOVERNMENT BECOME THE MODEL EMPLOYER AND HIRE A
14 HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
15 IN A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
16 WE'RE IN YEAR TWO, HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
17 WE KNOW THAT AGAIN IF YOU ARE A CAP PARTNER, THAT ONE
18 OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO ADDRESS WHEN
19 YOU TRY TO BRING NEW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON
20 BOARD IS WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT ACCOMMODATION.
21 SO WE FEEL WE'RE A VERY BIG PART OF THAT EXECUTIVE
22 ORDER TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR SHARE
23 OF HIRING MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN YOUR
24 FEDERAL AGENCY.
25 IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WE HAD PROJECTED THAT WE
25
1 CAN HIRE 32,000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THIS
2 FIVE-YEAR CYCLE.
3 WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL 32,000,
4 BUT MAYBE WE WILL, BUT THE THING IS THAT THAT'S WHAT
5 GOALS ARE FOR, SO IT'S SOMETHING TO STRIVE FOR.
6 WE KNOW THAT AS YOU PEOPLE COME ON BOARD, THE
7 ACCOMODATIONS WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE, MAKING IT
8 EASIER FOR A MANAGER TO DO THEIR SHARE OF HIRING MORE
9 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
10 BUT THAT'S ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE COIN.
11 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS HELPING MANAGERS RETAIN
12 THEIR TALENTED PEOPLE ON THEIR WORK FORCE.
13 MANY PEOPLE IN THE COURSE OF THE YEARS WILL BECOME
14 DISABLED.
15 WE DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE REALLY
16 DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.
17 BUT I CAN STAND IN FRONT OF ANY ROOM IN A GROUP OF
18 MANAGERS AND I CAN LOOK THEM IN THE EYES AND SAY I
19 GUARANTEE THAT IF YOU HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE WORKING
20 FOR YOU 10 YEARS FROM NOW AS YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW, I
21 GUARANTEE THAT EVEN IF YOU NEVER HIRED A PERSON WITH
22 A DISABILITY, SOMEONE'S GOING TO BECOME DISABLED.
23 SOMEONE WILL HAVE A HEART ATTACK.
24 SOMEONE WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.
25 SOMEONE WILL START TO HAVE DIABETES.
26
1 SOMEONE'S GOING TO COME TO YOU AND SAY I NEED TO BE
2 ACCOMMODATED.
3 SO IF YOU'RE SMART MANAGERS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO
4 UNDERSTAND ACCOMMODATIONS BECAUSE SOMEONE WILL NEED
5 TO BE ACCOMMODATED WHETHER YOU HIRED A PERSON WITH A
6 DISABILITY OR NOT.
7 OF ALL THE REASONS WE'RE HAVING MORE PEOPLE WITH
8 DISABILITIES ON OUR WORK FORCE IS WHAT WE CALL THE
9 AGING PROCESS.
10 I PERSONALLY DON'T CARE FOR THAT TERM SINCE I'M --
11 YEARS OLD, I DON'T LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS GETTING
12 OLDER, BUT GETTING CHRONOLOGICALLY GIFTED.
13 AND SOME OF US WON'T WALK AS FAST, WE'LL HAVE
14 PROBLEMS WITH OUR DEXTERITY, OUR VISION MIGHT HAVE
15 SOME PROBLEMS, OUR HEARING MAY HAVE SOME PROBLEMS.
16 SO AS WE START TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS, WE NEED TO
17 MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS WE MAY NEED TO
18 PROVIDE.
19 WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED IN OUR FOLKS.
20 LET'S ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WE'VE ALREADY
21 INVESTED IN, WHO ARE ALREADY PART OF OUR WORK FORCE
22 CAN STAY ON THE WORK FORCE.
23 THAT'S WHAT CAP DOES IS WORK WITH MANAGERS TO KEEP
24 PEOPLE IN THE WORK FORCE.
25 WE ALSO TALK ABOUT PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY.
27
1 IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH
2 DISABILITIES.
3 YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ACCESSIBLE TO YOUR
4 COMMUNITY OF DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.
5 IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY, OH, WE'LL HIRE PEOPLE WITH
6 DISABILITIES AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A TTY IN YOUR
7 PERSONNEL OFFICE SO A DEAF PERSON CAN CALL AND SAY
8 DID YOU GET MY APPLICATION.
9 SO WE NEED TO HAVE PROGRAM ACCESS.
10 WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE HAVE EMERGENCY
11 SITUATIONS PEOPLE CAN CALL WHO MAY NEED DIFFERENT
12 WAYS OF CALLING IN.
13 SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS PROGRAM ACCESS AND OF COURSE
14 WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT 508 COMPLIANCE.
15 LET ME TELL FOR A MOMENT ABOUT SOME OF THE TOOLS WE
16 PROVIDE FOR THE CAP PROGRAM.
17 AGAIN, WE WERE HERE TO BECOME THE CENTRALLY FUNDED
18 PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THE ACCOMMODATIONS.
19 LET ME QUICKLY GO DOWN SOME OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS WE
20 DO PROVIDE.
21 WHAT IS THE NO. 1 DISABLING CONDITION IN THE
22 UNITED STATES TODAY?
23 CARPAL TUNNEL SEND ROM.
24 WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GO OUT ON WORKERS' COMP OR
25 NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEVELOPED
28
1 CARPAL TUNNEL.
2 IF I CAN ACCOMMODATE SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A SPINAL
3 CORD INJURY, MS, CP, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE DISABILITY
4 IS, IT'S THE SAME FUNCTIONAL LIMITATIONS: SOMEONE
5 MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE THEIR HANDS TO ENTER
6 INFORMATION INTO THE COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT.
7 LET'S ACCOMMODATE THEM.
8 SO WE HAVE AN ACCOMMODATION WHETHER IT'S A LOW TECH
9 SOLUTIONS LIKE A DIFFERENT POINTER SYSTEM, DIFFERENT
10 KEYBOARD, OR THE HIGH END, MORE THE VOICE RECOGNITION
11 TYPE TECHNOLOGY.
12 ALLOWING SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO INPUT INFORMATION INTO
13 THEIR COMPUTER ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT MAYBE USING AS
14 WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF AS A TRADITIONAL KEYBOARD.
15 HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PRINT IN THE
16 PHONE BOOK HAS GOTTEN A HELL OF A LOT SMALLER OVER
17 THE YEARS? WE HAVE LARGER MONITOR, OR WHERE WE
18 PROVIDE CCTVS OR MAGNIFICATION, WHATEVER THE TOOL MAY
19 BE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT'S ON THEIR COMPUTER
20 SCREEN OR BE ABLE TO ACCESS WHAT'S ON THEIR COMPUTER
21 SCREEN IS THE OTHER TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT MAKES IT
22 EASY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY PART OF THIS INFORMATION
23 ENVIRONMENT.
24 TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICES, TTY'S.
25 HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
29
1 RAISE YOUR HANDS.
2 EVERYONE'S HANDS SHOULD BE UP.
3 IF THEY'RE NOT, MAKE SURE GUNEXT DOOR TO THE EXHIBIT
4 ROOM.
5 TTY ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING,
6 PEOPLE WITH SPEECH IMPAIRMENT, PEOPLE WHO DON'T USE
7 WHAT YOU CONSIDER A TRADITIONAL TELEPHONE TO
8 COMMUNICATE.
9 WHETHER YOU HAVE THE SMALL DESKTOP MODEL OR YOU HAVE
10 THE LARGER PC-BASED MODEL WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO
11 NETWORK.
12 AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS YOU, GET
13 THE INFORMATION THEY NEED, BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE,
14 BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
15 WE ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES.
16 SOME OF US AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, PART OF THAT
17 GIFTING PROCESS WE'LL HAVE SOME OF OUR HEARING LOSS.
18 BASED ON WHERE I WORK, A LOT OF OUR FOLKS IN UNIFORM
19 HAVE HEARING LOSS JUST BY THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY DO.
20 I KNOW I'VE LOST SOME OF MY HEARING BUT IT'S NOT
21 BECAUSE OF WHERE I WORK, BUT IT'S BECAUSE I GO TO A
22 LOT OF ROCK CONCERTS AND.
23 YOU KNOW YOU CANNOT REALLY APPRECIATE TINA TURNER
24 DOING PROUD MARY UNLESS YOU'RE NEXT TO THE AMPLIFIER.
25 SO I'VE LOST A LOT OF MY HEARING.
30
1 I KNOW I HEAR WOMEN'S VOICES BETTER THAN MALE'S
2 VOICES.
3 AND I KNOW THAT AFTER ABOUT 18 YEARS OF MARRIAGE I
4 CAN HARDLY HEAR MY HUSBAND'S VOICE AT ALL.
5 SO IF YOU FIND THAT YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS NOW DOING
6 PHONE WORK, GOING TO MEETINGS, THAT YOU CAN HEAR SOME
7 PEOPLE'S VOICES BUT NOT OTHER PEOPLE'S VOICES.
8 IT COULD BE JUST A SLIGHT HEARING LOSS AND TECHNOLOGY
9 CAN HELP YOU KEEP PART OF THAT ENVIRONMENT, DO THE
10 PHONE WORK, GO TO THOSE MEETINGS.
11 WE ALSO PROVIDE WHAT WE CALL CAPTIONING SERVICES.
12 CAPTIONING ALLOWS US AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
13 ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND INFORMATION THIS . ALSO GOES
14 BACK TO THAT 508 ENVIRONMENT, MAKING SURE THAT WE
15 HAVE VIDEO TAPES THAT ARE CAPTIONED.
16 HOW MANY OF YOU USE VIDEO TAPES FOR YOUR TRAIN
17 SOMETHING RAISE YOUR HANDS.
18 ARE THOSE TAPES USED FOR EEO TRAINING, DIVERSITY
19 TRAINING?
20 HOW MANY OF THEM ARE CAPTIONED?
21 NOT EVERYONE'S HAND WENT BACK UP.
22 DID YOU NOTICE THAT?
23 MY COMMENT IS SHAME ON YOU.
24 IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUYING VIDEO TAPES, IF YOU'RE
25 GOING TO BE PROMOTING TRAINING USING VIDEO TAPES, YOU
31
1 MUST MAKE SURE IT IS CAPTIONED.
2 WHAT MAKES ME A LITTLE BIT CRAZY IS THAT OCCASIONALLY
3 WE BUY VIDEO TAPES ON ISSUES LIKE EEO, DIVERSITY,
4 PERSONNEL ISSUES FROM VENDORS WHO CLAIM THEY KNOW ALL
5 ABOUT THESE ISSUES, WHO CLAIM THEY'RE EXPERTS ON
6 THEM, AND THEIR MATERIALS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE.
7 TWO THINGS COME TO MIND WHEN I SEE THAT HAPPEN.
8 ONE, THE COMPANY THAT'S PROMOTING THEIR VIDEO TAPES
9 AND THEIR MATERIALS ON DIVERSITY AND EEO AND ALL THAT
10 STUFF AND IT'S NOT CAPTIONED, I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK
11 BUT THEY DON'T GET IT.
12 THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND DIVERSITY.
13 HOW CAN THEY HAVE MATERIALS ON DIVERSITY AND FORGET
14 AN ENTIRE POPULATION?
15 AND THEN THE PERSON THAT BOUGHT IT, YOU DON'T GET IT.
16 IF YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE, AND I ASSUME MANY OF YOU DO
17 SERVE IN THE ROLE OF EEO ADVISOR TO YOUR BOSS AND IF
18 YOU DON'T DO THAT FOR THEM, YOU HAVE MADE YOUR BOSS
19 LIKE A BOSS WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN INCLUSION BECAUSE
20 YOU HAVE JUST PROMOTED THE CONCEPT OF INFORMATION NOT
21 BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE AND NOT TRULY BEING
22 INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE.
23 SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE CHANGE THAT PRACTICE.
24 BECAUSE CAPTIONING IS NOT ONLY SOMETHING THAT'S VERY
25 USEFUL, IT SENDS A MESSAGE.
32
1 CAN PEOPLE TELL ME WHO ELSE BENEFITS FROM HAVING
2 VIDEO TAPES CAPTIONED BESIDES PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF AND
3 HARD OF HEARING?
4 >> LEARNING DISABLED PEOPLE.
5 >> EXCELLENT.
6 WHO ELSE?
7 ANYONE ELSE?
8 >> ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
9 >> OUTSTANDING! ENGLISH AS A SECOND
10 LANGUAGE.
11 PEOPLE WHO ARE FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE, PROBABLY
12 EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND INFORMATION WHEN THEY CAN SEE
13 IT AND HEAR IT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
14 ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE CAPTIONING IS BEING USED
15 MOST IN THE PUBLIC AREA?
16 WHERE DO YOU GET --
17 >> BARS.
18 >> DALE, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING AFTER
19 WORK?
20 (LAUGHTER).
21 >> SPORTS BARS.
22 SPORTS BARS PROBABLY NO. 1.
23 HEALTH PLACES, BUT YOU CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT ANY
24 TYPE OF GO TO A SPORTS BAR, AT LEAST ONE TV IS ON
25 CAPTIONING.
33
1 YOU THINK THEY PROBABLY CARE ABOUT THE DEAF AND HARD
2 OF HEARING COMMUNITY?
3 PROBABLY NOT.
4 BUT WHY DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE IT CAPTIONED?
5 THEY CAN'T HEAR IT.
6 ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WAS DEVELOPED FOR ONE
7 POPULATION BENEFITTING A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, KIND OF
8 THAT CONCEPT OF UNIVERSAL DESIGN.
9 I CAN'T HELP BUT TELL THIS STORY.
10 WHEN THE LAW CAME OUT THAT REQUIRED THAT ALL OF OUR
11 TV SETS THAT ARE 13 INCHES OR LARGER THAT WAS
12 MERCHANDISED AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE UNITED STATES HAD
13 TO HAVE THAT INTERNAL CHIP TO ACCESS THE CAPTIONING
14 BY TURNING A SWITCH.
15 THE CONVERSATION GOES BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE.
16 THE NONDEAF PERSON TURNS TO THE DEAF PERSON.
17 AND SAYS I REALLY RESENT THAT I HAVE TO SPEND $5 MORE
18 SO YOU PEOPLE CAN WATCH TV, SO YOU PEOPLE CAN WATCH
19 CAPTIONING.
20 THE DEAF WOMAN JUST SMILES AND SAID OH, DON'T FEEL SO
21 BAD.
22 I'VE BEEN PAYING FOR YOUR VOLUME CONTROL FOR YEARS.
23 (LAUGHTER).
24 WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE
25 TECHNOLOGY JUST AGAIN TO INCREASE ACCESS THROUGHOUT
34
1 OUT FACILITIES.
2 SO THAT'S WHAT CAP PURPOSE IS, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
3 WE PROVIDE THOSE TOOLS.
4 OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS WE HAVE GROWN
5 TREMENDOUSLY, IN THE FY01 WHICH WE JUST WRAPPED UP,
6 WE FILLED OVER 4000 REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATION, OVER
7 3,000 FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OVER 1,000 FOR
8 OUR DOD PARTNERS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE
9 ACCOMMODATIONS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS SO YOU CAN
10 SEE THE GROWTH OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS.
11 WHEN IT COMES TO KNOWING AND LEARNING ABOUT OUR
12 PARTNERSHIP WITH -- CAP WILL BE SPONSORING A CAP
13 PARTNERSHIP TRAINING SEMINAR NOVEMBER 6 AT THE
14 MARRIOTT METROCENTER.
15 YOU CAN GET INFORMATION AT OUR CAP BOOTH.
16 THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE WHO IS A CAP
17 PARTNER OR WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE A CAP PARTNER LEARN
18 ABOUT THE VERY SPECIFIC WAYS IN WHICH WE ACTUALLY
19 LEARN AND WORK AND MANAGE THE PROGRAM.
20 TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW
21 WE FILL OUT THE CAP REQUEST FORM, HOW WE DO NEEDS
22 ASSESSMENT, HOW WE REALLY MANAGE THE PROGRAM TO
23 BENEFIT OUR CAP PARTNERS.
24 SO I RESPECT IF YOU ARE A CAP PERSON NOW OR WANT TO
25 GET MORE HANDS ON INFORMATION, ATTEND OUR CONFERENCE.
35
1 MANY OF MY PARTNERS ARE HERE AS PART OF THE PLANNING
2 COMMITTEE INCLUDING BARB EVA, FROM SHA, DEPARTMENT OF
3 DEFENSE, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, ALL SPONSORS OF THESE
4 WONDERFUL CONFERENCES, TWO AND A HALF DAYS OF
5 FOCUSING ON ALL ASPECTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
6 I'D LIKE TO NOW FOCUS ON A FEW THINGS.
7 ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE IS A WONDERFUL TECHNOLOGY
8 CENTER.
9 AND OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTER'S IN THE PENTAGON.
10 AND THE FIRST TIME PRESIDENT BUSH CAME TO THE
11 PENTAGON WAS TO MEET WITH ME AND TO SEE OUR
12 TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
13 IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY FOR OUR CAP SAC.
14 YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN PRESIDENT BUSH.
15 HE WAS REALLY GETTING -- AL WAS SHOWING WHAT GEORGE
16 W. BUSH FELT LIKE IN BRAILLE, HE RUBBED HIS FINGER
17 ACROSS THE TERMINAL AND WENT COOL.
18 AND PAUL SINGLE MAN WAS SHOWING HIM HOW TO DO A TTY
19 CALL.
20 AND HE PUSHED PAUL ASIDE AND SAID LET ME DO IT.
21 AND HE SAID HELLO, JENNIFER THIS IS THE PRESIDENT.
22 IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY FOR THE CAP PROGRAM TO BE ABLE
23 TO HOST A TOUR FOR PRESIDENT BUSH.
24 THAT WAS HIS FIRST DAY AT THE PENTAGON.
25 SECOND VISIT AT THE PENTAGON, SEPTEMBER 2 H.
36
1 SEPTEMBER 12.
2 I CAN'T HELP TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER
3 11.
4 IT HIT HOME.
5 IT HIT OUR BUILDING.
6 WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH CAME BACK ON THE 12TH, HE SAW THE
7 DEVASTATION TO THE PENTAGON.
8 WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE DEATHS THAT HAPPENED ON THE
9 11TH.
10 NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE WE
11 LOST SO MANY PEOPLE.
12 BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE IN FRONT OF US.
13 AND THAT IS WE DON'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE SURVIVORS.
14 AND THIS IS WHY I TURN TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
15 TO SAY YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO YOUR AGENCIES, YOU NEED
16 TO GO BACK TO YOUR ORGANIZATIONS, AND MAKE SURE YOU
17 HAVE AN ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENT.
18 IF EVER THIS COUNTRY NEEDED THE TALENTS OF PEOPLE WHO
19 UNDERSTAND HOW TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH
20 DISABILITIES, THIS IS IT.
21 WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL IN THE WASHINGTON
22 HOSPITAL, WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK HOSPITALS,
23 WHO ALL HAVE A LONG RECOVERY AND WANT TO COME BACK TO
24 WORK.
25 WE MUST HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO COME BACK TO.
37
1 WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN COME BACK AND WORK FOR
2 US AGAIN BY HAVING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S ACCESSIBLE.
3 SO I TURN TO YOU AND I CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE
4 OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ENVIRONMENT IS
5 PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE.
6 I CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO MAKE SURE
7 YOUR INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT IS TRULY ACCESSIBLE.
8 I CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO MAKE SURE
9 THAT YOU PRACTICE INCLUSION, BECAUSE IF EVER WE
10 NEEDED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS SUPPORTIVE OF PEOPLE
11 WITH DISABILITIES, IT IS NOW.
12 WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM AND AN
13 ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE PEOPLE, THE
14 VICTIMS, OF SEPTEMBER 11 AND WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT.
15 IF EVER THERE'S A TIME THAT NEEDS OUR TALENT, THIS IS
16 IT.
17 MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS HEARD ME SAY THAT THE REASON
18 WE NEED TO HAVE STRONG DISABILITY PROGRAMS IS BECAUSE
19 THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY POPULATION ANYONE CAN JOIN
20 AT ANY TIME.
21 ASK THE SUPERMAN.
22 ASK CHRISTOPHER REEF. AND NOW ASK THE VICTIMS OF
23 SEPTEMBER 11.
24 BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL READY TO
25 SUPPORT THEM.
38
1 AND WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF WE HAVE THAT KIND OF
2 ENVIRONMENT SO IN CASE WE BECOME DISABLED WE HAVE A
3 PLACE TO WORK.
4 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
5 (APPLAUSE)
6 .
7 >>DINAH IS A VERY HARD ACT TO FOLLOW.
8 SHE'S GREAT.
9 I'M ROSEMARY GALE, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL AT
10 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.
11 AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WHAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER
12 11 HAS REALLY HEIGHTENED OUR NEED TO RECRUIT THE BEST
13 AND THE BRIGHTEST.
14 THERE'S A LOT MORE DISABLED PEOPLE.
15 THERE'S A LOT MORE DISABLED PEOPLE THAN THERE WERE
16 BEFORE, AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
17 I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT OUR DIRECTOR K
18 COLE JAINKS SAID ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT
19 SERVICE.
20 SHE SAID OUR NATION DEPENDED UPON THE RELIEF WORKERS
21 FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, THE
22 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND THE CORPS OF
23 ENGINEERS AT GROUND ZERO TO BRING ORDER TO THE CHAOS.
24 THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WAS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT IN
25 THAT.
39
1 FAAN EMPLOYED SKY MARSHALS TO SECURE OUR SAFETY.
2 THE FBI NEEDS INVESTIGATORS, THE CII NEEDS
3 INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS.
4 DOD NEEDS TO REPLACE WORKERS THEY'VE LOST EVEN AS
5 THEY GET TO A FULL-SCALE MOBILIZATION.
6 THERE ARE PRESSING NEEDS AT JUSTICE, AT TREASURY.
7 AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, ADMINISTRATIVES AND
8 SYSTEM ANALYSTS KEEP THE BANKING SYSTEM AND THE MONEY
9 SUPPLY STABLE.
10 THE U.S. BORDER PATROL AND COAST GUARD KEEP AN EYE
11 OUT FOR HOSTILE VISITORS.
12 THE FDAN ENSURES A QUALITY BELOW SUPPLY.
13 THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL WATCHES FOR SIGNS FOR
14 ANY NEW EPIDEMIC.
15 EPA MONITORS OUR AIR AND WATER AND IS ASSESSING THE
16 CLEANUP IN NEW YORK CITY.
17 WE NEED DOCTORS, WE NEED LAWYERS, WE NEED
18 RESEARCHERS, WE NEED ANALYSTS, WE NEED SCIENTISTS, WE
19 NEED TEACHERS, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO WILL RISE TO THE
20 OCCASION AND RESPOND TO THE NEED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
21 NOW.
22 WE HAVE A NEED FOR NEW TALENT AND NEW ENERGY, NEW
23 CREATETIVEITY TO DO THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE
24 21ST CENTURY.
25 THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ON BOARD A BROAD
40
1 RANGE OF DIVERSE NEW TALENT.
2 THAT'S WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY AND I THINK THAT SUMS UP
3 VERY WELL WHAT OUR CHALLENGES ARE IN EMPLOYMENT.
4 SO WE HAVE THIS GREAT NEED AND THEN BECOME PEOPLE
5 WITH DISABILITIES.
6 AND AS A NATION, WE REALLY HAVE ALLOWED ENORMOUS
7 TALENT TO GO UNTAPPED FOR TOO LONG.
8 WE'VE GOT TO BRING MORE QUALIFIED PEOPLE WITH
9 DISABILITIES INTO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
10 WE NEED THEIR SKILLS, WE NEED THEIR TALENTS, AND
11 WE'VE GOT TO DO IT QUICKLY.
12 I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
13 AND OPM'S EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL
14 GOVERNMENT AS A MODEL EMPLOYER DOES A BETTER JOB OF
15 RECRUITING, HIRING, DEVELOPING, AND RETAINING PEOPLE
16 WITH DISABILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE.
17 I'D LIKE TO GO OVER SOME DEMOGRAPHICS THAT SHOW YOU
18 HOW WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, AND TALK ABOUT SOME
19 EFFORTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD WITH PEOPLE WITH
20 DISABILITIES.
21 AND WHERE WE'RE GOING IN THE FUTURE.
22 FIRST LET ME PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND.
23 TODAY THERE ARE 54 MILLION PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
24 IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT WAS BEFORE SEPTEMBER
25 11.
41
1 20% OF OUR TOTAL POPULATION IS DISABLED.
2 AS GROUP, THEY SUFFER AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 75
3 PERCENT.
4 COMPARE THAT TO THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF
5 ABOUT 4 PERCENT.
6 DOESN'T TAKE A STATISTICIAN TO KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING
7 VERY WRONG WITH THESE NUMBERS.
8 OUR MOST RECENT FIGURES SHOW THAT THERE'S 120,770
9 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
10 OR 6.8 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE.
11 AMONG THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE, 19,996 HAVE TARGETED
12 DISABILITIES.
13 THAT'S ONLY 1.2 PERCENT OF OUR WORK FORCE.
14 FOR THE PAST THREE DECADES, SEVERAL LAWS HAVE BEEN
15 ENACTED WITH THE INTENT OF SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING
16 THE EMPLOYMENT RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE
17 WITH DISABILITIES.
18 SOME EXAMPLES ARE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, VIETNAM
19 ERA VETERANS ACT, THE CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF
20 1978, AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACTS OF
21 1990.
22 AND THE ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS ACT.
23 IN SPITE OF THESE AND OTHER LAWS, THE REPRESENTATION
24 OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS REALLY NOT SOMETHING
25 WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
42
1 THERE ARE THREE UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS IN THE
2 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: WOMEN, HISPANICS, AND PEOPLE
3 WITH DISABILITIES.
4 IN THE PAST FEW DECADES, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
5 DESIGNED SPECIAL INITIATIVES TO INCREASE THE
6 REPRESENTATION OF THESE GROUPS.
7 AND THESE INITIATIVES HAVE RESULTED IN PROGRESS.
8 WHILE WOMEN MADE UP 43.7 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL WORK
9 FORCE IN 1991, THEY MADE UP 45.4 IN MARCH OF 2000.
10 ALTHOUGH MISPANICS ARE STILL THE ONLY
11 UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY GROUP AND AS WE KNOW WE
12 HAVE SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THEIR HIRING, THE
13 REPRESENTATION RATE SHOW GOOD INCREASES AS WELL.
14 WHILE THEY MADE UP 5.4 PERCENT OF THE WORK FORCE IN
15 1991, THEY REPRESENT 5.5 PERCENT IN 2000.
16 IN RECENT YEARS THE CONCERN OVER THE
17 UNDERREPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAS
18 TRIGGERED MANY ACTIONS THAT ALLOW FOR PEOPLE WITH
19 DISABILITIES TO GET EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE HIRED AND
20 DEVELOPED AS FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.
21 AS ONE OF HIS FIRST ACTS IN CONGRESS, PRESIDENT BUSH
22 ISSUED THE NEW FREEDOM INITIATIVE.
23 THE NEW FREEDOM INITIATIVE CALLS ON AGENCIES TO HELP
24 ENSURE THAT AMERICANS WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE
25 CLOSE TO L FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, TO LIVE MORE
43
1 INDEPENDENTLY, AND TO ENGAGE IN PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT
2 AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY LIFE.
3 OPM HAS JOINED WITH HSS AND OTHER AGENCIES IN
4 IMPLEMENTING THE NEW FREEDOM INITIATIVE.
5 WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCE ON EMPLOYMENT OF
6 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES WHICH RICHARD LEADS, WE SET
7 AN AGGRESSIVE NATIONAL POLICY TO BRING WORKING
8 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO A GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AT
9 THE RATE OF THE NATIONAL.
10 WE HAVE EXECUTIVE ORDER 13163 WHICH WAS ISSUED TO
11 INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH
12 DISABILITIES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
13 BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH
14 DISABILITIES IS NOT GOING TO IMPROVE BY EXECUTIVE
15 ORDER ALONE.
16 IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE WORK OF EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM
17 TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
18 LET HE TELL YOU WHERE WE WERE IN 1991.
19 WE HAD 6.7 PERCENT OF OUR WORK FORCE OF PEOPLE WITH
20 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
21 NOW TODAY, GUESS WHAT?
22 WE'RE AT 6.8 PERCENT.
23 THAT'S TRAGIC.
24 THAT REALLY IS TRAGIC.
25 WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR 10 YEARS AND WE'VE
44
1 MADE ONLY THAT KIND OF IMPROVEMENT.
2 SOME AGENCIES HAVE REALLY DONE BETTER THAN OTHERS.
3 SOME HAVE HAD JOBS THAT EASILY LEND THEMSELVES TO
4 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
5 OTHERS HAVE A MUCH HARDER TIME.
6 WE HAVE QUITE A RANGE IN AGENCY REPRESENTATION OF
7 EMPLOYMENT DISABILITYS FROM A LOW OF 2.5 PERCENT TO A
8 HIGH OF 13.5 PERCENT.
9 I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT OPM HAS BEEN
10 WORKING ON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
11 WE'VE ISSUED A PLAN AND A GUIDE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF
12 ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES.
13 IT IS ON OUR WEB SITE HOPEFULLY MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN
14 IT.
15 I'LL GIVE YOU MY COMMERCIAL FOR MY WEB SITE LIKE JANE
16 DID ON HERS.
17 WE ARE WWW.OPM.GOV/DISABILITY.
18 WE'VE CHALLENGED AGENCIES TO INCREASE THE HIRING OF
19 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
20 WE'VE DEVELOPED NEW REGULATIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
21 HIRE AND TO KEEP PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC
22 DISABILITIES.
23 WE'VE INSTALLED A NEW FEATURE ON OUR USA JOBS WHICH
24 EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS IS A LIST OF WHAT THE
25 VACANCIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
45
1 WHAT WE HAVE IS SOMETHING CALLED USA JOB SUPPLY
2 E-MAIL IN WHICH ANYBODY CAN SIGN UP AND GET A LIST
3 EVERY DAY OF JOBS THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
4 THIS IS ESPECIALLY NICE FOR PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY
5 IMPAIRMENTS THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WORK THROUGH
6 THE SYSTEM EVERY THROUGH, THEY'RE JUST AUTOMATICALLY
7 GOING TO GET A LIST.
8 WE HAVE DEVELOPED A MODEL PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF
9 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHICH YOU HAVE AS A HANDOUT
10 AND IT REALLY IS THE BEST OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT
11 THERE.
12 IT PROVIDES BEST PRACTICES IN RECRUITMENT AND HIRING,
13 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYEES,
14 MONITORING SUCCESS, AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR
15 MANAGEMENT.
16 OUR HUMAN MANAGEMENT RESOURCES COUNCIL FORMED AN
17 INTERAGENCY DISABILITY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE
18 TO AGENCIES ON HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE, HOW DO WE
19 HIRE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND HOW DO WE RETAIN
20 THEM.
21 WE HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY EXPERTISE
22 THROUGHOUT GOVERNMENT WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
23 TASK FORCE WITH US AND COMING UP WITH MATERIAL THAT'S
24 GOING TO BE VERY, VERY USEFUL FOR HIRING AND
25 RETAINING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
46
1 AND I SEE SEVERAL OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.
2 RICHARD WAS WORKING ON IT, BARBARA EVA, JANET DORSEY,
3 DALE, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM.
4 THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE.
5 ANYHOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT WEB SITE IT'S
6 GOING TO BE BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
7 WE HOPE TO LAUNCH THIS WEB SITE IN THE DECEMBER TO
8 JANUARY TIME FRAME. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE
9 DEVELOPING THIS WEB SITE THAT'S HERE TO MEET THE
10 NEEDS OF HR PEOPLE, APPLICANTS AND EMPLOYEES, AND
11 MANAGERS.
12 WE'VE HELD FOCUS GROUPS WITH APPLICANTS AND MANAGERS
13 TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW.
14 WHEN WE HAVE THE FOCUS GROUPS, THE APPLICANTS TOLD US
15 THEY NEED TO KNOW IN REAL PLAIN LANGUAGE HOW TO FIND
16 A JOB, WHAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IS ABOUT, AND
17 WHERE DO WE GO IN THE AGENCIES TO FIND OUT ABOUT
18 SELECTIVE PLACEMENT.
19 SO WE'RE PROVIDING THAT. WE'RE TELLING THEM WHAT
20 THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET A CERTIFICATION THAT WILL
21 ENABLE THEM TO BE HIRED.
22 WE ALSO HELP THE MANAGERS.
23 YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO MANAGERS OR
24 TRYING TO SELL MANAGERS ON HIRING PEOPLE WITH
25 DISABILITYS? IF YOU CAN TELL THEM, LOOK, WE CAN DO
47
1 THIS A LOT QUICKER THAN IF WE GO THROUGH THE
2 TRADITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT PROCESS.
3 THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
4 AND I THINK THAT IS OUR CHALLENGE AS PRACTITIONERS TO
5 GET OUT THERE AND WORK WITH VOCATIONAL REHAB, GET
6 APPLICATIONS, SO THAT WE CAN GET MANAGERS VERY, VERY
7 QUICKLY WITH PEOPLE.
8 WE'LL ALSO BE TELLING THEM ABOUT HOW SELECTIVE
9 PLACEMENT ORDERS CAN HELP THEM FIND PEOPLE QUICKLY
10 AND A RICH RESOURCE ON REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION,
11 WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE AGENCIES, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO
12 THEM IN FINDING OUT ABOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS.
13 WE'LL HAVE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.
14 ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN IMPLEMENTING ANY PROGRAM
15 TO INCREASE THE HIRING OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS
16 HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'VE DONE WELL?
17 AND SO WE'VE HAD THIS REALLY COOL FEEDBACK POOL THAT
18 CAN BE USED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN MANAGEMENT.
19 AND IT WILL TELL YOU ORGANIZATION BY ORGANIZATION HOW
20 YOU'RE DOING WITH HIRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
21 IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS IN SOCIAL SECURITY THAT'S
22 BEEN USING IT FOR YEARS.
23 WE DIDN'T HAVE A FOCUS GROUP FOR HR PROFESSIONALS
24 BECAUSE WE HAD THE BEST WORKING WITH US.
25 WE KNOW WHAT THEY NEED.
48
1 THEY'VE GIVEN US A LOT OF INFORMATION ON WHAT THEY
2 THINK THE HR PEOPLE NEED.
3 SO THE HR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET EVERYTHING I'VE
4 TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, PLUS INFORMATION ON HIRING
5 EMPLOYEES.
6 EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW HOW LONG TO HIRE PEOPLE.
7 WE'RE GOING TO GET A RECRUITMENT PAMPHLET THAT YOU
8 CAN USE WHEN YOU GO AROUND TO YOUR RECRUITMENT FAIRS
9 AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LANGUAGE FOR VACANCY
10 ANNOUNCEMENTS.
11 AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.
12 BUT TO ME THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
13 OH, ANOTHER BIG HIGHLIGHT IS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU
14 A TRAINING PACKAGE THAT YOU CAN USE IN YOUR AGENCIES
15 TO TRAIN MANAGERS.
16 I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
17 WE HAVE ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT THE SYSTEMIC ISSUE THAT
18 WE BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND FRANKLY THAT'S
19 CERTIFICATION OF DISABILITIES.
20 WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW TAKES TOO LONG.
21 OUR REGULATIONS RIGHT NOW SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO GET
22 THE CERTIFICATION THAT THE PERSON IS IN FACT
23 DISABLEED AND THEN YOU GOTTA TELL US THAT THEY CAN DO
24 THE DUTIES OF THE JOB AND WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE
25 NEEDED, AND GUESS WHAT?
49
1 ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE REAL QUICK WHEN THE VACANCY
2 IS UP.
3 WELL, WE DON'T THINK THAT'S VERY PRACTICAL FOR TODAY.
4 SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS JUST HAVE THE VOCATIONAL
5 REHABILITATION COUNSELORS LET US KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS
6 IN FACT DISABLED.
7 THEN ONCE YOU GET TO THE OFFER STAGE, THEN WE CAN
8 DEAL WITH ACCOMMODATIONS THAT'S WHERE WE'D RATHER --
9 WE'D RATHER GET MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUALIFIED AND
10 ABLE TO GET THEIR NAMES IN FOR JOBS AND THEN LATER ON
11 WHEN A GET A SPECIFIC OFFER GET THE SPECIFICS.
12 WE WORK TO REINVIGERATE PARTNERSHIPS AT
13 THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
14 WE'VE WORKED WITH PARTNERS AND HAVE SHARED
15 INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE AS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
16 NEED.
17 AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE TALKED TO US ABOUT WHAT THEY
18 NEED.
19 WE'VE TALKED TO THE STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
20 AGENCIES, VETERANS ADMINISTRATION REHABILITATION
21 OFFICE, AND THE NATIONAL ASSCIATION OF COLLEGES AND
22 UNIVERSITIES.
23 WE REALLY HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR INCREASED FEDERAL
24 HIRING.
25 SO OPM IS DOING A LOT OF THINGS ON A NATIONAL FEDERAL
50
1 LEVEL TO HELP MAKE DISABILITY HIRING A SUCCESS.
2 BUT TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT
3 HIRING IS DONE AT THE AGENCIES.
4 AND SO THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOU.
5 WE NEED YOUR HELP, WE NEED YOU TO GET OUT THERE AND
6 ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE STATE
7 VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES AND THE VA.
8 GET OUT THERE, BE PROACTIVE, TELL THEM WHAT KINDS OF
9 JOBS YOU HAVE IN YOUR AGENCY SO YOU ASK GET A SUPPLY
10 OF CANDIDATES AND YOU CAN SEND THEM OUT TO MANAGERS
11 VACANCIES OCCUR.
12 WE NEED YOU TO WORK WITH THE WORK FORCE RECRUITMENT
13 PROGRAM.
14 THEY HAVE GREAT SOURCES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS WITHHOLD
15 LOVE TO HAVE JOBS AND MIGHT BE AVAILABLE FOR
16 PERMANENT PLACEMENT.
17 WE WANT YOU TO WORK WITH DINAH.
18 SHE'S GOT WONDERFUL -- I MEAN, ACCOMMODATION FOR
19 FREE.
20 HOW MUCH BETTER CAN YOU HAVE THAN THAT ONE?
21 WE WANT YOU WHO WORK WITH THE ACCOMMODATION NETWORK
22 AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.
23 THEY CAN HELP YOU DO ASSESSMENTS OF WHAT YOU NEED
24 DEPENDENT UPON THE DISABILITY.
25 THAT'S FREE ALSO.
51
1 THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF GREAT FREE THINGS ALREADY IN
2 PLACE.
3 BUT I'M ENCOURAGING YOU TO MAKE HIRING AND RETAINING
4 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES A COMMITMENT.
5 IT INVOLVES ALL OF YOU.
6 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES COME IN ALL COLORS AND ALL
7 GENDERS AND AS WE SAW SEPTEMBER 11, ANY OF US COULD
8 BECOME DISABLED AT ANY TIME.
9 YOU CAN BE DISABLED AND BE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR
10 TO THE NATION, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE
11 SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR NATION.
12 FOR THE SAKE OF OUR NATION WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO LET
13 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BE UNTAPPED RESOURCES.
14 IT'S TIME WE ALL STARTED TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
15 THANK YOU.
16 >> NOW THE CHANGING OF THE MIKE.
17 I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME QUESTIONS AND HAVE A LITTLE
18 DISCUSSION WITH YOU, BUT BEFORE I DO, I'M GOING TO
19 MAKE A COUPLE OF BRIEF COMMENTS BECAUSE BARBARA KNOWS
20 I CAN'T RESIST NOT DOING THAT.
21 YOU KNOW DINE ATHIS DIDN'T WORK QUITE EASILY AS YOU
22 THOUGHT.
23 I KNOW WE'VE ALL THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11 AND
24 I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ADDRESSED THAT AND
25 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EVENT I WAS SIGNIFICANTLY
52
1 INVOLVED IN EFFORTS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE REGARDING A
2 HOST OF ISSUES IN TERMS OF RECOVERY AND RELIEF HERE
3 IN WASHINGTON AND IN NEW YORK.
4 AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ASTOUNDED ME THE MOST IS
5 KIND OF THE WAY I THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN WE'RE
6 TALKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
7 YOU KNOW WHAT THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO PEOPLE WITH
8 DISABILITIES IS.
9 WHAT IS IT?
10 HELLO.
11 PREJUDICES.
12 IT'S ATTITUDES, IT'S HOW WE THINK, IT'S HOW WE WHAT I
13 HAVE, IT'S HOW WE INTERACT.
14 I LOOK AT THE WORKPLACE AND I THINK HOW WE TRY TO
15 PROMOTE THE -- HELLO.
16 HOW ARE YOU?
17 IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
18 NOTE FROM THE AUDIENCE.
19 AND I THINK ABOUT THE CULTURES THAT WE TRY TO PROMOTE
20 IN OUR WORKPLACE AND THE CULTURES TO PROMOTE A SAFE
21 WORKPLACE, AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE, A DIVERSE
22 WORKPLACE, AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND WHEN YOU
23 START THINKING ABOUT ALTITUDES AND THESE BARRIERS,
24 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CULTURE OF DISABILITIES.
25 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN
53
1 SOCIETY.
2 THEY DON'T WANT TO BE SEPARATE, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE
3 SEGREGATED AND HAVE SEPARATE PROGRAMS AND ALL OF
4 THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
5 I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS IT ALL IS THAT WE BEGIN TO
6 MAKE THAT LEAP FROM ALL THE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD,
7 WE'RE GOOD THE RAMPS, WE'RE GOOD AT THE DOOR PLATES,
8 WE'RE NOT SO GOOD AT THE TTY'S YET.
9 BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, THOSE TEND TO
10 -- IF YOU CAN'T GET INTO THE BUILDING, YOU DON'T FEEL
11 LIKE YOU BELONG.
12 IF YOU CAN'T GET THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT YOU NEED, IT
13 COMMUNICATES A CULTURE WHERE YOU DON'T BELONG.
14 WE NEED TO GET THIS.
15 WE'RE GETTING IT.
16 WE'RE NOT GETTING IT AS QUICKLY AS I'D LIKE TO SEE US
17 GET IT, BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY A LOT MORE PASSIONATA
18 THAN MOST, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
19 PEOPLE SAY I'M HAPPY TO HIRE PEOPLE WITH
20 DISABILITIES, WHERE ARE THEY?
21 OH, COME ON, GOOD GOD, GIVE ME A BREAK.
22 MOST OF THEM ARE WHERE?
23 HOME COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS.
24 AND THERE'S A HUGE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE BENEFITS OF
25 SOCIAL SECURITY AND GOING TO WORK.
54
1 AND A LOT OF DISINCENTIVES AROUND THAT.
2 WE PASS THE TICKETS AROUND.
3 IF WE WANT TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT IN FEDERAL AGENCIES
4 BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WE HAVE A NEW PARTNER
5 TOO.
6 IS ANYBODY HERE FROM SOCIAL SECURITY?
7 NO, OKAY.
8 WE NEED TO WORK WITH KEN MCGILL'S OFFICE AT SOCIAL
9 SECURITY BECAUSE A TICKET IS GOING TO GO TO EVERY
10 SINGLE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARY WHO WANTS TO GO
11 BACK TO WORK.
12 THAT'S A HUGE POTENTIAL POOL.
13 AND AS I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL OF THIS AS I WAS GOING
14 THROUGH IMMEDIATELY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 BECAME PART OF
15 THE SECRETARY CHOW'S TEAM LOOKING AT EMERGENCY
16 RESPONSE IN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, BECAUSE THE
17 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR UNFORTUNATELY SITS OVER THE I395
18 THIRD STREET TUNNEL, 85 PERCENT OF THIS BUILDING SITS
19 ON THIS TUNNEL.
20 TOOK A TOUR WITH SOME OF OUR OCCUPATION AND SAFETY
21 AND HEALTH BUILDING.
22 TWO THIRDS OF THE EXITS WILL SEND YOU ONTO THE
23 TUNNEL.
24 TO ME THIS HAD PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS.
25 BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT WORKS IN OUR
55
1 EVACUATION PLANS AND IT HIT ME.
2 BECAUSE SOMEONE IN THE GROUP BEGAN TO RAISE THE
3 QUESTION ABOUT, WELL, HOW CAN WE HIRE PEOPLE WITH
4 DISABILITIES?
5 AND I WENT BOOM.
6 YOU KNOW WHAT SEPTEMBER 11 IS GOING TO DO TO OUR
7 ATTITUDES AND BARRIERS?
8 IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THEM.
9 I DON'T WANT TO SEE OUR RESPONSE BECOME A RESPONSE
10 THAT CREATES MORE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE WITH
11 DISABILITIES BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID TO HAVE THEM IN OUR
12 WORKPLACES.
13 WE NEED TO REJOICE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE
14 IN OUR WORKPLACES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
15 WORKPLACES ARE WELCOMING, SAFE PLACES FOR EVERYONE.
16 AND MAKING IT SAFE FOR EVERYONE INCLUDES MAKING IT
17 SAFE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
18 CAN WE GET THERE?
19 ABSOLUTELY.
20 HAVE WE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THERE?
21 SURE WE HAVE.
22 DO WE HAVE THE NUMBERS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE?
23 UH-UH.
24 WHEN I SEE IT STAGNATE AT 6 OR 7 PERCENT NOT GUILTY
25 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD, I GOTTA
56
1 SAY WHAT GIVES HERE, GUYS? IS IT IN OUR RECRUITMENT?
2 IS IT IN OUR TRAINING OF MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS?
3 IS IT IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF BARRIERS AND HOW TO
4 REDUCE THEM?
5 IT'S PROBABLY ALL OF THAT BUT IN THE END TO ME IT'S
6 ONE INCLUSIVE CULTURE FOR ALL.
7 SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.
8 I'VE WORKED WITH ALL OF THESE GREAT PEOPLE AROUND THE
9 TABLE, MANY OF YOU OUT IN THE AUDIENCE, I KNOW WE'RE
10 GOING TO GET THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT POLICY
11 IN PLACE.
12 THE TASK FORCE HAS GOT A YEAR LEFT ON ITS WORK AND I
13 PERSONALLY HAVE ON MY PERSONNEL PAPERS I EXPIRE.
14 WHERE DO YOU COME UP WITH NA?
15 I EXPIRE ON AUGUST 26 OF 2002.
16 SO I TOOK OUT JUST A LITTLE LIFE INSURANCE FOR THE
17 EVENT.
18 BUT WE'VE GOT A YEAR LEFT TO REALLY ENCOURAGE THE
19 WORK THAT'S GOING ON AT EEOC AND WITH OPM AND WITHIN
20 THOSE AGENCIES.
21 I HAVE A JOKE THAT I SHARE WITH ROSEMARY WHEN WE TALK
22 ABOUT THE DATA BASE OF THE WEB SITE, YOU KNOW HOW WE
23 HAVE A COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN AND WE HAVE THE
24 BRAROMETER THAT RISES UP?
25 I WANT TO SEE THAT IN TERMS OF 100,000 SO WHEN I GO
57
1 ON THE WEB SITE, I CAN SEE THAT BRAROMETER GO UP.
2 DO ANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR OUR PANEL MEMBERS?
3 I APPRECIATE EVERYONE AND THE GREAT JOB THEY'VE DONE.
4 YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HARD THESE PEOPLE HAVE WORKED TO
5 FURTHER THIS POLICY AND I WANT TO APPLAUD ALL OF YOU
6 AND THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK.
7 I'M GOING TO COME BACK WITH THE MICROPHONE.
8 BECAUSE THIS IS THE PHIL DONOHUE PART THAT KEEPS ME
9 SKINNY JUST TELL ME WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU'RE
10 FROM.
11 >> I'M FRANK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
12 EDUCATION.
13 MY QUESTION IS FOR THE AUDIENCE.
14 IS IS THERE ANYONE IN IN THE AUDIENCE FROM THE
15 DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
16 OKAY.
17 DINAH, I MEET WITH THEM NEXT THURSDAY, I'LL MAKE SURE
18 I PASS ON YOUR BROCHURES AND TELL YOU THEM ABOUT YOU.
19 >> THEY'RE IN THE OTHER ROOM.
20 >> WE'RE NOT A PARTNER WITH YOU I DON'T
21 BELIEVE.
22 >> THAT'S WHAT SHE TOLD ME AT LABOR.
23 WE WERE TOO BIG.
24 >> EDUCATION IS TOO BIG?
25 >> EDUCATION HAS A GOOD PROGRAM.
58
1 THERE HAVE BEEN INTERNALLY CENTRALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS
2 ALREADY.
3 YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO BECOME A PARTNER.
4 >> OKAY.
5 >> OKAY.
6 >> HI, I'M WANDA GILL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
7 EDUCATION.
8 AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ROSEMARY DOWNING.
9 DID WE DO ANY EXIT STUDIES OF PEOPLE WITH
10 DISABILITIES WHO ARE EXITING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
11 TO SEE WHAT THOSE REASONS WERE AND SOME SORT OF
12 ANALYSIS COMPARED WITH THEIR MANAGERS?
13 THE REASON I ASK THAT IS WE HAVE A WONDERFUL WOMAN IN
14 A WHEELCHAIR, AND I TALKED TO HER MOST OF THE TIME
15 AND SHE HAVE HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AND HE HAD TO
16 EXIT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
17 I SAID TO HER, THERE MUST BE SOME SORT OF EXIT
18 STUDIES GOING ON.
19 ARE THERE?
20 >> I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, WE DID A
21 SURVEY OF ALL THESE HR FOLKS AND EEO FOLKS ABOUT A
22 YEAR AGO REPLICATING THAT SURVEY WITH A THOUSAND
23 SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS.
24 THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
25 WHAT WE FOUND AND I THINK THIS GOES INTO YOUR ISSUE
59
1 OF RETENTION, IS THAT COMPARED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
2 IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THE LARGEST NUMBERS OF
3 COMPLAINTS IS FAILURE TO HIRE.
4 IN THE FEDERAL SECTOR, IT'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE
5 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS AND THAT TO ME GOES BACK TO
6 THAT CULTURE IF I DON'T FEEL LIKE I DON'T BELONG AND
7 I CAN'T GET WHAT I NEED, I'M GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE
8 ELSE AND DO IT.
9 IN TERMS OF STUDIES, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY STUDIES, BUT
10 ROSEMARY MIGHT.
11 >> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY STUDIES.
12 I WOULD SAY THAT WE REALLY ENCOURAGE AGENCIES TO TAKE
13 A LOOK AT THEIR OWN PRACTICES AND FIND OUT WHAT'S
14 GOING ON.
15 IT'S KIND OF A PROBLEM THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH
16 INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL REASONS
17 THAT CAUSE PEOPLE TO EXIT, AND THEY HAPPEN AT THE
18 INDIVIDUAL WORKPLACE.
19 SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE AGENCIES TO LOOK AT THAT.
20 >> I'M GOING TO COME THIS WAY AND THEN I'M
21 GOING TO GO THAT WAY BECAUSE THE CENTER OF THE ROOM
22 WAS EASIER FOR ME TO GET TO.
23 >> I'M CHRISTINE LIEUTEN FROM DEPARTMENT
24 OF THE INTERIOR, AND I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT
25 YOU HAD SAID ABOUT OUR PROBLEM BEING RETENTION.
60
1 NOW, IN THE FURTHERMORE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
2 A LOT OF US IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STAY FOR A
3 LIFETIME AND OVER THAT LIFETIME WE DEVELOP
4 DISABILITIES.
5 SO DO YOU FEEL THAT THE RETENTION IS A PROBLEM ON THE
6 PRIVATE SIDE, IT'S ACCOMMODATION ON THE FEDERAL YOU
7 WERE SAYING, DOES THAT MEAN THAT ALL THE FEDERAL
8 GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET ONTO DINAH'S PROGRAM SO THERE'S
9 NO DAMN EXCUSE FOR NOT GETTING ACCOMMODATION?
10 >> SURE! ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING
11 --
12 >> THAT'S A NO-BRAINER.
13 >> ACTUALLY WE WORKED VERY HARD FROM THE
14 TASK FORCE TO GET THAT APPROPRIATION INTO THE DEFENSE
15 AND APPROPRIATE WHEN WE DID T. WE'RE FINDING IN
16 PRELIMINARILY DATA THAT WE'RE GETTING BACK FROM FRONT
17 LINE SUPERVISORS IS THAT HAVING NOT ONLY CENTRALLY
18 FUNDED ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY BUT A CENTRAL
19 RESOURCE FROM THE AGENCY TO ASK FOR ANY TYPE OF
20 ACCOMMODATION WOULD HELP TREMENDOUSLY IN EMPLOYING
21 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
22 THE MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS TELL US THE SAME THING
23 AS HR PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT TRAINED.
24 THEY DON'T KNOW.
25 SO HAVE BEEN, NO. 1, THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE
61
1 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS SO IT DOESN'T COME OUT OF
2 THE AGENCY BUDGET, YOU KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS THE BUDGET
3 LINE, IS IT GOING TO AND OUT OF MY BUDGET AND TWO,
4 HAVING A CENTRALIZED RESOURCE ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS I
5 THINK MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.
6 AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK HARD
7 AT IN OUR NEXT YEAR.
8 I'M GOING TO TAKE TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
9 DID WE GET COPIES OF THE VIDEO TAPE?
10 >> I'M NANCY FROM DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.
11 WHAT I WANTED TO FIND OUT, IN THE CFR, THIS IS ON
12 REASSIGNMENTS ON ACCOMMODATIONS.
13 I KNOW IT STATES THAT REASSIGNMENTS CAN BE DONE
14 WITHIN THE COMMUTING AREA.
15 BUT THERE IS A REVISION OF THAT WHERE YOU GO OUTSIDE
16 THE COMMUNITY.
17 IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU HAVE TOLD
18 SOMEONE THAT WE CAN ONLY REASSIGN WITHIN THE
19 COMMUTING AREA, SHOULD WE GO BACK NOW AND JUST TELL
20 THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT WE CAN REASSIGN OUTSIDE THE
21 COMMUTING AREA AND SHOULD WE -- THERE ARE AGENCIES
22 THAT WILL NOT OFFER TRAVEL, MOVING EXPENSES.
23 SO IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO TO ACCOMMODATE?
24 >> LAST QUESTION FIRST.
25 WHEN PROVIDING REASSIGNMENT AS A REASONABLE
62
1 ACCOMMODATION, THE REHAB ACT DOES NOT REQUIRE AN
2 AGENCY TO PICK UP MOVING OR RELOCATION EXPENSES FOR
3 THE EMPLOYEE WHO'S TAKING THE REASSIGNMENT TO ANOTHER
4 AREA.
5 IN TERMS OF THE ISSUE YOU MENTIONED THAT WHICH IS A
6 SOMEWHAT HYPER TECHNICAL ONE, BUT JUST THAT TO FILL
7 EVERYONE ELSE IN ON WHAT SHE'S ASKING ABOUT, THERE'S
8 A SECTION IN THE GOVERNING REGULATIONS UNDER THE
9 REHAB ACCOUNT IN EMPLOYMENT THAT SAYS WHEN YOU'RE
10 LOOKING FOR REASSIGNMENT, LOOK IN THE COMMUTING AREA.
11 AND THERE'S A PENDING REVISION IN THAT AND THE CHANGE
12 IN THE REGULATIONS WAS PENDING WHEN THE
13 ADMINISTRATIONS CHANGED AND PRESUMABLY IT WILL BE
14 CHANGED TO THE CURRENT POSITION WHERE YOU LOOK
15 NATIONWIDE FOR A POSSIBLE VACANCY WHEN YOU'RE
16 REASSIGNING SOMEONE, ANY COMPONENT, ANY GEOGRAPHIC
17 AREA WHERE YOUR AGENCY MIGHT HAVE A VACANCY ABSENT
18 UNDUE HARDSHIP.
19 AND IN TERMS OF CURRENT SITUATIONS THAT YOU HAVE,
20 GIVEN THAT POSSIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THE STANDARDS, I
21 DON'T KNOW THAT IT'LL NECESSARILY BE AN ISSUE IN THE
22 SITUATION YOU'VE DESCRIBED BECAUSE IF YOU'VE ACTUALLY
23 ALREADY FOUND A VACANCY TO REASSIGN SOMEONE TO, AND
24 IF IT'S AT THEIR SAME LEVEL, SAME GRADE, AND WITHIN
25 THEIR SKILL AREA, YOU ALREADY FOUND AN EFFECTIVE
63
1 ACCOMMODATION FOR THEM WITHIN THE COMMUTING AREA.
2 I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'D NECESSARILY NEED TO LOOK
3 BEYOND THAT. JUST IN A MORE GENERAL SENSE, I HAVE TO
4 SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS ISSUE REGARDING HOW
5 FAR YOU HAVE TO LOOK IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AS MUCH OF
6 A CONCERN AS AN EMPLOYER'S THINK.
7 I'VE HEARD MANY EMPLOYERS WHEN I'VE SPOKEN SAY, OH,
8 MY GOSH, HOW CAN YOU TELL US WE NEED TO LOOK
9 NATIONWIDE?
10 THAT'S SO BURDENSOME.
11 IT'S A PRACTICAL MATTER, IT'S PART OF THE INTERACTIVE
12 PROCESS AT THE OUTSET, AGENCIES SHOULD BE SPEAKING TO
13 THE PERSON WHO'S REQUESTED ACCOMMODATION AND TALK
14 ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE WILLING TO BE REASSIGNED TO.
15 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HAVE
16 FAMILYS AND MORTGAGES AND LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY IN
17 WHICH THEY RESIDE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE ONLY WILLING OR
18 INTERESTED IN BEING REASSIGNED TO A CERTAIN DISTANCE.
19 SO IN MANY INSTANCES IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE
20 AN ISSUE.
21 AND YOU CAN FIND WHAT THAT PERSON IS INTERESTED IN
22 AND MEMORIALIZE THAT IN YOUR FILE.
23 IF THE PERSON IS INTERESTED IN NATIONWIDE
24 REASSIGNMENT, THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THEM ABSENT
25 AN UNDUE HARDSHIP.
64
1 >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION
2 AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OPHELIA WHO
3 HAS A COUPLE OF LOGISTICAL THINGS THAT I THINK SHE
4 NEEDS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
5 >> I'M JANET DORSEY WITH DEPARTMENT OF
6 TRANSPORTATION AND I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS CHRISTINE AND
7 HER QUESTION AND ALSO SUPPORT WHAT RICHARD HAS SAID
8 THAT WE HAVE -- WE ADDRESS BOTH ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
9 AND THE PERSONNEL TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION ISSUES.
10 AND WE ARE KIND OF A SELF-CONTAINED GROUP.
11 BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERY FEDERAL AGENCY TO
12 ESTABLISH SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT UNIT, NOT JUST THE
13 DISABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER, BUT SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP
14 ADDRESS THE TRAINING ISSUES, THE PERSONNEL ISSUES
15 THAT COME UP, BECAUSE THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
16 REQUESTS ARE KIND OF CUT AND DRY.
17 WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THE PERSONNEL ISSUES AS
18 IT RELATES TO REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS, THOSE CAN
19 GET A LITTLE INVOLVED SOMETIMES, AND IT'S VERY
20 IMPORTANT TO HAVE A RESOURCE WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT
21 AND AGENCY WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE THAT TYPE
22 OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO YOUR MANAGERS AND
23 SUPERVISORS.
24 THAT'S WHERE WE FIND IT TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING IN
25 OUR DEPARTMENT.
65
1 I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU
2 TO GO BACK AND ESTABLISH THOSE IF YOU HAVEN'T
3 ALREADY.
4 >> THANK YOU.
5 I ALSO THINK THAT ONE OF THE WAYS -- THIS IS THE LAST
6 THING I'LL SAY AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER. ONE OF
7 THE THINGS THAT I HOPE YOU'RE DOING, I ALWAYS ASK FOR
8 PEOPLE TO LOOK FOR GPRA PLANS.
9 I GOT IMMERSEED IN GPRA.
10 IF WE HAVE THESE PERSONNEL GOALS AND HOW ARE THEY
11 PERMEATING WITHIN YOUR AGENCY'S GPRA PLANS? IF WE
12 WANT TO SET UP THESE KINDS OF CENTERS AND TECHNICAL
13 ASSISTANCE AND TECHNOLOGY PIECES, THAT'S GOING TO
14 HAVE TO BE DRIVEN BY PERFORMANCE DATA.
15 I THINK WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET THE LEVELS OF
16 FUNDING THAT WE NEED IN THE AGENCIES.
17 THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, ENJOY THE REST OF
18 CONFERENCE.
19 I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OPHELIA, AND AGAIN,
20 THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
21 OPHELIA: HELLO, EVERYONE.
22 FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M OPHELIA FALLS,
23 CHAIR PERSON OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND I'D LIKE
24 TO THANK BARBARA EAVA FOR COORDINATING THIS WORKSHOP.
25 FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING VIDEOS OF
66
1 THIS I WILL MAKE SURE YOU CAN GET A COPY OF IT.
2 IT WILL BE ARCHIVED ON THE WWW SECTION 508.GOV WEB
3 SITE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CLICK AND SEE A VIDEO CLIP OF
4 THE WORKSHOP.
5 ONE OF THE REASONS I'M IN THIS WORKSHOP IS I WANTED
6 TO ASK MS. DINAH COHEN, PLEASE, DINAH HAS SET UP FOR
7 THE IDEAS 2001 CONFERENCE THE FEDERAL INITIATIVE ROOM
8 AND IN THAT ROOM I'M SURE SHE'S TOLD EVERYONE SHE'S
9 ALLOWED GOVERNMENT TO PUT UP EXHIBITS AND TO TALK
10 ABOUT THEIR OWN ACCOMMODATION PROGRAMS.
11 AND THE IDEAS 2001 PLANNING COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO
12 THANK COMMITTEE WITH A PLACARD.
13 THANK YOU, DINAH
14 (APPLAUSE)
15 AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PREPARE FOR THE INDUSTRY
16 PANEL BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD.
17 THANK YOU.
18 (APPLAUSE)
19 ....... Rex lint, Sheila Newman Newman Ken Salaets,
20 Salaets, Mike Takemura, accessibility program
21 director Compaq computer Coopereration.
22 .
23 .
24 .
25 ...
67
1 (Recess)
2 ...: .
3 .
4 .
5 .
6 ....
7 >> GOOD MORNING.
8 I'M GOING TO GET STARTED HERE.
9 AS THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ALL THE
10 TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION /*
11 EDUCATION, I THINK I SHOULD HAVE SHOWN UP 15 MINUTES
12 EARLY TO CHECK THE SYSTEM OUT.
13 I THINK WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE.
14 LOOKS THAT WAY.
15 AGAIN, I'M CRAIG LUGART, AND I'M PLAYING MODERATOR
16 TODAY.
17 I WOULD LIKE TO SET SOME QUICK GROUND RULES.
18 FIRST I APOLOGIZE AFTER 15 YEARS MY DENTIST CONVINCED
19 ME TO GO INTO ORTHODONTURE AND THAT IS A MISTAKE.
20 FOR SOME REASON YOUR LIPS AND THESE WIRES DON'T GO
21 WELL TOGETHER.
22 SO I APOLOGIZE IF SOMETIMES YOU KNOWLEDGE I'M
23 SPEAKING IN CLINGON.
24 WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE WHO HAVE A
25 GREAT AMOUNT OF INFORMATION TO IMPORT TO TO TODAY.
68
1 THIS IS TOM FROM MICROSOFT.
2 SHEILA NEWMAN, REX LINT WHO IS FROM THE INFORMATION
3 TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.
4 I SHOULD SAY SHE'LL IS IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF VICE
5 PRESIDENT OF CESSI.
6 AND THEN I HAVE MIKE TAKEMURA FROM COMPAQ HERE AND I
7 ALSO HAVE KEN SALAETS WHO IS DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT
8 RELATIONS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY COUNCIL.
9 AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY LIPS AND
10 BRACES WORK AND SHORT SHORT GET IT TURNED OVER TO
11 THEM SO I CAN GET OUT OUT THE TROUBLE I'M GOING TO
12 GET MYSELF INTO.
13 I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME FOLKS REAL QUICK.
14 JOHN SEYMOUR AND HIS TEAM FROM THE GENERAL SERVICE
15 ADMINISTRATION, PARTICULARLY TERRY WEAVEER, OPHELIA
16 FALL FAUL WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PULL THIS EVENT
17 TOGETHER PUT A LOT OF HOURS ON THIS.
18 AND I ALSO NEED TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO JENNIFER
19 SHEHE WHO IS LEADING THE PRESIDENT'S DAY FREEDOM
20 INITIATIVE AND WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTOR FOR THE
21 ADMINISTRATION ON SECTION 508 AS WELL AS ANGELA
22 STYLES AND MIKE FOREMAN FROM OMB WHO AGAIN HAVE
23 PICKED UP THE ADMINISTRATION FLAG ON 508 AS A FORMER
24 NAVAL AVIATOR I CONSIDER DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
25 UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WE ALL LEARNED ON SEPTEMBER 11
69
1 AS WE HAD AIRCRAFT FLYING OVER THE CITY IN WHAT IS
2 CALLED IN MY WAR HIGH COVER.
3 AND I NEED TO THANK MY LEADERSHIP DOCTOR, SECRETARY
4 OF EDUCATION, ROD IS AN A STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
5 INNERCORE OF 508 AS WELL AS DR. BOB PASTER NAK, THE
6 ASSISTANT SECRETARY FROM THE OFFICE OFS SPECIAL
7 EDUCATION.
8 I MYSELF HAVE BEEN PLAYING WITH AND FOSTERING AND
9 MENTORING 508 SINCE I ARRIVED HERE ABOUT TWO YEARS
10 AGO.
11 COMING FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND BEFORE THAT A 20
12 PLUS YEAR YEAR IN THE NAVY.
13 I MENTIONED I WAS A NAVAL AVIATOR, AND I'M GOING TO
14 GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE HISTORY IN THAT AS WE PUT THAT
15 IN CONTEXT IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT I MUST ADMIT MY
16 RETURN IN MANY WAYS WAS DRIVEN BITE 508 INITIATIVE
17 ITSELF.
18 AT THAT TIME THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, SECRETARY
19 RILEY FELT STRONGLY THAT 508 AND THAT INITIATIVE
20 WHICH REALLY COMES FROM PRESIDENT BUSH, BUSH 1, AND
21 ADAN AND THE AFFIRMATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE
22 DISABLED, REALLY THAT WE RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A STRONG
23 NEED, AN ADMISSION FOR A LOT OF FOLKS TO MAKE THIS A
24 LIVING AND VIABLE LAW.
25 IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR AS WE GOT CLOSE TO THE 508
70
1 ROLL-OUT, IT BECAME CLEAR TO A NUMBER OF FOLKS, MOST
2 OF THE NAMES I JUST MENTIONED AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF
3 FOLKS IN CO COUNCIL, WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE MADE A
4 STRONG, CONCERTED EFFORT AND VOICE.
5 AND I NEED TO THANK BRIEFLY HERE THE MEMBERS OF THE
6 50 ATE STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE MENTORSHIP THAT OMB
7 HAS PROVIDED AND ALL THE WORK CSA HAS PROVIDED AS WE
8 ROLLED OUT.
9 AND THE LAST FOLKS I'D LIKE TO THANK IS INDUSTRY
10 ASSOCIATIONS AND INDUSTRY ITSELF.
11 I THINK EVERYONE HAS RECOGNIZED THIS IS A GREAT
12 LIVING LAW AND THE PARTNERSHIP IT'S BEEN SHOWN BY
13 INDUSTRY AROUND THIS LAW INCLUDING WORKING THROUGH
14 SOME VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES WITH HOW DO YOU LIVE WITH
15 THIS LAW, PARTICULARLY IN AN AGE WHERE TOMORROW WE
16 HAVE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND AT THE SAME TIME A NEW
17 SOLUTION.
18 SO I WANT TO EXTEND MY HEART FELT THANKS AS A
19 DISABLED INDIVIDUAL TO INDUSTRY WHO HAS TRULY
20 EMBRACED THIS.
21 AS I GO INTO MY FORMAL REMARKS BEFORE I TURN IT OVER,
22 I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A FEW MOMENTS OF MY OWN
23 BACKGROUND AND THEN RAISE A CHALLENGE TO YOU.
24 I NOTICE THERE'S A FEW FACES IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE
25 SEEN ME SPEAK BEFORE.
71
1 I ALSO HAVE A LOT OF NEW FACES IN HERE.
2 I'M GOING TO TRY TO PUT THIS IN A CONTEXT THAT NONE
3 OF YOU WILL EVER FORGET N. MY OWN CASE, I ALWAYS
4 CONSIDER MYSELF A FAIRLY GOOD PERSON WHO WOULD ALWAYS
5 HELP AN INDIVIDUAL IF THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH A
6 WHEELCHAIR GETTING THROUGH A DOOR, A BLIND PERSON
7 NAVIGATING ACROSS THE STREET.
8 BUT I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD WHAT IT MEANT TO LIVE
9 IN THOSE SHOES.
10 I CERTAINLY FELT LIKE I KNEW THEY WERE BURDENED IN
11 SOME WAY, BUT IN 1992 AFTER DELIVERING AN AIRCRAFT
12 OVERSEAS FOR THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO A FOREIGN
13 COUNTRY.
14 I CAME BACK WITH WHAT AT THAT TIME I THOUGHT WAS THE
15 WORST FLU I EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
16 I WENT OUT FOR MY DAILY RUN, NAVAL AVIATORS TRY TO
17 LOOK BUFF, AND I NOTICED MY LEFT FOOT JUST WASN'T
18 ACTING RIGHT DURING THE RUN.
19 A SCANT SIX MONTHS LATER AT NAVY BETHESDA WITH MY
20 DAUGHTER, I ACTUALLY BUMPED INTO MY ORTHOPEDIC
21 SURGEON WHO PRESCRIBED THE ORTHOTICS TO MY RUNNING
22 SHOES, AND I EXPLAINED TO BECKY THAT SHE HAD DONE
23 SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY ORTHOTICS AND UNFORTUNATELY
24 AS I EXPLAINED MY COMPLAINTS, IT LANDED ME IN AN
25 MMRXS MRXS CHAMBER IN LESS THAN 18 HOURS.
72
1 IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MILITARY MEDICINE, YOU
2 KNOW IF THEY GO FROM A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO
3 AN MRI CHAMBER IN 18 HOURS THEY THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
4 DIE.
5 SO NOTHING HAPPENS THAT FAST IN MILITARY MEDICINE.
6 OF COURSE OVER TIME THIS DISEASE WAS MS INITIALLY,
7 THEN THE NAVY PROVED THAT IT WASN'T MS AND THEY THREW
8 ME ACROSS THE STREET TO THE NATIONAL NASHL OF HEALTH.
9 AND AFTER NINE MORE MONTHS IN 1995, IT WAS DETERMINED
10 THAT I HAD ONE OF THE RAREST DISEASES ON THE FACE OF
11 THE EARTH, PRIMARY LATERAL SCLEROSIS.
12 DON'T WRITE IT DOWN, DON'T REMEMBER IT.
13 YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF LIVING OUT OF A 40 STORY
14 HALL AND HITTING THE GROUND THAN EVER GETTING PLS.
15 THERE ARE ABOUT 40 KNOWN CASES IN THE UNITED STATES,
16 MAYBE 250 WORLDWIDE.
17 BOTTOM LINE, MY LIFE WAS CHANGED INSTANTANEOUSLY. I
18 SHOULDN'T SAY INSTANT SNANTUOUSLY.
19 I HAD TO GROW INTO IT ACROSS FOUR YEARS.
20 BUT I WENT FROM BEING AN AIRCRAFT -- A PILOT, AN
21 AVIATOR, A SKI INSTRUCTOR, NATIONALLY RANKED SQUASH
22 PLAYER IN THE NATIONAL AREA, TO ALL MY LIFE WAS
23 REDEFINED.
24 NOW, 508 ISN'T JUST FOR ME, THOUGH.
25 508 HAS MUCH LARGER IMPACTS FOR ALL OF SOCIETY.
73
1 508'S IMPORTANT TO ME JUST LIKE ADA'S IMPORTANT.
2 BUT I WOULD JOIN YOU TO GO THROUGH A FEW SLIDES WITH
3 ME, AND I'LL PROVE TO YOU HOW IMPORTANT 508 IS TO USE
4 AS AN ABLE-BODIED PERSON WHO RAN HERE TO MAKE THE
5 TIME.
6 THIS IS THE AGE GROUP THEY IN FACT BECAME DISABLED
7 IN.
8 I'M THE RED PERSON IN THE CENTER OF THAT SCREEN.
9 HANG ON.
10 I CAN'T DO THAT YET.
11 AT THAT STAGE, A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, ABOUT 5
12 PERCENT HAVE A FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY.
13 I DIDN'T CHOOSE TO HAVE THIS DISABILITY.
14 THIS WAS WHEREVER HOWEVER IT GOT HEEFRX WHAT I WOULD
15 LIKE YOU TO DO IS CHOOSE A BODY ON THE SLIDE AND YOU
16 CAN THANK DR. GREG VANDER HIDEN AT TRACE CENTER FOR
17 THIS DESIGNATION THAT I'VE BEEN USING FOR A YEAR AND
18 A HALF.
19 EVERY TIME I SAY, WELL, THAT'S GETTING OLD, LET'S
20 TAKE IT OUT, I ALWAYS GET FEEDBACK.
21 NO, NO, LEAVE IT IN; IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
22 YOU DO.
23 SO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE DONE THIS, PLAY THE GAME
24 AGAIN.
25 NOW, THE RULES OF THE GAME, ONCE YOU CHOOSE ONE UP
74
1 THERE, YOU CANNOT CHANGE THAT BODY.
2 I DIDN'T GET TO CHANGE MINE.
3 SO LET'S GO AND AGE OURSELVES IN A FEW YEARS.
4 AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
5 AT 54, WE'VE MOVED OUT TO ABOUT WHERE 15 PERCENT OF
6 THE POPULATION HAS A NEED.
7 ACTUALLY 6 PERCENT HAS A SEVERE, AND 20 PERCENT OF
8 THE POPULATION HAS A FUNCTIONAL LIMITATION AS WE GET
9 TO 65ISH, WE'RE APPROACHING A FULL THIRD.
10 AND ONE IN 10 HAVE A SEVERE LIMITATION.
11 HOW MANY FOLKS IN HERE PLAN ON LIVING PAST 65 YEARS
12 OLD?
13 YEAH.
14 AND EVERYONE HERE WANTS TO GET AT LEAST THAT FAR.
15 YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET INTO THAT 65 TO 69?
16 ONE OUT OF FIVE HAS THIS SEVERE LIMITATION AND WE'RE
17 APPROACHING HALF OF YOU IN THIS ROOM HAVING A
18 FUNCTIONAL LIMITATION.
19 NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE YOUR BODY
20 NOW AND THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T CHANGED YOUR BODY
21 DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE NEXT SLIDE?
22 I USUALLY ASK THE QUESTION HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO
23 LIVE INTO YOUR 70S AND WE ALL KNOW THESE DAYS THROUGH
24 MEDICAL SCIENCE AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN FACT WE'RE
25 DOING A GREAT JOB LIVING INTO OUR 70S.
75
1 BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE WE CAN MOVE THERE, OUR BODY
2 SYSTEMS AREN'T DESIGNED TO MAKE US ACT LIKE 25
3 YEAR-OLDS WHEN WE GET THERE.
4 NOW WE'RE UP TO WHERE OVER 50 PERCENT AND 1 IN 5.
5 AND MOST FOLKS WOULD SAY THEY'RE EXPECTING IN THEIR
6 75TH, 80TH BIRTHDAY, AND STATISTICS SAY YOU'LL GET
7 THERE.
8 IF YOU'RE THE ONE IN 4 THAT HAVE THE LIGHT GRAY BODY
9 UP THERE, AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO BAT THAT YOU'RE 1
10 IN 4, THEN MAYBE 5 IN 8 IS NOT IMPORTANT.
11 BUT IF YOU'RE THREE QUARTERS OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON
12 THAT SCREEN IF YOU CHOSE A BODY AND ONE IN 2 THAT
13 HAVE A SEVERE FUNCTIONAL LIMITATION, I THINK THAT
14 SLIDE DRIVES HOME WHY 508 IS HERE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
15 IT'S NOT JUST A LAW FOR THOSE OF US THAT RUN AROUND
16 IN WHEELS.
17 IT IS A LAW FOR THE 6 MILLION PLUS CHILDREN AS WE SEE
18 IN EDUCATION WHEN I TRY TO HELP MAKE SURE TO GET A
19 TRANSPARENCY DISABILITY, WE SAY, AS THEY GO THROUGH
20 THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
21 AND 54 MILLION CURRENTLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.
22 BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SLIDE AND LOOK AROUND AT AT
23 FOLKS AROUND YOU THAT MAY BE LOSING A LITTLE HAIR,
24 MAY BE USING A LITTLE HAIR COLOR, AND ARE RECOGNIZING
25 THAT WE'RE GETTING UP -- WE'RE ALMOST 40, THEN MAYBE
76
1 508 HAS A NEW MEANING TO YOU.
2 I'D LIKE TO STEAL A LINE FROM A GOOD FRIEND OVER IN
3 DOD AND SAY, "THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS COIN, I'LL TURN
4 OVER CITY NEXT SEVERY TIME WE'VE DONE THESE KIND OF
5 THINGS, NEW INDUSTRIES HAVE COME OUT OUT IT." WHEN
6 EVERYONE FOUGHT FOR CLOSED CAPTIONING AND INDUSTRY AT
7 THAT TIME HAD SOME RESISTANCE TO THE IDEA OF CLOSED
8 CAPTIONING ON TELEVISION, NO ONE WOULD HAVE IMAGINED
9 THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY USES FOR CLOSED CAPTIONING
10 WHICH WOULD OPEN AN ENTIRELY NEW MARKETS WOULD BE
11 SPORTS BARS AND GYMS.
12 NOW, THOSE OF YOU THAT USE CLOSED CAPTIONING BECAUSE
13 YOU'RE DISABLED STILL GET THE BENEFIT, BUT WE'VE SEEN
14 ENTIRELY NEW INDUSTRIES.
15 508 CREATES TECHNIQUES THAT WORK WITH IPAC AS I'M
16 WATCHING MY FRIEND NEXT TO ME WORKING ON HIS IPAC, OR
17 MY BLACKBERRY SYSTEMS IN CARS TO READ WEB SITES.
18 SO THE SAME THING FOR CAR HERE HAS WONDERFUL USES FOR
19 WHAT'S COMING IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
20 I THINK I'VE MADE MY POINT AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IT
21 OVER TO THE PANEL TO COMPLETE THEIR REMARKS OR
22 ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS.
23 IF YOU WOULD HOLD UNTIL THAT TIME, THAT WOULD BE
24 APPRECIATED.
25 NOW, I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT MY SPEAKERS ARE GOING
77
1 TO GO IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: LET ME TURN OVER TO
2 THIS TIME TO KEN, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT
3 RELATIONS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY COUNCIL.
4 KEN?
5 KEN: THANK YOU, CRAIG.
6 IS IT ON?
7 IT'S NOT ON.
8 IS IT?
9 OKAY.
10 THANK YOU, CRAIG.
11 I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS
12 CONFERENCE ON BEHALF OF ITI, THE INFORMATION
13 TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY COUNCIL.
14 BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE I
15 REPRESENT THE HOUSEHOLD NAMES OF THE INFORMATION
16 TECHNOLOGY PEOPLE, JUST STELLAR COMPANIES SUCH AS
17 COMPAQ, IBM, HEWLETT-PACKARD, I COULD GO DOWN THE
18 LIST.
19 YOU'VE HEARD OF THESE COMPANIES BECAUSE THEY'RE
20 HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, THEY'RE INNOVATIVE, AND THEY'RE
21 PROGRESSIVE.
22 I COULD PROBABLY ADD THAT THE /* THAT AT THIS POINT
23 IN TIME A NUMBER OF THEM ARE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF
24 DIFFICULTY WITH THE ECONOMY, BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE
25 ANTICIPATE TO MOVING TOGETHER PROGRESSIVELY IN NS OF
78
1 PROVIDING THE SOLUTIONS THAT NOT ONLY THE GOVERNMENT
2 NEEDS BUT INDIVIDUAL USERS NEED INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH
3 DISABILITIES.
4 I HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE OF WORKING FOR AN ASSOCIATION
5 THAT HAS WHAT I BELIEVE IS INSPIDER LEADERSHIP.
6 RED DAWSON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THAT ASSOCIATION.
7 HE'S ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO THIS ISSUE AND HAS GIVEN
8 ME A LOT OF TIME AND LATITUDE TO NOT ONLY ATTEND
9 CONFERENCES.
10 THIS IS THE FIRST OF FOUR THIS MONTH, BUT ALSO TO
11 START TO LOOK AT SOME IDEAS AND SOME WAYS IN HOW WE
12 CAN ADVANCE THE BALL, SO TO SPEAK, DOWN THE FIELD,
13 AND NOT JUST THE FIELD OF THE WHITE HOUSE OR THE
14 VARIOUS AGENCIES BUT ALSO LOOKING AT STATE ISSUES AND
15 INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.
16 WE HAVE A FAIRLY BROAD HORIZON RELATIVE TO SERVING
17 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND FRANKLY ALL PEOPLE, AND
18 WE INTEND TO MOVE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY ONCE WE CAN
19 MOVE PAST THIS OCTOBER SCHEDULE.
20 I HAD BEEN IN WASHINGTON FOR LONGER THAN I REALIZED,
21 16 YEARS NOW.
22 I HAVE BEEN WITH ITI FOR ROUGHLY 11 OF THOSE YEARS.
23 PRIOR TO THAT I WAS AN INVESTIGATOR ON A HOUSE
24 COMMITTEE, THEN CALLED THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
25 AND THEN HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING ON A NUMBER OF
79
1 ISSUES, INCLUDING AVIATION SECURITY.
2 SO THE RECENT EVENTS HAVE HIT VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART
3 AND ALSO WITH FAMILYS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT I'M AWARE
4 OF WHO HAVE LOST MEMBERS IN THAT GRAVE INCIDENT, OR
5 THOSE INCIDENTINGS.
6 NEVERTHELESS, WE DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THESE
7 ISSUES AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS CONFERENCE
8 WAS HELD AND THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE ACTUALLY
9 ABLE TO ATTEND THIS ONE, WHEREAS WE'VE HAD SOME
10 TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES.
11 LIED LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING
12 IN THIS ISSUE.
13 WE STARTED OUT EARLIER WITH MY FRIEND JOHN GOD FREE
14 WORKING ON [] I THINK HE WAS WELL NOTED, WELL
15 PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES AND ADVOCATE A
16 POSITION THAT I THINK IS FAIRLY TYPICAL OF OUR
17 INDUSTRY AND THAT IS THAT WE ADVOCATE FLEXIBLE MARKET
18 SOLUTIONS RATHER THAN REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS AND
19 THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT.
20 INNOVATION, IF WE DON'T INNOVATE, IN OUR INDUSTRY,
21 FRANKLY WE DIE.
22 AND THE REASON BEING THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PRODUCT
23 CYCLES THAT ARE ANYWHERE FROM SIX MONTHS TO TWO TWOS,
24 IF YOU'RE NOT CONSTANTLY MOVING FORWARD, YOU'RE NOT
25 MOVING AT ALL F. YOU LOOK ACROSS THE TERRAIN OF
80
1 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, YOU WILL SEE THE
2 SKELETONS OF IN SOME CASES MANY ADVANCED COMPANIES
3 THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON MIGHT HAVE LOWERED THEIR
4 EYES OFF THE HORIZON, MIGHT HAVE LOOKED AT SOME
5 ISSUES AS OBSTACLES RATHER THAN CHALLENGES AND
6 OPPORTUNITIES AND AS A CONSEQUENCE GOT SWEPT ASIDE IN
7 THIS MARKETPLACE THAT MOVES BEYOND THE SPEED OF LIGHT
8 IN SOME CASES.
9 WE LOOKED AT 508 AS AN OPPORTUNITY, AS AN OPPORTUNITY
10 NOT ONLY TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND WORK WITH
11 THE ADVOCACY COMMUNITIES BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE
12 SOLUTIONS.
13 WE ARE SOLUTION PROVIDERS.
14 I COULD GO DOWN A LONG LIST OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES
15 THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
16 CRAIG REFERENCED A FEW OF THEM THAT MY COMPANIES HAVE
17 HAD A HAND IN.
18 IT'S RATHER EXTENSIVE AND BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TIME
19 I WON'T GO INTO THAT.
20 BUT RIGHT AWAY WE SAW 508 AS SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO
21 EMBRACE, AND WE APPROACH TODAY A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
22 ONE OF THE ISSUES I COVER IN ADDITION TO 508 IS
23 FEDERAL POLICY.
24 AND IN THE PAST IN DEALING WITH GSA, LFPP, OTHER
25 AGENCY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE FOUND
81
1 OURSELVES SOMETIMES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF ISSUES,
2 SOMETIMES DISTINCTLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF ISSUES
3 AND HAVE HAD TO SPEND CONSIDERABLE TIME AND RESOURCES
4 TRYING TO REDIRECT THE FOCUS OF GOVERNMENT.
5 IN MY EXPERIENCE I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT SECTION 508
6 WAS UNIQUE IN THAT THE POSITION THAT MR. DAWSON SET
7 OUT FOR US WAS NOT TO CHALLENGE 508, NOT TO TRY TO
8 CREATE OBSTACLES, BUT RATHER TO EMBRACE THE PROCESS
9 TO WORK WITH GOVERNMENT AND THE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY AS
10 PARTNERS, FULL PARTNERS, AND TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO
11 TO MAKE THIS WORK SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
12 AND WITH THAT SENSE, REPRESENTING A DYNAMIC INDUSTRY,
13 WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY
14 WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VARIOUS COMMUNITYS TO TRY
15 TO FIND WAYS TO SAW WHATEVER ISSUES OR CHALLENGES
16 REMAIN.
17 AND THERE ARE MANY.
18 WE CERTAINLY WON'T TRY TO DISCOUNT THAT.
19 ONE THING ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, IT MAKES GOOD SENSE,
20 IT MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE.
21 CASE IN POINT: ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE UNDERTOOK WAS
22 TO CREATE A VOLUNTARY PRODUCT ACCESSIBILITY TEMPLATE
23 WORKING CLOSELY WITH TERRY WEAVER OF GSA AND HER
24 COLLEAGUES, WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A DEVICE
25 THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT WE BELIEVE IS A GOOD TOOL
82
1 FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO ENABLE THE VARIOUS
2 FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO CONDUCT THE MARKET RESEARCH THAT
3 THEY NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WHEN THEY PUT OUT A
4 SOLICITATION FOR SOMETHING THEY NEED TO BUY, THAT IT
5 MAKES SENSE, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE
6 MARKETPLACE THAT ADDRESSS THAT, AND THAT INDUSTRY AS
7 WELL AS GOVERNMENT IS EDUCATED IN NS OF THE VARIOUS
8 REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
9 IT MAKES GOOD SENSE FOR ITI AS WELL.
10 EVER SINCE WE PUT THAT TEMPLATE UP, IT HAS INCREASED
11 THE TRAFFIC TO OUR WEB SITE, AND I AM PROUD TO SAY
12 OUR 508 WEB SITES STILL DRIVE 20 TO 25 PERCENT OF ALL
13 TRAFFIC TO THE ITI SITES.
14 AND WE LIKE TO THINK WE ARE A SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION
15 THAT WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF ISSUES THAT WE ADDRESS.
16 I WAS SCRAMBLING THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC
17 STIMULUS AND GETTING BRIEFING PAPERS PREPARED ON
18 THAT.
19 BUT WE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO CREATE A
20 TOOL THAT WOULD FACILITATE THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY
21 TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN THE MARKET SO THAT THE AGENCIES
22 CAN ADVANCE THEIR MISSION, THEIR REQUIREMENTS, AND
23 MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS RELATIVE TO THE SECTION 508.
24 EXCUSE ME?
25 OH, I'M SORRY.
83
1 THAT IT'S NOT A PERFECT TOOL, NOT EVERYBODY LIKES IT.
2 WE'VE HAD SOME INDIVIDUALS, SOME AGENCIES THAT TEND
3 TO REWRITE IT OR TELL US HOW TO REWRITE IT.
4 WE HAVE TRIED TO BE RESPONSIVE TO SUGGESTIONS.
5 WE HAVE TRIED TO BE OPEN AND WE CONSIDER IT AGAIN A
6 DYNAMIC TOOL THAT WILL CHANGE AS IT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
7 THERE IS AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, ITIC, UNDERSCORE, 508 --
8 EXCUSE ME, ITI, UNDERSCORE 508 AT IT -- IF YOU HAVE
9 SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMUNICATE OTHER
10 THAN TALKING TO ME DIRECTLY, I WOULD PREFER IF YOU
11 COULD SEND IT TO THAT E-MAIL ADDRESS AND I CAN
12 DISTRIBUTE IT TO MY EXPERTS IN THE COMPANIES.
13 BUT WE BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS
14 ISSUE TO GET OUT INFORMATION AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY
15 WHAT WE DO.
16 WE PROVIDE INFORMATION AND THE TOOLS THAT CONVEY
17 INFORMATION.
18 WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN CONFERENCES.
19 AS I MENTIONED, COMPANIES ARE PARTICULARLY EXPERT AT
20 IT.
21 WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF PROJECTS ON THE
22 HORIZON.
23 ONE IS INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
24 AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
25 WE ANTICIPATE THAT IN TIME AS OUR PRODUCT CYCLES
84
1 MATURE, AS WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE 508 REQUIREMENTS
2 AND BUILD AND EXPAND THEM IN OUR PRODUCTS AND IN OUR
3 SERVICES THAT ONE OF THE KEY COMPONENTS THAT WE NEED
4 TO ADDRESS GOVERNMENT, BOTH GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY,
5 IS TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT AND AT CAN
6 COMMUNICATE SEAMLESSLY AND TRANSPARENTLY.
7 THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EMBRACED
8 AT SOLUTIONS AND THEY WORK EXTREMELY WELL FOR THEM
9 AND THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED FRANKLY IN FINDING SOME
10 OTHER WAY TO ADDRESS A PARTICULAR NEED OR TO FIND A
11 BRIDGE OVER A PARTICULAR DISABILITY.
12 WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE AT COMMUNITY AND
13 GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO SOLVE THOSE SOLUTIONS.
14 IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, BUT I CONSIDER PROBABLY
15 ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT PROJECTS WE HAVE ON THE
16 HORIZON.
17 THE SECOND IS TO TAKE THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE
18 ALREADY DEVELOPED WITH GOVERNMENT AND THE ADVOCACY
19 COMMUNITY AND EXPAND THAT WORLDWIDE.
20 ITI IS THE AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
21 INFORMATION.
22 I ALWAYS GET THIS WRONG.
23 I KNOW THE ACRONYMS BUT NOT THE NAMES.
24 THE INTERNATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE CONGRESS.
25 IT'S A WORLDWIDE ORGANIZATION SIMILAR TO ITI THAT HAS
85
1 SIMILAR GOALS AND ISSUES AND WE ANTICIPATE PUTTING
2 508 OR SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR ON THE TABLE AND ASKING
3 THE INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS TO START
4 MARKETING THESE IDEAS WITH THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.
5 ULTIMATELY WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD ONE PRODUCT AND
6 SELL IT WORLDWIDE.
7 WE'RE A WORLDWIDE COMPANY WITH WORLD WILD MARKETS.
8 THERE IS NO REASON WHY ACCESSIBILITY SHOULD BE ANY
9 DIFFERENT.
10 AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR DISTINCT GOALS.
11 THANK YOU.
12 (APPLAUSE)
13 >> I'D LIKE TO TURN OVER TO MIKE TAKEMURA
14 FROM THE COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION.
15 MIKE.
16 .
17 GOOD MORNING.
18 AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO MULTITASK HERE AND GET MY
19 PRESENTATION TO OPEN UP, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT
20 TO OPEN UP, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPEAK TO IT ANYWAY.
21 ACTUALLY HAD PULLED TOGETHER A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT
22 I THOUGHT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL HIGHLIGHTING THE
23 ACCESSIBILITY BY ACCESSIBLE WEB SITE AND THEN
24 VOLUNTARY PRODUCT TEMPLATE THAT CRAIG HAD MENTIONED,
25 BUT IN THE CASE THAT WE CAN'T GET THAT OPEN, WE'LL GO
86
1 AHEAD AND TALK WITHOUT THAT.
2 COMPAQ IS VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE AND WE THANK YOU
3 FOR SUCH A LARGE AUDIENCE.
4 IT CERTAINLY SPEAKS TO THE INTEREST IN SECTION 508
5 AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS MUCH INTEREST IN IT
6 AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERY EVENT THAT I'VE
7 ATTENDED AND SPOKEEN AT RELATIVE TO WHAT COMPAQ HAS
8 BEEN DOING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY
9 WELL ATTENDED.
10 I DON'T THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF COMPAQ, BUT CERTAINLY
11 BECAUSE OF THE TOPIC.
12 BUT I THINK -- AND I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT
13 ANYTHING ABOUT MERGERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TODAY.
14 (LAUGHTER) BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY EXCITED
15 ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN PARTICULARLY WITH INDUSTRY
16 ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ITI AND ITAN AND ALSO WITH THE
17 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND WITH
18 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY VENDORS IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO
19 MAKE OUR PRODUCTS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TO TRY TO HELP
20 DRIVE THE INDUSTRY.
21 THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN
22 VERY LUKEWARM AT BEST I THINK BY INDUSTRY TO ADDRESS
23 THIS HISTORICALLY, VERY SEGMENTED AND HAVEN'T BEEN
24 HOLISTIC IN GENERAL.
25 BUT WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCOMPLISH AT COMPAQ ARE A
87
1 COUPLE OF THINGS AND THAT IS BASED ON OUR HERITAGE,
2 FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT AWARE COMPAQ ACQUIRED
3 DIGITAL EQUIPMENT A FEW YEARS AGO.
4 THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, BUT
5 SPECIFIC TO SECTION 508 WHERE WE'VE ADDRESSED A LOT
6 OF OUR EFFORTS IS TO TRY TO FOCUSING ON WHAT WE CALL
7 ACCESS ANYTIME ANYWHERE TO ANYONE.
8 AND OUR BELIEF IS THAT TODAY MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
9 USING TECHNOLOGY LESS FOR COMPUTING BUT MORE FOR
10 ACCESS.
11 WE'RE USING IT FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND WE'RE
12 USING IT FOR ACCESS TO ENTERTAINMENT.
13 IT'S NOT ABOUT COMPUTING ANYMORE.
14 WE DON'T USE COMPUTERS IN MANY CASES TO COMPUTE.
15 THEY'RE USED TO ACCESS THIS INFORMATION.
16 AND THE WAY THAT THE TECHNOLOGY'S BEEN DESIGNED
17 HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN DESIGNED SO THAT THERE HAVE
18 BEEN THESE BARRIERS OR CURBS TO THAT INFORMATION.
19 AND WE BELIEVE LOOKING AT IT THERE NEED TO BE THE
20 RAMPS AND CURB CUTS TO THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY AND
21 THIS INFORMATION AND ENJOYMENT THAT ALLOW EQUAL
22 ACCESS TO ALL INDIVIDUALS.
23 TO DO THAT WE'VE DONE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS.
24 WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR PRODUCTS AND AS KEN MENTIONED
25 EARLIER IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS
88
1 THAT PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY IN GENERAL BY THEIR
2 NATURE.
3 WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE SEPARATE DEVICES AND NEITHER DO
4 USERS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WANT SPECIFIC DEVICES
5 THAT SEPARATE THEM.
6 THEY WANT TO COME UP TO ANY PC, ANY DEVICE AND BE
7 ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR INFORMATION, ACCESS THEIR
8 ENTERTAINMENT.
9 SO WHAT YOU FIND IS WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF
10 DESIGNING OUR PRODUCTS SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO ACHIEVE
11 THAT.
12 VERY SIMPLE EXAMPLE THAT YOU MIGHT SEE, MANY OF YOU
13 HAVE A NOTEBOOK COMPUTER.
14 HISTORICALLY A LOT OF THE COMPUTERS HAD TWO LATCHES
15 TO OPEN UP THE DISPLAY.
16 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SECTION FEEF 08 PUT IN WAS
17 SINGLE HAND OPENING.
18 THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF AGAIN, A DESIGN THAT NOT ONLY
19 IMPROVES THE ACCESSIBILITY WITH THE PERSON WITH A
20 DISABILITY, MAYBE A PERSON WHO HAS LIMITED MOBILITY,
21 BUT IMPROVES ACCESS FOR ALL OF US.
22 AND I THINK THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING.
23 YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A WHEELCHAIR SYMBOL OR AN
24 ACCESSIBILITY SYMBOL ON ANY ONE OF OUR PRODUCTS
25 BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE THESE GENERALLY AVAILABLE.
89
1 BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME BARRIERS THAT OCCUR.
2 SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS USE THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCT
3 TEMPLATE THAT KEN TALKED ABOUT AND WE'VE EMBRACED
4 THAT AND HAVE ACTUALLY DOCUMENTED ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS
5 ON OUR WEB SITE AND YOU CAN GO UP TO WWW.COM
6 PACK.COM/ACCESSIBILITY AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY FIND BY
7 PRODUCT IN SEARCH AND FIND EXACTLY THE LEVEL OF
8 ACCESSIBILITY OF THOSE PRODUCTS.
9 I WANT TO MENTION, I DON'T WANT TO SAY ALL OF OUR
10 PRODUCTS ARE 100 PERCENT ACCESSIBLE.
11 ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IS THERE'S A SPECTRUM OF
12 ACCESSIBILITY AND FOR WHAT MIGHT BE ACCESSIBLE FOR
13 ONE USER MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE FOR ANOTHER OF THE
14 IT'S AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS.
15 COMPAQ I THINK SPEAKS FOR MOST OF INDUSTRY IN THAT WE
16 DON'T WANT TO HIT THE BAR OF SECTION 508, WE DON'T
17 WANT THAT TO BE THE CEILING OF WHAT WE DO TO DRIVE
18 ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR PRODUCTS.
19 WE GO TO GO FAR BEYOND THAT.
20 THAT'S THE MINIMUM BAR THAT WE WANT TO GET TO.
21 WE WANT TO FIND NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE
22 ACCESSIBLE.
23 TO HELP OUR FEDERAL CUSTOMERS WE HAVE DOCUMENTED ALL
24 OF OUR PRODUCTS AND THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON
25 THE WEB SITE AND THAT HELPS OUR FRIENDS AND OUR
90
1 CUSTOMERS IN GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE VERY WISE
2 PURCHASING DECISIONS, IT ALLOWS THEM TO DOCUMENT
3 WHICH IS INCUMBENT UPON THEM WHAT THE ACCESSIBILITY
4 FEATURES ARE, AND TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT.
5 AND IT'S GOOD BUSINESS FOR COMPAQ.
6 I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY WON SEVERAL
7 AWARDS FOR PRODUCTS BASED UPON HAVING VERY THOROUGH
8 AND COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF OUR PRODUCTS.
9 WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE THAT KIND OF RESPONSE BUT WE
10 ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
11 WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THAT ONE STEP FURTHER NOW AND
12 THAT IS THE EMBRACE THE BY ACCESSIBLE SITE AND THE
13 TEMPLATE -- OR THE SITE THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED BY
14 SECTION 508 TEAM AND FOLKS AT TERRY WEAVER'S OFFICE.
15 AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THAT ACTUALLY HAS BEEN ABLE
16 TO POPULATE.
17 IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, YOU CAN GO TO
18 WWW.SECTION 508.GOV.
19 IF YOU CLICK ON THAT, WE HAVE POPULATED ALL OF OUR
20 PRODUCT INFORMATION AS WELL /* THERE AS WELL.
21 THAT NOT ONLY HAS COMPAQ INFORMATION, BUT WILL HAVE
22 INFORMATION FROM ALL OUR COMPETITORS, IN FACT ALL THE
23 EIT COMPANIES, IT'S KIND OF A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR
24 PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GO THERE AND FIND OUT PRODUCTS AND
25 SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT ADDRESS SECTION 508
91
1 AND ACCESSIBILITY.
2 AND WE THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD THING THAT WE APPLAUD
3 THE EFFORTS THERE, AND IT HELPS COMPAQ BECAUSE WE
4 KNOW THAT FEDERAL CUSTOMERS DON'T WANT TO GO TO
5 COMPAQ SITE AND MICROSOFT SITE AND ADOBE SITE AND
6 EVERYONE ELSE'S SITE.
7 IT'S GOOD IF THEY CAN JUST GO TO ONE SINGLE SITE AND
8 HAVE THAT INFORMATION AGGREGATED THERE AND ALLOW THEM
9 TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
10 BUT AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WE THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER
11 OPPORTUNITIES.
12 A LOT OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY AT
13 COMPAQ ARE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT OUR PRODUCTS BUT
14 THINGS LIKE OUR DOCUMENTATION, OUR OWN INTERNAL
15 INFORMATION, WORKING A LOT WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
16 ADVOCACY GROUPS AND DOING HUMAN FACTORS TESTING AND
17 STUDIES SO OUR FUTURE PRODUCTS ACTUALLY INCLUDE THAT
18 KIND OF TESTING.
19 IT HAS IN THE PAST BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT
20 COVERS ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS.
21 AND A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WHEN WE DESIGN
22 DIFFERENT THINGS FOR EXAMPLE LIKE THE POCKET PC OR
23 WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT GENERATION TABLET PC PRODUCTS
24 THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON, THOSE ARE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES
25 TO INCLUDE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE
92
1 DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE PRODUCTS AND TRY TO DETERMINE
2 HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WHICH HAD INCLUDE
3 THEM INTO ACCESSING INFORMATION USING THOSE TYPES OF
4 DEVICES GOING FORWARD.
5 I THINK IN CLOSING THE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS
6 THAT WE LOOK AT IT FROM COMPAQ THAT AGAIN IT'S A VERY
7 MUCH AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS.
8 IT'S GOING TO CHANGE.
9 WE LOOK AT IT WITH A LOT OF EXCITE THAT THERE ARE
10 OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
11 WE DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SUCCEED IN ALL
12 AREAS.
13 WE CERTAINLY HAVE IN FACT FOUND THAT THERE ARE SOME
14 FAILURES ALONG THE WAY AND SOME THINGS THAT WE
15 HAVEN'T DESIGND THAT ARE COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE.
16 BUT WE'RE USING THOSE AS OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE NEXT
17 GENERATION, AND I THINK AS AN IT INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE,
18 THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE EXCITE IS IS THAT WE GO AND
19 TRY TO FIND THE SUCCESSES WE CAN BUILD UPON THEM.
20 BUT CERTAINLY THE FAILURES OR THE THINGS WE DON'T
21 ACHIEVE ARE BENEFICIAL TO US AS WELL AS BECAUSE THAT
22 TYPE OF FEEDBACK HELPS US TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY
23 AGAIN AND WE'LL PROVIDE THAT ACCESS ANYTIME,
24 ANYWHERE, TO ANYONE.
25 THANK YOU.
93
1 I'LL TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE END.
2 CRAIG, BACK TO YOU
3 (APPLAUSE)
4 I'D NOW LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SHEILA NEWMAN.
5 SHE'LL A..
6 THANK YOU.
7 AS I LOOK DOWN THE TABLE, I THINK I'M SERVING THREE
8 PURPOSES.
9 CAN YOU HEAR ME?
10 AS I LOOK DOWN THE TABLE, I THINK I'M SERVING THREE
11 PURPOSES ON THIS PANEL.
12 I'M ADAING A LITTLE DIVERSITY.
13 >> WE CAN'T HEAR.
14 >> PARDON?
15 CAN'T HEAR?
16 >> YOU'RE MIKE'S NOT ON.
17 >> I'LL TRY TO SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER.
18 IS THAT BETTER?
19 I JUST SAID I'M ADDING A LITTLE DIVERSITY TO THIS
20 PANEL.
21 I'M ALSO REPRESENTING A LITTLE SMALL COMPANY IN
22 COMPARISON TO MY COLLEAGUES OUT HERE.
23 MY COMPANY HAS BEEN 100 EMPLOYEES VERSUS THOUSANDS
24 AND ALSO I'M HERE MORE TO TALK TO THE FEDERAL
25 EMPLOYEES.
94
1 I'M TOLD ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE AUDIENCE ARE FEDERAL
2 EMPLOYEES.
3 I SEE HOW MANY OF YOU WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT?
4 OKAY.
5 I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT CESSI IS HELPING THE
6 GOVERNMENT TO ACCESS THEIR LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY IN
7 PLANNING FOR FUTURE COMPLIANCE.
8 CESSI IS A CERTIFIED SMALL BUSINESS.
9 IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1992 BY FRED CHERRY AND I CAN'T
10 TALK ABOUT CESSI WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT FRED.
11 FRED WHRXS HE FOUNDED THE COMPANY IN 1992 HAD ALREADY
12 HAD A CAREER.
13 HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AIR FORCE
14 FIGHTER PILOTLESS.
15 HE SERVED IN KOREA, LATER WENT TO VIETNAM, WAS SHOT
16 DOWN, SPENT SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AS A PRISON OF WAR
17 IN NORTH VET NAM.
18 FRED, WOULD YOU MIND STANDING UP?
19 (APPLAUSE)
20 >> THIS PAST MONTH WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
21 AMERICAN HEROES AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING
22 FOR ONE EVERY DAY.
23 SO IT'S NICE TO WORK FOR A COMPANY WHERE YOU KNOW THE
24 TOP AND THEY'RE DEDICATED TO YOUR SAME GOALS.
25 OUR PRIMARY BUSINESS AREAS ARE DISABILITY MANAGEMENT
95
1 AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
2 IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE SEEN THOSE TWO SECTORS
3 MERGE MORE AS OUR 508 EXPERTS GO OUT AND TEACH OUR IT
4 EXPERTS WEB ACCESSIBILITY AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
5 ACCESSIBILITY, PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM MEET
6 THE STATE YOUR NAMES MEET THE STANDARDS.
7 THE NEXT SLIDES I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE
8 CHALLENGES [] WE'RE A GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR SO WE
9 HAVE CONTRACTS.
10 A LOT OF MY CLIENTS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY.
11 WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, HELPING
12 THEM TO BECOME MORE COMPLIANT WITH SECTION 508.
13 WE ARE WORKING WITH THE ACCESS BOARD, PROVIDING
14 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND GSA,.
15 OUR COMPANY DID THE WWW.SECTION 5 ON 8.GOV REDESIGN
16 [] WE ALSO WORK WITH STATE DEPARTMENT, HUD,
17 TRANSPORTATION, AGRICULTURE, LABOR, A LOT OF THE
18 COMPANIES.
19 SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE FOUR CHALLENGES, THE
20 UNFUNDED MANDATE, THE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, THE
21 PRODUCT AND AVAILABILITY, AND KNOWING WHERE TO START,
22 THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THE FEDERAL
23 GOVERNMENT DO.
24 SO ON THE UNFUNDED MANDATE, WHERE DO YOU START IF YOU
25 DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY?
96
1 YOU HAVE TO ALLOCATE YOUR LIMITED RESOURCES WHERE YOU
2 CAN GET THE MOST IMPACT.
3 SO WE LOOK AT WHEN WE START WITH AN AGENCY, WE LOOK
4 AT THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT, TECHNOLOGY
5 ASSESSMENTS, STRATEGIC PLAN, AND BUILDING YOUR TEAM.
6 IN THE ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT, WHAT'S THE EXTENT
7 OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT 508 ORGANIZATION?
8 AT ALL LEVELS, WHERE IS IT NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE
9 COMPLIANCE?
10 WHAT PROCESSES DO YOU ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE?
11 ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE FOLKS IN THE 504 ARENA WHO
12 KNOW HOW TO ACCEPT COMPLAINTS?
13 MARKET RESEARCH, DOCUMENTATION, UNDUE BURDEN?
14 WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THOSE ISSUES?
15 WHAT PROCESSES MAY NEED TO BE MODIFYD? YOUR SYSTEM
16 DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE, ACQUISITION PROCESS, BUDGET
17 PROCESS, REVIEWS AND APPROVALS.
18 IN YOUR TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT, DO YOU HAVE A METHOD
19 TO DETERMINE IF YOUR WEB SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE AND
20 YOUR SYSTEMS ARE ACCESSIBLE AND ARE YOU LOOKING AT
21 THE NEW ENIT PROCUREMENTS THAT ARE MRANLED.
22 IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, IF YOU'RE DOING A SHORT-TERM
23 ACTION PLAN, SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AND THEN LOOK BEYOND
24 THAT TO A LONG-TERM STRATEGY.
25 WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR TEAM, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU
97
1 NEED TO THINK ABOUT, YESTERDAY BONNIE SAINT JOHN
2 TALKED ABOUT IF YOU -- GSA USES THE ROAD TO
3 ACCESSIBILITY AS THEIR THEME AND IF YOU BUILD THAT
4 ROAD, PEOPLE WILL COME, THE MORE ACCESSIBLE THE
5 ENVIRONMENT BECOMES THE MORE YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE
6 DISABLED BECAUSE THEY CAN THEN WORK.
7 SO YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE GROUPS THAT YOU
8 WANT TO HAVE INVOLVED, YOUR SECTION 508 COORDINATOR,
9 HR, PROCUREMENT, ACSIGSZ SPECIALIST, BUDGET PLANNING
10 SPECIALIST, TECHNICAL STAFF, WEB MASTERS, PROGRAM
11 MANAGERS, TO FIND THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND
12 MANY OF THE AGENCY VS DONE THIS, AND THEY'VE DONE A
13 GOOD JOB OF THIS.
14 BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T CONTRIBUTED, THEN TRY TO BECOME A
15 PART OF THAT TEAM THAT HELPS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
16 REACH FULL COMPLIANCE.
17 OKAY.
18 AND AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.
19 508 DOES NOT JUST A PROCUREMENT ISSUE.
20 DO YOU HAVE A ROLE?
21 ASK YOURSELF, WHAT'S YOUR ROLE IN HELPING REACH
22 COMPLIANCE F. YOU'RE MANAGEMENT, UNDERSTAND THE RISK
23 AND IMPORTANCE OF 508 COMPLIANCE.
24 THE TECHNICAL STAFF AND PROGRAM MANAGERS MAKE
25 DECISIONS EVERY DAY THAT AFFECT ACCESSIBILITY
98
1 THROUGHOUT THE LIFE STIEK CYCLE OF TECHNOLOGY.
2 IF YOU'RE HUMAN RESOURCES AND TRAINING, YOU MAY WANT
3 TO BE ASKING HOW YOU FIT INTO THE 508 TRAINING.
4 IF YOU'RE ALREADY DOING YOUR TRAINING FOR YOUR
5 MANAGERS ON SECTION 501, 504, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO
6 ADD 508 TRAINING.
7 IT'S NOT JUST A HEADQUARTER ISSUE.
8 THERE ARE SOME AGENCIES, VAN AND NASA ARE EXAMPLES,
9 THEY HAVE A VERY, VERY SMALL STAFF IN WASHINGTON AND
10 THE MAJORITY OF THEIR STAFF IS LOCATED IN REGIONAL
11 OFFICES.
12 THEY HAVEN'T HEARD AS MUCH ABOUT 5 ON 8 IN THE HINTER
13 LANDS AS WE HAVE HERE IN WASHINGTON.
14 SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF YOUR LOCATIONS
15 ESPECIALLY THE AGENCIES WITH THE DECENTRALIZED
16 FUNCTIONS [].
17 BASICALLY THE BOTTOM LINE IS IMPLEMENTING
18 508 REQUIRES A CHANGE IN ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESS AND
19 STRUCTURE.
20 ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS PRODUCT AVAILABILITY SDPRXS MIKE
21 TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BIACCESSIBLE WEB SITE
22 AND THAT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO START.
23 YOU DO HAVE TO DO MARKET RESEARCH UNDER SECTION 508.
24 IT'S REQUIRED UNDER THE FAR AND IT HAS TO BE
25 DOCUMENTED IN YOUR ACQUISITION FILES.
99
1 ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO IS HOLD THE VENDORS
2 ACCOUNTABLE.
3 SOME OF THE FOLKS UP HERE ON THIS PANEL ARE IN THE
4 FOREFRONT OF MAKING THEIR PRODUCTS ACCESSIBLE.
5 LIKE MIKE SAID, 100 PERCENT ACCESSIBILITY IS PROBABLY
6 NOT REALISTIC, BUT WHAT IS THE MOST ACCESSIBLE
7 PRODUCT FOR WHAT YOU NEED IS WHAT YOU NEED TO LOOK
8 AT.
9 YOU NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THE VENDORS AND PEOPLE
10 WHO HAVE DISABILITIES IN YOUR OFFICE.
11 THE -- REX IS GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE
12 ACCESSIBILITY FORUM, BUT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WE'RE
13 BRINGING TOGETHER VENDORS AND GOVERNMENT PEOPLE AND
14 YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT.
15 AND THEN JUST TECHNOLOGY IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING, SO
16 THIS IS NOT GOING TO -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE
17 PROBLEM AND IT'S GOING TO END; IT'S CONSTANTLY
18 CHANGING, WE'RE CONSTANTLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
19 SECTION 508.
20 SO WHERE TO START?
21 YOU WOULD WANT TO GARTH GATHER KNOWLEDGE EXPERTISE.
22 MANY OF THE AGENCIES HAVE STARTED AND ARE DOING A
23 GOOD JOB.
24 CONDUCT YOUR ASSESSMENT, PREPARE YOUR PLAN, JUST
25 START SOMEWHERE.
100
1 IT'S GOING TO BE AN EVOLUTION, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE
2 TO START SOMEWHERE.
3 OKAY.
4 SO MY MARKETING PEOPLE PUT THIS ONE IN HERE.
5 CONTACT CESSI.
6 YOU CAN REACH US AT MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS SNEWMAN AT
7 CESSI.NET.
8 CESSI HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE ACCESSIBILITY FIELD
9 LONG BEFORE 508 HIT THE MEDIA.
10 WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH SOME AGENCIES THAT
11 WERE IN THE FOREFRONT OF -- WE'VE WORKED WITH THE
12 NATIONAL NASHL ON REHAB AND RESEARCH FOR YEARS.
13 THEY'VE REQUIRED THEIR WEB SITES TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND
14 PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE FORMATS FOR THEIR MEETINGS FOR A
15 LONG TIME.
16 ODEPWHICH IS THE OFFICE OFS DISABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT
17 POLICY.
18 IT USED TO BE THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE
19 WITH DISABILITIES.
20 HAD A MODEL SITE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
21 AND WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME AGENCIES NOW THAT
22 PROBABLY WILL COME BACK HERE NEXT YEAR AND PRESENT IN
23 THE BEST PRACTICES WORKSHOP DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS
24 -- HAS A CENTER THAT'S DEDICATED TO 508
25 IMPLEMENTATION, AND THE SHAR MAIN I'VEER SON WHO IS
101
1 HERE IN THE AUDIENCE IS THE FOUNDER AND THE DIRECTOR
2 OF THE IMPACT CENTER AND CESSI SUPPORTS THE IMPACT
3 CENTER WITH STAFF THERE.
4 THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A DECENTRALIZED OFFICE.
5 WE GO HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT AND COME BACK IN THE
6 MORNING AND SHAR MAIN AND PAUL SHAVER, HAS A 508
7 MAILBOX WHERE THEY HAVE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME IN
8 OVER NIGHT FROM POSTED EMBASSYIES THROUGHOUT THE
9 WORLD ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT SECTION 508.
10 SO EVEN IN SOME OF THE UNDERDEVELOP COMPANIES, WE'RE
11 IMPLEMENTING SECTION 508.
12 IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT AT EXHIBITS AT THE BOTTOM OF
13 THE ESCALATORS AT THE LEFT IS A ROOM OF FEDERAL
14 EXHIBITS WHICH IS SPONSORED BY DEPARTMENT DPT
15 DEFENSE.
16 AND THEIR EXHIBITS FROM AGRICULTURE, DEFENSE,
17 INTERIOR, GSA, VA, BUT A LOT OF THE -- DID I MISS
18 ANYTHING?
19 IRS.
20 A LOT OF FEDERAL AGENCIES REPRESENTED OVER THERE
21 TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN 504 AND 5 ON 8.
22 SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
23 >> THANK YOU, SHEILA.
24 NOW REX, I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE OVER.
25 REX IS ON THE WORKING GROUP, FOR ITA, THE INTER.
102
1 >> THANK YOU, CRAIG.
2 I'M DELIGHTED TO SPEAK TO SUCH A DISTINGUISHED AND
3 INTERESTING AUDIENCE.
4 MY NAME IS REX LINLT.
5 I'M CALLED MANY THINGS.
6 AMONG WHICH IS CHAIRMAN OF SECTION 508 WORKING GROUP
7 FOR ITAA.
8 AND EARLIER WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT SKELTONS OF
9 OLDER IT COMPANIES.
10 I WORKED FOR DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION FOR 21
11 YEARS.
12 I WAS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE YEAR 2000 PROGRAM
13 THAT DIGITAL HAD AND THEN AFTER THE ACQUISITION BY
14 COMPAQ I WORKED THERE FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS AND
15 HAVE RECENTLY LEFT THERE TO FORM MY OWN COMPANY, A
16 COMPANY OF ONE AT THIS POINT.
17 I'M PLEASED TODAY TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE INDUSTRY'S
18 VIEW OF SECTION 508.
19 BUT LET ME PREFACE MY REMARKS.
20 I WEAR A NUMBER OF HATS IN THE ACCESSIBILITY DOMAIN.
21 I'M A CONSULTANT IN INDUSTRY HELPING THEM MOVED
22 FORWARD ACCESSIBLE PRODUCTS.
23 I'M A CONSULTANT FOR AGENCIES HELPING THEM FOR
24 PROGRAMS FOR MOVING TOWARD COMPLIANCE WITH 508, AND I
25 LEAD THIS CAALIGZ WITH COMPANIES COPING WITH THE
103
1 EMERGING REGULATIONS AND CONCERNING IT ACCESSIBILITY
2 AND IT'S WITH THAT HEAD THAT I'M SPEAKING WITH YOU
3 TODAY.
4 I GUESS MY REMARKS ARE INTENDED TO GIVE YOU AN
5 AWARENESS OF THE VIEWPOINT OF THE IT INDUSTRY
6 COLLECTIVELY.
7 IT'S NOT THE POSITION OF ANY ONE COMPANY BUT IT'S
8 GENERALLY WHERE INDUSTRY'S COMING FROM.
9 AND I OFFER THESE REMARKS WITH THE INTENT THAT THEY
10 WILL PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN INDUSTRY,
11 GOVERNMENT, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
12 AND I HOPE THAT UNDERSTANDING THESE VIEWS WILL LEAD
13 TO PROGRESS TOWARD ACCESSIBILITY ON OF INFORMATION
14 TECHNOLOGY TO HELP MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE QUALITY
15 OF LIFE.
16 OF SO MANY OF US.
17 WE DID A LITTLE SURVEY A SECOND AGO AND WE SAW THAT
18 ABOUT 40 PERCENT WERE FROM GOVERNMENT.
19 HOW MANY ARE HERE FROM INDUSTRY?
20 LOOKS LIKE MAYBE 10, 15 PERCENT.
21 HOW MANY ARE HERE FROM ADVOCACY GROUPS OR END ENDERS?
22 VERY FEW.
23 OKAY.
24 BUT LET ME TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO INTRODUCE ITAA.
25 TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, AND THIS YEAR IT'S
104
1 CELEBRATING ITS 40TH BIRTHED.
2 THIS IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION OF MORE THAN 5 ON MEMBERS
3 FROM IT ASK TELECOM INDUSTRIES.
4 IT'S THE BIG GUYS AND SMALL GUISE.
5 ITAA LISTS AMONG ITS MEASURES THE LARGEST IT MEMBERS
6 IN THE WORLD IBM, MOTOROLA, COMPAQ, TO NAME A FEW.
7 IT'S ALSO AN INCUE BAITOR OF THE SMALLEST.
8 [].
9 THEY GET TO TEND TO THE ISSUES THEY NEED TO.
10 EVEN A SOLE PROPRIETIOR LINKING UP WITH OTHERS IN THE
11 BUSINESS.
12 INCLUDING REX LINK, CONSULTANT.
13 THERE ARE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE COMPANIES, IT SERVICE
14 COMPANIES AND APPLICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS, DIGITAL
15 CONTENT COMPANIES AND WILL TELECOM COMPANIES.
16 AND THERE ARE CONSULTING COMPANY FROM THE LARGEST TO
17 THE SMALLEST ALL WITH VESTED INTEREST IN THE IT
18 INDUSTRY.
19 THERE ARE MANY COMMON POLICY ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY
20 THESE COMPANIES AS A GROUP.
21 WHERE THERE IS COMPUTER SECURITY, IMMIGRATION VISAS
22 FOR PEOPLE, FOR IT SPECIALISTS OR THE ONE WHICH WE'RE
23 FOCUSED ON TODAY WHICH IS GOVERNMENT IT PROCUREMENT
24 ISSUES AND REGULATIONS.
25 THE IT INDUSTRY HAS RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE POSED BY
105
1 SECTION 508.
2 IT'S WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON 508.
3 IN GENERAL IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT A NUMBER OF THE
4 ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE UNDERTAEB.
5 THE IT WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DRAFTED THE
6 PROPOSALS FOR STANDARDS FOR 508.
7 IT COMMENTED HEAVILY ON THE ACCESS BOARD PROPOSED
8 RULES.
9 WE COLLABORATED AND COMMENTED EXTENSIVELY ON THE
10 PROPOSED FEDERAL FRL FRL REGULATION.
11 INDUSTRY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH GSA HAS BEEN THROUGH
12 THE DISCUSSION OF THE BIACCESSIBLE AND THE VOLUNTARY
13 TEMPLATE AND INDUSTRY IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH GEORGIA
14 TECH ON A GRANT TO DEVELOP TRAINING ON ACCESSIBLE
15 EDUCATION.
16 EDUCATION HAS COLLABORATED AROUND GSAN AROUND THE
17 FORMAT FOR REPRESENTING THE ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES OF
18 THEIR PRODUCT AND I SAID I WOULD ALSO, IT WAS SAID
19 THAT I WOULD ALSO SPEND A LITTLE BILT OF TIME TALKING
20 ABOUT THE ACCESSIBILITY FORUM.
21 GSA HAS FUNDED OR IS FACILITATING THE FORMULATION OF
22 A PROJECT TO UNDERTAKE SOME STANDARDS MAKING IN THE
23 AREA OF ACCESSIBILITY.
24 INDUSTRY HAS TRIED TO PUSH THAT ACTIVITY TO FOCUS ON
25 THE INTERFACE BETWEEN MAIN LINE TECHNOLOGY ON LIKE
106
1 YOUR OPERATING SYSTEMS AND YOUR WORD PROCESSORS AND
2 THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, YOUR
3 SCREEN READERS AND YOUR VOICE RECOGNITION SOFTWARE,
4 ET CETERA AND TO TRY TO FIND AN INTERFACE BETWEEN
5 THOSE TWO TECHNOLOGY AREAS SO THAT WHEN THERE'S A
6 CHANGE IN AN OPERATING SYSTEM IT DOESN'T TOTALLY BLOW
7 OUT OF THE WATER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
8 IF WE CAN GET COOPERATION IN DEFINING AN API BETWEEN
9 THESE TWO CLASSES OF TECHNOLOGY, I THINK IT WOULD BE
10 A VERY GOOD STEP FORWARD.
11 I GUESS ONE OF THE AREAS WHICH WE'VE BEEN SOMEWHAT,
12 WHERE INDUSTRY HAS PUSHED ON THIS PROJECT IS TO TRY
13 AND SUGGEST THAT THE PROCESS OF DEFINING MEASUREMENTS
14 FOR WHETHER 5508 PROVISIONS ARE MET OR NOT MET REALLY
15 IS THE BUSINESS OF THE ACCESS BOARD THAT THE DEFINING
16 OF THE MEASURES NECESSARY TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE
17 REALLY FALL OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT OUGHT TO BE
18 DONE IN A NONSPECIFIED REGULATORY PROCESS THAT
19 DEFINING STANDARDS OUTSIDE THE REGULATORY PROCESS
20 REALLY IS NOT IN INDUSTRY'S INTEREST AND WE DON'T
21 THINK IT'S IN THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT OR THE
22 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES EITHER.
23 BUT THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR IS HOW IS IT GOING
24 REGARDING 508.
25 OVERALL, WE'RE PLEASED AND ENCOURAGES BY THE
107
1 SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS OF INDUSTRY'S RESPONSE TO 508.
2 THE LARGER COMPANIES HAVE BELLIED UP TO THE BAR,
3 THEY'VE FOCUSED RESOURCES ON THE ISSUE, HP, IBM,
4 MICROSOFT, ORACLE, AND MANY COMPANIES HAVE
5 ESTABLISHED INTERNAL SECTION 508 PROGRAMS INSIDE
6 THEIR COMPANIES.
7 THEY'VE LOOKED AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCESSIBLE
8 PRODUCTS THAT COMPLY WITH SECTION 508 STANDARDS,
9 THEY'VE GOTTEN INFORMATION ONTO THE WEB SITE SO THAT
10 BUYERS CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE THAT THEIR
11 PRODUCTS, WHAT THEIR FEATURES ARE OF THEIR PRODUCTS
12 THAT MAKE THINGS ACCESSIBLE.
13 SINCE THE SECTION 508 ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS TOOK
14 EFFECT ON JUNE 21, INDUSTRY HAS ENCOUNTERED
15 SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER PROBLEMS IN THE 508
16 IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS THAN WE EXPECTED.
17 MOST HAVE SHOWN WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH VENDORS AND
18 ISSUES THAT ARISE IN THE CONTEXT OF -- ONE ISSUE THAT
19 THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE -- ONE ISSUE HAD BEEN THE ISSUE
20 OF AGENCIES REQUIRING CERTIFICATION OF SECTION 508
21 COMPLIANCE FROM VENDORS.
22 THE QUESTION IS YOUR PRODUCT 508 COMPLIANT OR NOT HAS
23 BEEN REPLACED BY GENERAL ACCEPTANCE EVER THE
24 VOLUNTARY TEMPLATE OF IT ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES.
25 AT A CONFERENCE THE DAY BEFORE THE TERRORIST ATTACK,
108
1 I HEARD TERRY WEAVER SAY, IF I REMEMBER EVALUATING
2 VENDORS AND IF ONE OF THEM SAID OUR PRODUCT IS 508
3 COMPLIANT, I WOULD LOOK DEEPER.
4 IT'S THE AGENCY'S PLACE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT
5 REPRESENTS COMPLIANCE.
6 BUT THINGS AREN'T PERFECT.
7 THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT NEED
8 ATTENTION.
9 LET'S TALK ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES.
10 WE THINK THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
11 SHOULD RELY ON THE PROCUREMENT AND TECHNICAL DECISION
12 MAKERS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
13 THE ADMINISTRATIVE NOW IN PLACE ARE SECTION 504
14 DISPUTES SHOULD NOT BE ASSUMED TO BE APPROPRIATE IN
15 THE MORE TECHNICAL SETTING OF 508 AS IT DOES NOT
16 NECESSARILY INVOLVE PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE ACTION TO
17 RESOLVE THE TECHNICAL BERRIERS OF IT.
18 ANOTHER POINT: IF THE DOJ DEVELOPS A ADMINISTRATIVE
19 REMEDY, IT SHOULD ALLOW AFFECTED VENDORS TO INTERVENE
20 AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
21 ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.
22 INDUSTRY CAN MARSHAL THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A REAL
23 REMEDY TO THE ISSUES THAT ARISE.
24 TO THIS END, ITAA IS FORMULATING SOMESES TO PASS ONTO
25 THE DEPARTMENT DPT JUSTICE REGARDING SUCH ISSUES.
109
1 AND ON ANOTHER FRONT WE SUGGEST AND WE CALL ON THE
2 ADVOCACY COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT INCREASED FLEXIBILITY
3 IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
4 WE CALL THIS NOTION BEST VALUE.
5 WE THINK THAT SECTION 508 FAR RULES SHOULD BE
6 MODIFIED TO PROVIDE GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS
7 WITH MORE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ABOUT FLEXIBILITY IN
8 THEIR PURCHASING DECISIONS.
9 UNDER SECTION 508, FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE OBLIGATED TO
10 PURCHASE ACCESSIBLE EIT UNLESS AN UNDUE BURDEN WOULD
11 BE IMPOSED MEANING SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY OR EXPENSE.
12 NEITHER THE FAR AMENDMENT NOR THE STANDARDS PROVIDE
13 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AS TO HOW UNDUE BURDEN STANDARDS
14 SHOULD BE APPLIED AND PRACTICED.
15 FOR EXAMPLE, THE UNDUDE BURDEN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE
16 CLARIFIED TO INCORPORATE THE CONCEPT OF BEST VALUE
17 WHICH WOULD ALLOW AGENCIES TO CONSIDER THE EXTENT TO
18 WHICH COMPLIANCE WOULD REQUIRE THE ACQUISITION OF A
19 PRODUCT THAT DOES NOT MEET THE AGENCY'S NEEDS.
20 FACTORING ACCESSIBILITY IS ONE OF BUT NOT THE PRIMARY
21 PRODUCT METRIC.
22 WE ARE STILL FACING AGENCY'S SPECIFIC CLAUSES
23 CONCERNING 508 COMPLIANCE.
24 WE INITIALLY FELT THAT THERE WOULD BE A STANDARD
25 CLAUSE TO PUT INTO CONTRACTS.
110
1 ITAA HAS EXPANDED THIS IDEA.
2 DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE INDUSTRY FEEL THAT DIFFERENT
3 LANGUAGE IS NECESSARY FOR SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE, AS
4 DISTINGUISHED FROM HARDWARE AS DISTINGUISHED FROM
5 TELECOMMUNICATIONS OR COPIERS AND FAX MACHINES.
6 SO WE ARE COMPILING A LIBRARY OF SUGGESTED CLAUSES
7 THAT WE'LL BE SHARING WITH GSAN IN THE HOPES THAT WE
8 CAN ARRIVE IN AN EASY TO NEGOTIATE LANGUAGE FOR
9 CONTRACTS.
10 WE HOPE THAT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE SEEN UNDER THE
11 EXCEPTION OF 508 CONTINUES.
12 WE STAND READY TO DO ALL WE CAN TO BRING FRUITION THE
13 PROMISE THAT IT HAS FOR BETTERING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
14 WITH DISABILITIES.
15 GETTING ACCESSIBILITY INTO THE MARKETPLACE IS THE
16 RIGHT THING TO DO.
17 THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST.
18 (APPLAUSE)
19 >> THANK YOU, REX.
20 I WOULD LIKE TO NOW TURN IT OVER TO MICROSOFT AND
21 TOM.
22 TOM.
23 .
24 GOOD MORNING.
25 CAN YOU HEAR ME IN THE BACK?
111
1 MY NAME IS TOM CELLA, AND I'M WITH A SMALL SOFTWARE
2 COMPANY CALLED MICROSOFT.
3 I'M HERE REPRESENTING OUR ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY
4 GROUP.
5 LARA RUBY WHO WOULD TYPICALLY BE HERE WAS
6 UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO A CONFLICT IN
7 HER SCHEDULE.
8 SO AT THE LAST MINUTE SHE ASKED ME TO FILL IN.
9 SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.
10 I SPENT 11 YEARS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
11 PROCUREMENT FIELD PRIOR TO COMING TO MICROSOFT.
12 SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF SECTION 508 AND
13 ITS EFFECT ON FEDERAL PROCUREMENT PRACTICES.
14 MY GOAL TODAY IS TO GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF
15 MICROSOFT'S POSITION REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY AND
16 SECTION 508. MICROSOFT HAS ESTABLISHED SEVERAL
17 VERTICAL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMPANY.
18 ONE OF THOSE VERTICAL BUSINESSES IS MICROSOFTD
19 GOVERNMENT AND WE'RE LOCATED HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
20 THE PRIMARY TASK OF MICROSOFT GOVERNMENT IS TO
21 PROVIDE PRODUCTS, PRODUCTS SUPPORT AND CONSULTING
22 SERVICES TO OUR FEDERAL AS WELL AS STATE AND LOCAL
23 GOVERNMENT CUSTOMERS.
24 REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR FEDERAL CUSTOMER AND
25 THE ABILITY FOR US TO KEEP THE FEDERAL CUSTOMER HAPPY
112
1 AND TO MEET YOUR NEEDS, WE HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE IN
2 PARTICIPATING IN AND TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE
3 DEVELOPMENT OF SECTION 508 ACCESS BOARD STANDARDS.
4 I WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION MICROSOFT'S ACCESSIBILITY
5 MIPGZ STATEMENT.
6 THAT STATE IS TO MAKE MICROSOFT PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS
7 AND SERVICE ININ IN AND RELEVANT TO PEOPLE WITH
8 DISABILITIES AND MAKE ACCESSIBILITY CORE TO
9 MICROSOFT'S CULTURE.
10 JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON MICROSOFT'S
11 COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, WE STARTED WITH ONE
12 PERSON 12 YEAR AGOS AGO IN 19QUAETD AND 88, AND NOW
13 WE HAVE A 40 PERSON TEAM.
14 LAURA RUBY WHO I MENTIONED EARLIER IS A PROGRAM
15 MANAGER WITH THE ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY GROUP.
16 THIS GROUP FOCUSES ON MAKING OUR PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS,
17 AND SERVICE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
18 TO. SHARE WITH YOU A QUOTE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN, BILL
19 GATELESS, HE SAID IN THE PAST THAT A COMPUTER IS ONE
20 OF THE MOST PROMISING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGYS THAT
21 EXIST TODAY.
22 TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS QUOTE, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH
23 YOU TWO EXAMPLES OF HOW MICROSOFT AS A COMPANY IS
24 COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR COMPANY ACCESSIBLE TO
25 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
113
1 THE FIRST EXAMPLE, THE PROGRAM WITHIN MICROSOFT
2 REFERRED TO AS THE MICROSOFT ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORS.
3 WHAT THIS PROGRAM ENTAILS IS THAT MIVOSOFT REALIZES
4 THE VAUBLT OF MAINTAINING A WHO PROVIDE US WITH
5 FEEDBACK AND EXPERTISE ON THE WAY TO BEST MEET THE
6 NEEDS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
7 THE SECOND EXAMPLE IS MICROSOFT'S INVOLVEMENT WITH
8 THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND HOW WE ASSISTED
9 IN PROPOSING THE.
10 TO MEET THE NEW PURCHASING REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION
11 508.
12 OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IS ACCESSIBILITY IS
13 EVOLUTIONARY.
14 WE MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL
15 ADVANCES AND MAKE EACH VERSION OF AUR OUR PRODUCT
16 MORE ACCESSIBLE THAN THE LAST.
17 AN EXAMPLE OF THIS ARE SOME OF THE NEW ACCESSIBILITY
18 FEATURES WITHIN THE OFFICE XP PRODUCT, FOR EXAMPLE,
19 SPEECH INPUT IN WORD PLUS LIMITED CONTROL AND COMMAND
20 IN OFFICE AS WELL AS A NEW FORMAT CONSISTENCY CHECKER
21 AND RESOLUTION IN WORD.
22 WE BELIEVE THAT SECTION 508 IS GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT,
23 INDUSTRY, AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
24 IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD, IT MAKES ACCESSIBILITY A
25 COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
114
1 AND ALLOWS INDUSTRY TO HELP GOVERNMENT HAVE CHOICES
2 WHEN PURCHASING ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY.
3 OUR PRODUCT ACCESSIBLE BENCHMARKING PROCESS, I'M JUST
4 GOING TO BRIEFLY GO OVER THAT.
5 WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS OUR JOB TO HELP OUR FEDERAL
6 CUSTOMERS TO COMPLY WITH THEIR NEW PURCHASING
7 REQUIREMENTS UNDER SECTION 508.
8 TO DO THIS WE MUST APPLY YOU WITH THE ACCESSIBILITY
9 INFORMATION YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE WISE
10 PURCHASING CHOICES.
11 AS MOST OF YOU KNOW MICROSOFT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE
12 INDUSTRY COUNCIL, OUR INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES IN GSA TO
13 HELP DEVELOP THE VOLUNTARY ACCESSIBILITY TEMPLATE
14 WHICH WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.
15 THE V PAT ALLOWS VENDORS WHO CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE
16 THE ABILITY TO COPY THE TEMPLATE AND DESCRIBE HOW A
17 PARTICULAR PRODUCT OR SERVICE THEY OFFER CONFIRMS TO
18 SECTION 508 ACCESS BOARD STANDARDS.
19 WE HAVE CREATAD AN INTERNAL MICROSOFT PROCESS TO
20 SUPPORT THE V PAT.
21 WE DEVELOPED A TECHNICAL BENCHMARKING WORKSHEET THAT
22 ACCESS THE STANDARDS INTO A PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS.
23 OUR PROCESS REQUIRES EVERY PRODUCT GROUP TO TEST AND
24 DOCUMENT HOW A PRODUCT SUPPORTS EACH OF THE SECTION
25 508 ACCESS BOARD STANDARDS.
115
1 THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION IS THEN TRANSLATED INTO
2 LANGUAGE THAT SHOWS HOW A PRODUCT SUPPORTS EACH
3 STANDARD AND IS DOCUMENTED IN A VPAT.
4 THE VPAT IS THEN POSTED ON OUR NAVAL WEB SITE AND
5 LINKED TO GSA'S ACCESSIBLE WEB SITE OUR FIRST VPAT ON
6 OFFICE XP WAS RECENTLY POSTED AND OTHERS WILL SOON
7 FOLLOW.
8 WHY THE VPAT PROCESS IS BENEFICIAL: WE FEEL IT IS
9 BENEFICIAL BECAUSE IT MAGNIFIES ACCESSIBILITY AS A
10 CORPORATE INITIATE NSHLT FOR ALL PRODUCT GROUPS.
11 IT DRIVES CORE PRODUCT ENGINEERS AND DEVELOPERS TO
12 ADDRESS ACCESSIBILITY AT THE EARLY DESIGN AND
13 ENGINEERING STAGES.
14 IT INSTITUTION SNUGZ SNUGZS ACCESSIBILITY INTO TEST
15 PROCESSES.
16 IT UNCOVERS TECHNICAL GAPS AND HIGHLIGHTS AREAS WHERE
17 STANDARDS ARE NOT MET AND SOLUTIONS NEED TO BE
18 DEVELOPED.
19 AND IT ENCOURAGES COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING
20 BETWEEN HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
21 VENDORS.
22 IN CONCLUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT YOU TO OUR WEB
23 SITE, MIROSOFT.COM/ENABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
24 REGARDING PRODUCTS THAT WE OFFER AND THEIR ABILITY TO
25 MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE ACCESS BOARD.
116
1 THANK YOU.
2 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TOM.
3 I KNOW WE STARTED A LITTLE LATE, BUT WE STILL DO HAVE
4 SOME TIME FOR Q&A.
5 ARE THERE ANY FOLKS OUT THERE?
6 YES.
7 >> JOHN WAYNE WITH BUSINESS WEEK.
8 WHAT TIME FRAME ARE YOU LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF
9 UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY?
10 AND SECOND, WHY AREN'T COMPANIES WHO HAVE
11 ACCESSIBILITY FUTURES IN PRODUCTS NOW MARKETING THEM
12 IN THE MAINSTREAM?
13 >> I GUESS I'LL TURN OVER TO00 IYEAH.
14 I CAN TRY TO ANSWER PART OF THAT, JOHN.
15 WHEN WILL WE HAVE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBLE DESIGN I THINK
16 IS THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION?
17 >> RIGHT.
18 WHAT'S TIME FRAME ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
19 FOUR YEARS?
20 FIVE YEARS.
21 >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A
22 DESTINATION OR POINT IN TIME AND I GUESS I'M GOING TO
23 EQUATE THAT EACH WITHIN ARCHITECTURE IF I LOOK AT IT
24 I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR AND CERTAINLY WITH THE ADA BEING
25 ENACTED IN 1990 THERE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS BENEFITS,
117
1 BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE THERE ARE UNIVERSAL DESIGNS IN
2 TERMS OF ARCHITECTURES.
3 THERE WILL BE LEGACY BUILDINGS AROUND, LEGACY SYSTEMS
4 AROUND.
5 BUT WE AT LEAST FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK I
6 CAN SPEAK FOR SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT MIKE
7 ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS COPIERS, THAT YOU'RE
8 GOING TO SEE TREMENDOUS STRIDES OVER THE NEXT 12 FO24
9 MONTHS.
10 I THINK IT'S BEEN ECHOED WITH MANY OF THE SPEAKERS
11 HERE TODAY IS THAT WE ARE TAKING THIS EXTREMELY
12 SERIOUSLY AND SEE GREAT BENEFITS FOR THIS AND I GO
13 BACK TO THAT WE SEE A SIM BION THEIC RELATIONSHIP
14 THAT IS DIRECTLY TIED BETWEEN ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND
15 USABLE DESIGN.
16 AS WE ARE INVOLVED WITH OUR HUMAN FACTORS GROUPS IN
17 LOOKING AT THE DESIGN OF THESE PRODUCTS AND HOW WE
18 MAKE THIS ACCESSIBLE, THAT THERE'S A SIM BION THEIC
19 RELATIONSHIP AS WE MAKE THINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR
20 PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES [] WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE
21 ACCESSIBILITY -- OR USABLE FOR ALL OUR USERS AND
22 THAT'S A GREAT BENEFIT TO US BECAUSE WE WANT TO SELL
23 MORE PRODUCTS.
24 AND IF WE MAKE PRODUCTS MORE USABLE, PEOPLE WILL BUY
25 THEM.
118
1 BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE SPECIFIC
2 ENHANCEMENTS AND DEVICES THAT ARE CREATED BY THE
3 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY VENDORS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT
4 ARE GOING TO GO FAR BEYOND WHAT UNIVERSAL DESIGN WILL
5 OFFER, AND IMPROVE THAT.
6 AS LONG AS WE HAVE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THAT
7 HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE
8 THAT ARE VERY CREATIVE LIKE THE AT, ASSISTIVE
9 TECHNOLOGY MARKETPLACE, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
10 RAISE THE BAR FOR VENDORS LIKE OURSELVES THAT I DON'T
11 KNOW THAT WE'LL EVER REACH THAT, BUT THOSE PRODUCTS
12 ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME OUT.
13 I ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO SIT ON THE BOARD OF THE
14 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AND IF YOU
15 GO BY OUR LITTLE BOOTH OUT HERE YOU'LL SEE TWO OR
16 THREE OF THE VENDORS THAT ARE THERE DEMONSTRATING
17 SOME OF THEIR AT PRODUCTS.
18 AND I THINK THOSE PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
19 BE MANUFACTURED OR ADDED ON OR INCLUDED.
20 I THINK THE KEN MENTIONED EARLIER THAT'S GOING TO BE
21 THE MOST PROMISING IS THAT IN THE NEXT, AND I DON'T
22 KNOW WHAT THE TIME FRAME SELL HONESTLY, JOHN, BUT IN
23 THE NEXT TWO, THREE, FOUR FIVE YEARS IS WHERE WE CAN
24 DEVELOP THE INTEROPERABILITY STANDARDS BETWEEN IT AND
25 AT.
119
1 IF YOU GO OUT THERE AGAIN, YOU'VE WE HAVE FRIENDS IN
2 QUAD MEDIA.
3 WE VOA KIOSK.
4 I WAS READING WHERE BANK 1 NOW HAS ACCESSIBLE I CAN
5 OFBLGS TO ALLOW A PERSON WHO IS BLIND TO GO UP AND
6 USE A HEADSET.
7 AS WE DEVELOP THOSE STANDARDS FOR INTEROPERABILITY
8 FOR NT AND IT SO YOU CAN TAKE WHATEVER YOUR AT DEVICE
9 IS AND BYPASS SOME OF THE INTERFACES THAT EXIST TODAY
10 AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE TECHNOLOGY AND AGAIN, THE
11 INFORMATION I SHOULDN'T EVEN SAY TECHS, THAT'S
12 TECHNOLOGY, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY I THINK IS THAT'S
13 WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET.
14 >> THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE TO HIS QUESTION
15 WHICH WAS WHEN WILL THE ADVERTISING START TO AFFECT
16 THE MAIN LINE ADVERTISING OF THE COMPANIES.
17 I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
18 >> I COULD SAY ONE THING ABOUT THAT, THAT
19 WE'VE ALREADY SEEN.
20 MY FRIEND SUSAN PALMER WITH CINGULAR WIRELESS WERE
21 HERE, SHE WOULD PROBABLY BE TOUTING THE FACT THEY
22 WERE USING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THEIR
23 ADVERTISING AND CERTAINLY APPLAUD THEM FOR THE
24 EFFORTLESS THAT THEY HAVE.
25 WE AT COMPAQ I KNOW ARE LOOKING AT THAT JUST AS I'M
120
1 THINKING OF SEVERAL THINGS, ENERGY STAR COMPLIANCE,
2 WHICH WAS A FURTHERMORE REGULATION AND HOW THAT'S ON
3 EVERY ONE OF OUR PIECES OF PRODUCT LITERATURE TODAY,
4 AND EVEN SOMETHING THAT'S NOT MANDATED BUT NETWORK
5 MANAGEMENT HOW THAT'S FOUND ITS WAY ONTO EVERY ONE OF
6 OUR PIECES OF LITERATURE.
7 WE'RE STARTING TO NOW INCLUDE ACCESSIBILITY
8 INFORMATION ON EACH ONE OF OUR PRODUCT PIECES AS
9 WELL, AND I THINK THAT FROM WHAT I'VE TALKED WITH
10 WITH MY OTHER INDUSTRY PEERS THAT'S A STRONG AREA
11 WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT.
12 THE TIME FRAME FOR THAT I WOULD SUGGEST WOULD
13 PROBABLY BE AGAIN OVER THE NEXT 12 TO 24 MONTHS.
14 >> YES.
15 ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.
16 >> WANDA GILL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
17 EDUCATION.
18 MY QUESTION IS FOR THE LARGER COMPANIES.
19 DO YOU HAVE ANY COOPERATIVE VENTURES WITH SMALLER
20 FIRMS THAT ARE HEADED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
21 >> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WE DO.
22 MY OVERALL KNOWLEDGE OF WHO THOSE COMPANIES ARE, OR
23 THOSE FIRMS ARE, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.
24 BUT IF YOU'D LIKE I CAN ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION LATER
25 AND GET YOU EXACT INFORMATION.
121
1 >> AND LET ME TAKE A STAB AT THAT AGAIN.
2 BOTH COMPAQ AND I KNOW MICROSOFT HAS FOR YEARS WORKED
3 WITH VARIOUS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.
4 MANY ARE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WHO HAVE CREATED A
5 WONDERFUL SOLUTION AND DONNA HAD MARKETED THAT OR NOT
6 EVEN NECESSARILY SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY, BUT MANY
7 TIMES THOSE ARE VENDORS, THOSE ARE PERSON WHOSE HAVE
8 A FAMILY MEMBER.
9 ONE OF THE THINGS AS CRAIG SHOWED HIS SLIDE EARLIER
10 IS YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TAGGED WITH A DISABILITY AS
11 YOU WENT THROUGH THE LITTLE SCENARIO CRAIG WENT
12 THROUGH, BUT THE CHANCES ARE GREAT THAT EITHER A SON
13 OR A DAUGHTER OR A BROTHER OR SISTER OR A PARENT IS
14 GOING TO BE AFFECTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
15 AND SO MANY OF THE AT VENDORS AGAIN HAVE CREATED
16 SOLUTIONS BECAUSE IT WAS A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND.
17 AND SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM THAT WE WORK WITH
18 EVEN AS A LARGE COMPANY LIKE OURSELVES.
19 >> CHANCES ARE ONE IN THREE THAT YOU LIVE
20 IN A FAMILY THAT HAS SOMEBODY THAT IS DISABLED.
21 >> OTHER QUESTIONS?
22 YES.
23 RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.
24 >> WALT HOUSER, WEB MASTER DEPARTMENT DPT
25 DPT DPTS AFFAIRS.
122
1 IS THERE A CONCERN IN INDUSTRY ABOUT THE FACT THAT
2 THE WAI STANDARDS ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE SECTION 508
3 STANDARDS AND IF SO WHAT STEPS DOES INDUSTRY SEE IN
4 RECONCILING THE TWO?
5 >> I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A STAB AT THAT
6 ONE.
7 IS YOUR QUESTION RELATED TO INDUSTRY?
8 IS COMPAQ ON OUR WEB SITE OR INDUSTRY ON OUR SPECIFIC
9 WEB SITES? OR I THINK WHAT CONSIDER SAYING IS MORE00
10 IAS A WEB MASTER I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT
11 THERE ARE TWO STANDARDS, THE GUIDELINES FROM THE WEB
12 ACCESSIBILITY INITIATE NSHLT OF W3C AND THEN THE
13 STANDARDS PUBLISHED BY THE ACCESS BOARD, 1194.22.
14 BOTH ADDRESS WEB TECHNOLOGY.
15 OF COURSE AS A WEB EMPLOYEE I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
16 LATTER.
17 A LOT OF THE VENDORS OF COURSE ARE FIELDING PRODUCTS
18 THAT ADDRESS THEM BOTH.
19 IS THIS A CONCERN FOR YOU ALL, OR IS MORE STANDARDS
20 THE BETTER?
21 >> IT'S NOT MORE STANDARDS THE BETTER.
22 THE FEWER STANDARDS THE BETTER, REALLY.
23 I GUESS THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT
24 THAT AT THE POINT IN TIME THAT IT WAS BEING PUT FORTH
25 OF THE ALL THE COMMENTS THAT CAME IN FROM INDUSTRY
123
1 SAID LET'S MAKE THOSE REQUIREMENTS THE SAME.
2 BUT THE OPPOSING FORCE THERE CAME IN FROM PEOPLE WITH
3 DISABILITIES SAYING THAT SOME OF THOSE THINGS HAD TO
4 BE DIFFERENT.
5 THE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCE IS PRETTY SMALL.
6 AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET INTO
7 PROBLEMS IF YOU COME UP WITH YOUR OWN SOLUTION THAT
8 SOLVES THEM BOTH.
9 IS THAT POSSIBLE?
10 >> I'M TAKING ACTION OPEN DIALOGUE BETWEEN
11 ACCESS BOARD AND W3 CREDIT C.
12 >> HE STAMDS READY FOR -- BUT HE NOTES
13 THAT THE REG REGY PROCESS IS FAIRLY INFLEXIBLE.
14 SLOW IS NOT THE PROBLEM.
15 I MEAN, THE STANDARDS PROCESS IS SLOW BUT THE
16 REGULATORY PROCESS HAS A LOT OF, LET'S SAY,
17 REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT AND SDIFRNT FROM
18 THAT00 II GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VIA VALUES AND
19 THAT IS THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT ARE IN THERE.
20 BECAUSE THAT ENABLES THE USE OF EQUIVALENT
21 FACILITATION.
22 IF YOU CAN GIVE ACCESSIBILITY TO YOUR WEB PAGES
23 WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE RULES THAT ARE THERE, MORE
24 POWER TO YOU.
25 IT'S OKAY, IT'S COMPLIANT.
124
1 >> MY NAME IS PAT SHEEHAN FROM THE
2 DEPARTMENT DPT DPT RANS AFFAIRS.
3 YOU HAVE A PRODUCT OUT THERE IN MICROSOFT CALLED
4 TERMINAL SERVER WHICH IS BASICALLY USED FOR REMOTE
5 ACCESS AND IT BASICALLY WRIEPS OUT ACCESS FOR
6 ANYTHINGOW THE SCREEN.
7 CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE THAT
8 PRODUCT ACCESSIBLE?
9 >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PRODUCT GROUP
10 I'M SURE IT'S BEEN GRADUATE BROUGHT TO THEIR
11 ATTENTION.
12 WHAT WE'VE FOUND OUT IS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN THE
13 PROCESS OF UPGRADEING THAT PRODUCT AND MAKING IT USER
14 FRIENDLY.
15 AND ACCESSIBILITY DEFINITELY BEING AT THE TOP OF THAT
16 LIST IS ONE AREA WHERE OUR PRODUCT GROUPS ARE TRYING
17 TO FOCUS MORE ON MAKING TERMINAL SERVER USER FRIENDLY
18 AND YOU WILL NOT HAVE THAT SITUATION OCCUR WHERE
19 YOU'RE UNABLE TO READ WHATEVER IT IS YOU NEED TO READ
20 AND THE PRODUCT GROUP IS DEFINITELY IMPRIEFING THAT
21 SITUATION.
22 UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE SPECIFICS BUT I
23 CAN PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THE CORRECT PEOPLE IF YOU
24 NEED ME TO.
25 >> I APPRECIATE THAT.
125
1 THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
2 >> LET ME ALSO MENTION THAT WHEN WE GET
3 INTO TERMINAL SERVER WE START GETTINGING INTO THE
4 BACK OFFICE EXEMPTION AND WE START BORDERLINING ON
5 WHAT'S CALLED THE BACK OFFICE EXEMPT YONL.
6 I KNOW THAT BOTH THROUGH ITI AND ITA, I SIT ON BOTH
7 WORKING GROUPS THAT THAT IS AN AREA OF INTEREST THAT
8 WE'RE ALL WORKING ON.
9 COMPAQ I KNOW BECAUSE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS A VERY
10 LARGE PURCHASER OF SERVER EQUIPMENT FOR US IS VERY
11 INTERESTED IN THAT AND IN FACT WE WERE TAKING STEPS
12 RIGHT NOW.
13 ALTHOUGH THERE'S AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT
14 SAYS THAT SERVER EQUIPMENT IS CONSIDERED BACK OFFICE
15 EQUIPMENT AND THEREFORE EXEMPT FROM SECTION 508.
16 WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT GOING -- NO, I JUST WANT TO
17 TALK ABOUT THE BACK OFFICE ISSUE.
18 I'M CHANGING SUBJECTS ON YOU, SORRY.
19 IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT IS THAT WE BELIEVE
20 THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME MOVEMENT IN THAT SPACE AS
21 WELL.
22 AND WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME
23 DOCUMENTATION ON BACK OFFICE EQUIPMENT AS WELL
24 BECAUSE WE THINK THAT THAT'S AGAIN ANOTHER STEP
25 THAT'S GOING TO HELP FEDERAL PROCUREMENT OFFICERS BE
126
1 ABLE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS THERE.
2 >> LET'S TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION.
3 >> IS THIS ON?
4 WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?
5 CHECK! MY QUESTION ALSO I THINK CAN BE ADDRESSED TO
6 MICROSOFT.
7 MOST OF MODERN COMPUTING IS BASED ON WINDOWS AND GUI
8 ARCHITECTURE.
9 EVEN ANY WEB DESIGN OR DATA BASE DESIGN OFTEN USES A
10 GUI DESIGNS WINDOW WOINLD.
11 THAT'S THE PREDOMINANT MODE.
12 YET WINDOWS IS EXTREMELY VISUALLY BASED.
13 DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO INTRODUCE SOUND FILES
14 TO GUI ARCHITECTURE TO ALLOW US TO DESIGN DATA BASE
15 SYSTEMS IN SOUND AS WELL AS VISUAL ELEMENTS?
16 >> I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE FIFTH ON THAT
17 QUESTION.
18 NO, JUST KIDDING.
19 ACTUALLY THAT'S A QUESTION THAT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE
20 I'M UNCOMFORTABLE ANSWERING AT THIS TIME.
21 I BELIEVE IT IS A POSSIBILITY.
22 AS A COMPANY WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT MAKING OUR
23 PRODUCTS MORE USER FRIENDLY AS I MENTIONED BEFORE AND
24 IMPROVING THE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THAT PRODUCT, MAKING
25 IT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND
127
1 SO MY RESPONSE WOULD BE I BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE.
2 HOW IT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLE I'M NOT SURE AT THIS
3 TIME, BUT ONCE AGAIN I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET
4 YOU MORE FEEDBACK FROM OUR FOLKS OUT AT CORPORATE
5 THAT MAY BETTER ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION.
6 >> THERE'S ALWAYS A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT
7 THE USE OF GUI AND ACCESSIBILITY THAT IS IT REALLY A
8 NECESSARY PART OF -- IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO USE A
9 GUI INTERFACE ON SOMETHING?
10 THE ANSWER IS NO IT'S NOT.
11 IT'S PRETTY EFFECTIVE AND IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN
12 ADOPTED BY AN AWFUL LOT OF APPLICATIONS.
13 I GUESS THE ISSUE IS THERE ARE WAYS TO USE GUIS WHICH
14 CAN GIVE -- WHICH PEOPLE CAN STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE
15 CONTROLS OVER THAT.
16 WHEN YOU GET INTO THE POINT OF HAVING TO HAVE EYE
17 HAND COORDINATION, THEN IF IT'S NOT ESSENTIAL FOR THE
18 TASK THAT YOU'RE DOING, IF THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO DO
19 IT, PROVIDE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS YOU CAN IN DOING
20 THINGS AS MANY WAYS AS POSSIBLE AND YOU'VE PROVIDED
21 ACCESSIBILITY.
22 >> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PANELISTS
23 TODAY.
24 I KNOW SEVERAL AS WELL AS MYSELF WILL BE HANGING
25 AROUND FOR A FEW MOMENTS OF THEIR SPECIFIC QUESTION.
128
1 AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENTS THIS MORNING WITH
2 US GETTING START THE A LITTLE LATE AND THANK YOU GSA
3 (APPLAUSE)
4 ............: .......
.
5 >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
LOOKS LIKE WE LOST A FEW PEOPLE BETWEEN LUNCHTIME
6 AND NOW, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE LIKE INTIMATE AUDIENCES.
7 MY NAME IS HELEN CHAMBERLAIN AND I WORK FOR THE
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR THE OFFICE OF
8 GOVERNMENT-WIDE POLICY AND THE DIVISION I'M IN IS THE
CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCOMMODATION.
9 WE ARE ONE OF THE AGENCIES THAT WAS CHARGED BY THE
PRESIDENT TO HELP WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION
10 508.
MY RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN MY OFFICE ARE TO BE THE
11 PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE SECTION 508 COORDINATORS FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
12 SO BASICALLY I'M THE PERSON THAT BROUGHT ALL OF THE
PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND
13 STARTED THEM DOWN THE ROAD TO FINDING OUT WHAT
SECTION 508 WAS, HELPING THEM PULL TOGETHER THEIR
14 TEAMS, AND STARTING DOWN THE ROAD IN YOUR AGENCIES TO
PUT SECTION 508 INTO WORKING ORDER.
15 WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING HERE TODAY -- WELL,
BEFORE I GET TO THAT, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION A
16 COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE DO HAVE A WEB SITE, IT'S WWW.SECTION 508.GOV.
17 AND THROUGH THAT WEB SITE YOU CAN REACH A MULTITUDE
OF INFORMATION.
18 WE VTD TRAINING, WE HAVE THE ACCESSIBILITY FORUM, WE
HAVE THE BUY ACCESSIBLE SITE, WE HAVE LINKS TO ALL
19 KINDS OF MATERIAL AND WASN'T SITES AND AGENCIES IF
YOU WANTED INFORMATION ON THOSE AGENCIES.
20 ON THERE WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE SECTION 508
COORDINATORS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SO IF YOU
21 WANT TO FIND OUT WHO YOUR COORDINATOR IS IF YOU DON'T
ALREADY KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.
22 OF COURSE YOU COULD ALWAYS CALL ME UP OR SEND ME AN
E-MAIL AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE EASIER.
23 I HAVE THREE GENTLEMAN HERE TODAY THAT ARE GOING TO
GIVE YOU THREE VERY, VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON
24 BEST PRACTICES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
25 A LOT OF THE AGENCIES ARE BASICALLY DOING THE SAME
THING, BUT A LOT OF THINGS DIFFER AS TO THE SIZE OF
129
1 THE AGENCY, THE NUMBER OF. THAT THERE ARE THERE, THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT THE AGENCY FUNCTIONS UNDER, AND HOW
2 MANY BUREAUS IT DOES OR DOESN'T HAVE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF DIFFERENT
3 AGENCIES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH SECTION 508.
I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH MR. TJ CANADY WHO IS
4 INFORMATION RESOURCES ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, IN PARTICULAR THE
5 IRS.
SO EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, HIDE YOUR IDENTIFICATION
6 BADGES BECAUSE HE IS TAKING NAMES.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE ALL PAID YOUR TAXES.
7 ACTUALLY HE'S A VERY NICE PERSON.
TJ BEGAN HIS CAREER IN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AS A CDC
8 LANGUAGE PROGRAMMER BACK IN THE 1980'S.
AND HE WAS THEN IN 1988 SELECTED TO BE A COLLATERAL
9 DUTY DISABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER FOR INFORMATION
SYSTEMS AND SERVED AS A CHAIRPERSON ON THE NATIONAL
10 OFFICE OF DISABILITY PROGRAM COMMITTEE FOR FOUR
YEARS.
11 HE CURRENTLY MANAGES THE INFORMATION RESOURCES
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM OR THE IRAP OFFICE FOR THE IRS,
12 AND HE'S ALSO HEADING UP THE SECTION 508 PROGRAM
WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO HE'S ACTUALLY ONE OF
13 THE COORDINATORS THAT WORKS WITH MYSELF ALSO.
TJ IS GOING TO GIVE YOU A SHORT OVERVIEW OF THEIR
14 PROGRAM, AND THEN HE HAS A SHORT VIDEO THAT HE'S
GOING TO SHOW YOU WHICH WAS DONE BY THE IRS THAT
15 GIVES YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING AS FAR AS
ACCESSIBILITY GOES.
16 >> THANKS, HENL, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY
THANKS TO OPHELIA FALLS AND THE PEOPLE AT GSA THAT
17 ARE ASKING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
AS HELEN SAID I AM THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE
18 INFORMATION RESOURCES ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM AT IRS,
AND WHEN HELEN ASKED ME OR OPHELIA ASKED ME TO BE
19 HERE TALKING ABOUT 508 BEST PRACTICES, FRANKLY MOST
OF MY PRESENTATION IS GEARED TOWARDS MY ROLE AS A 508
20 COORDINATOR.
I WILL TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION
21 ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON THAT MIGHT RELATE TO THE
REST OF YOU THAT MIGHT NOT BE 508 COORDINATORS.
22 BUT IT OCCURRED TO ME LAST NIGHT THAT MOST OF YOU
PROBABLY AREN'T 508 COORDINATORS BUT IF THERE ARE
23 THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF COORDINATING OUR
508 YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH 508
24 COORDINATORS ON THE WWW.SECTION508 WEB SITE ONE OF
THE THINGS THINGS THAT I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT, AND
25 HELEN DOESN'T KNOW THIS, BUT I WENT HOME AND TWEAKED
MY PRESENTATION JUST A LITTLE BIT.
130
1 I LEFT OFF ONE OF MY REALLY KEY STRATEGIES.
WE ARE A VERY LARGE AGENCY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T
2 KNOW.
SIX FIGURES, AND BOTH THAT'S OUR INTERNAL POPULATION
3 OF EMPLOYEES AND IN TERMS OF OUR CUSTOMER BASE,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND AN AGENCY THAT HAS A BIGGER
4 CUSTOMER BASE THAN WE DO.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL PAINFULLY AWARE OF THAT.
5 SO -- AND WE HAVE A PRETTY RICH HISTORY AT INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE OF PROVIDING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
6 TO OUR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES.
LAST YEAR WE PROVIDED OVER 600 COMPUTER ACOM--
7 COMPUTER ADAPTIVE ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE YEAR BEFORE
ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT.
8 SO WE'RE PRETTY WELL KNOWN FOR THAT WITHIN THE IRS.
BUT WHEN 508 CAME ABOUT, WHAT I WAS AFRAID OF WAS WE
9 WERE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME OLD PARADIGM THAT
DEVELOPERS AND REQUIREMENTS ANALYSTS WERE GOING TO
10 SAY WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR TECHNOLOGY
BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE FANCY WIDGETS
11 ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES.
DOES THAT SOUND REMOTELY FAMILIAR TO ANYBODY HERE?
12 I'M SURE IT DOES.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU THOUGHT THAT TOO.
13 SO ONE OF MY STRATEGIES IN MY VERY BIG AGENCY WAS TO
FROM THE GET-GO SEPARATE 508 FROM OUR ASSISTIVE
14 TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
AT LEAST IN THE VERY BEGINNING.
15 SO I WENT OFF ON MY MERRY WAY AND RAN 508 FOR A
COUPLE OF MONTHS WILL AND LEFT SOMEBODY IN CHARGE OF
16 OUR ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.
WELL, AS OF THIS WEEK, WE HAVE A NEW APPROACH AND
17 WE'RE MARRIED THEM BACK.
SO MY PROGRAM NOW ENCOMPASSES BOTH 508 AND ASSISTIVE
18 TECHNOLOGY.
I KNEW THAT DAY WOULD HAVE TO COME, AND TODAY IS THE
19 DAY TO DO THAT.
BECAUSE THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BUT IT WAS VERY
20 IMPORTANT WITHIN A STRATEGY WITHIN OUR AGENCY THAT
REQUIRING OFFICIALS REALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT
21 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY WILL NOT MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES COMPLIANT WITH 508.
22 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY WILL NOT MAKE PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES ACCESSIBLE.
23 THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HAVE TO BE ACCESSIBLE.
AND THEN COMPATIBLE WITH THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
24 THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
AND IN FACT, I THOUGHT ABOUT CHANGING THIS AGAIN, BUT
25 IT WAS TOO LATE WHEN I GOT HERE BECAUSE MY FLIGHT
SELL SECTION 508 PLUS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY EQUALS
131
1 ACCESSIBLE SYSTEMS AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND MAYBE
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECTION 508 PLUS OR MINUS
2 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
BECAUSE FRANKLY IF WE EVER GET TO THE POINT WHERE
3 PEOPLE ARE DOING UNIVERSAL DESIGN, MAYBE WE WON'T
NEED ASSIST IVE TECHNOLOGY.
4 IN TERMS OF OUR ACCESSIBILITY PROGRESS TO DATE, OUR
EFFORTS WITHIN THE PAST NINE MONTHS HAVE REALLY
5 FOCUSED ON THREE KEY AREAS: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH,
POLICY AND GUIDANCE, AND ACCESSIBILITY AND SUPPORT.
6 IN TERMS OF OUTREACH, THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS
ESTABLISH A FEEF 08 WEB SITE WHY DID WE DO THAT?
7 WE DID THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF PUBLICITY
ABOUT 508 IN THE MEDIA AND YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE THAT
8 SOME OF IT WAS PERHAPS A LITTLE MISLEADING.
SO WE TRIED TO PULL TOGETHER A WEB SALE THAT HAD THE
9 INFORMATION THAT WE THOUGHT WAS KEY TO PEOPLE WITHIN
THE INTERN REVENUE SERVICE.
10 AND HELEN WOULD BE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT THE FIRST
LINK ON OUR WEB SITE IS WWW.SECTION 508.GOCH.
11 WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A 508 E-MAIL ADDRESS SO THAT
PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE ARE ALL OVER THE
12 COUNTRY, COULD E-MAIL IN THEIR 508 INQUIRIES AND
THAT'S REALLY HELPED US MANAGE THE QUESTIONS ABOUT
13 508 PLUS CAPTURE WHAT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE AND LOOK
FOR TRENDS AND BE ABLE TO PUT INFORMATION OUT IN A
14 MORE ORGANIZED KIND OF WAY.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN ENGAGED IN A VERY
15 EXTENSIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN.
NEWSLETTERS, WEB SITES, BROADCAST VOICE MAILS,
16 BROADCAST E-MAILS, I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF TIME
DOING CROSS-FUNCTIONAL BRIEFINGS AND SEMINARS AND ONE
17 OF THOSE HAS BEEN CAPTURED BACK IN AUGUST ON VIDEO
TAPE AND WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE A 55-MINUTE VIDEO ON
18 508 THAT WE'VE MAILED OUT TO ALL OF OUR EXECUTIVE
OFFICES, ALL OF OUR EEO OFFICES, ALL OF OUR
19 PROCUREMENT OFFICES, AND ALL OF OUR LEGAL OFFICES.
THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MARKETING AND A LOT OF
20 PUBLICITY, AND IT IS, AND GUESS WHAT?
IT ISN'T ENOUGH.
21 AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, THE KEY STRATEGIES.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING ABOUT 508 WITHIN YOUR
22 AGENCY, YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR 508 COORDINATOR AND
FIND OUT WHY YOU'RE NOT HEARING ABOUT IT.
23 THEY MAY BE DOING WHAT I'M DOING IN TRYING TO GET THE
WORD OUT AND IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT.
24 PARTICULARLY FOR US BEING SO LARGE, IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO GET OUT INFORMATION.
25 I WAS PROVEN CORRECT YESTERDAY BECAUSE WE HAD A
MANAGER FROM ONE OF OUR FIELD OFFICES HERE THAT CAME
132
1 UP TO ME AFTERWARDS AND I WAS VERY DISPLAYED TO LEARN
HE'D NEVER HEARD ABOUT 508 AND EVEN WITH ALL THE
2 ARTICLES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, THE VIDEOS, NO MATTER
WHAT, HE HADN'T HEARD ABOUT 508.
3 WE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO STUFF OUR BROCHURE FOR OUR
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM IN EVERYBODY'S PAY STUB.
4 AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN THAT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE IN
GETTING EVERYBODY TO KNOW ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS.
5 SO BASICALLY GETTING THE WORD OUT IS A CONTINUING
EFFORT YOU CANNOT STOP.
6 IF I WAS GOING TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING, AND THE WHOLE
PRESENTATION, THAT'S IT.
7 KEEP GETTING THE WORD OUT.
POLICY AND GUIDANCE.
8 WE'VE HAD MEMORANDA FROM THE CIO, THE DIRECTOR OF
PROCUREMENT, TALKING ABOUT OUR POLICIES AND GUIDANCE,
9 AND THIS IS I GUESS THE SECOND KEY THING OR PERHAPS
SHOULD BE OUR FIRST, IS THAT AS CONTROVERSIAL AS IT
10 IS, WE DO HAVE PROCUREMENT GUIDANCE PROCEDURES,
SAMPLE DOCUMENTS, THAT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF
11 TREASURY HAS ADOPTED AND THEY CAN BE FOUND ON
TREASURY'S WEB SITE AT WWW.TREAS.GOV.
12 THEY ARE SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT FRANKLY, I THINK
THEY HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE TO OUR AGENCY WHO DOES
13 MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH
OF EIT PROCUREMENTS AND AS 508 WAS COMING,
14 CONTRACTING OFFICERS AND REQUIRING OFFICIALS ARE LIKE
HOW DO WE DO THIS?
15 WHAT PROCESS DO WE FOLLOW?
SO THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY STEPPED UP AND MADE
16 SOME GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS AND PROCEDURES AND SAMPLE
DOCUMENTS THAT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT HAS FOLLOWED.
17 AND IT'S REALLY HELPED CONTROL WHAT WOULD HAVE
OTHERWISE BEEN CHAOS FOR ALL OF US.
18 SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE, LACKING MORE
SPECIFICITY FROM SOME OTHER GOVERNING BODY OF THE
19 GOVERNMENT, I MIGHT SUGGEST THAT YOUR AGENCIES ADOPT
SOMETHING.
20 WE ALSO HAD BEFORE THE BUY ACCESSIBLE CHECKLIST CAME
OUT, AGAIN, WE COULDN'T WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO COME
21 OUT SO WE HAD OUR OWN ACCESSIBILITY CHECKLIST WHICH
WILL NOW BE SHIFTING OVER AND LOOKING OVER THE
22 BIACCESSIBLE CHECKLIST OF COURSE.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ACCESSIBILITY POLICY IN OUR INTERNAL
23 REVENUE MANUAL WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR GUIDING
DOCUMENT WITHIN INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
24 FINALLY ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT.
WE'RE THE EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR A TREASURY-WIDE
25 CONTRACT THAT PROVIDES ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND
SERVICES.
133
1 MY OFFICE ESSENTIALLY FUNDS THAT FOR IRS.
AND I HAVE A STAFF OF 12 WHICH IS ABOUT TO BECOME 14
2 BECAUSE I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL STAFF DUE TO THE 508
MANDATE FOR US.
3 AND OUR STAFF IS GOING TO BE DEALING WITH BOTH THE
UPFRONT 508 ISSUES AS WELL AS THE ASSISTIVE
4 TECHNOLOGY ISSUES.
LAST YEAR WE ALSO AWARDED A 508 SUPPORT --
5 SUPPORT CONTRACT.
SOME OF OUR DELIVERABLES WERE A LONG-TERM ACTION PLAN
6 THAT LOOKED AT OUR RISK, HAD A RISK ANALYSIS AND A
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN.
7 I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ARE
THE RISKS FOR YOUR AGENCY.
8 THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE DIFFERENT FOR ALL OF US.
A DRAFT PROCEDURAL MANUAL, AND SOMETHING I'M REALLY
9 EXCITED ABOUT THAT I WILL BE COMPLETING THIS FISCAL
YEAR, THE DRAFT OF AN ON-LINE WEB-BASED 508 TRAINING
10 IS DUE TO LEAVE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND THEN
I'LL GET SOME CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND HAVE IT
11 FINALIZED.
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE ANOTHER STEP IN OUR OUTREACH AND
12 EDUCATION STRATEGY TO GET THIS WEB-BASED TRAINING OUT
THERE.
13 AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MODULES ON A GENERAL OVERVIEW
MODULES THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR EXECUTIVE, A MODULE
14 FOR MANAGERS, A MODULE ON PROCUREMENT, A MODULE ON
TECHNICAL TOOLS AND RESOURCES AND A MODULE ON GENERAL
15 RESOURCES.
OUR 508 PROJECT OFFICE WHICH IS NOW A LITTLE SUBSET
16 OF MY OFFICE IS STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO FACILITATE
ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORTS TO INSTITUTIONALIZE COMPLIANCE
17 WITH SECTION 508.
INSTITUTIONALIZE IS UNDERLINED UP THERE BECAUSE I
18 CHOSE THAT WORD VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE -- AND I ALSO
CHOSE THE WORD PROJECT OFFICE VERY CAREFULLY FOR
19 THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW
THAT PROJECTS HAVE A VERY DEFINITE LIFE TO THEM; THEY
20 DON'T GO ON FOREVER.
IT'S NOT A 508 PROGRAM OFFICE.
21 I FULLY EXPECT IT TO GO AWAY WHEN WE HAVE
SUCCESSFULLY INSTITUTIONALIZED COMPLIANCE WITH 508.
22 BECAUSE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS EVENTUALLY 508 JUST
BECOMES PART OF DOING BUSINESS; IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO.
23 THERE'S JUST OTHER REQUIREMENTS LIKE ALL THE OTHER
EAND IT REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
24 AND THAT'S REALLY THE STRATEGY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
PUSH.
25 THE OTHER STRATEGY IN TERMS OF INSTITUTIONALIZING
COMPLIANCE WITH 508 AND GETTING BUY IN, AND IT'S NOT
134
1 JUST ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT 508, BUT DO THEY
GET IT.
2 AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR THE OUTREACH.
AND PART OF GETTING IT I THINK THAT'S KEY IS TYING
3 508 IN TO YOUR AGENCY'S MISSION.
AND SO IN EVERY PRESENTATION THEY DO AT IRS, ONE OF
4 THE LAST WORDS IN THE IRS MISSION IS WITH FAIRNESS TO
ALL.
5 TALKING ABOUT ALL OF OUR TAX PAYERS.
AND OBVIOUSLY ALL INCLUDES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
6 AND I ALSO TIE IT INTO OUR -- WE HAVE SOMETHING
CALLED BALANCE MEASURES, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION,
7 EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, AND BUSINESS RESULTS.
I ALSO MAKE A POINT OF TYING COMPLIANCE WITH 508 INTO
8 THOSE KEY BUSINESS FACTORS WHICH MANAGERS ARE, BY THE
WAY, RATED ON AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR.
9 AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TIE 508 INTO THE
BUSINESS.
10 IT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN ORDER TO SERVICE
ALL OF YOUR CUSTOMERS.
11 IT GIVES PEOPLE AN IMPETUS TO DO IT RATHER THAN IT'S
JUST THE LAW.
12 IT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO BE DOING TO SATISFY THE
REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR MISSION.
13 OUR OPERATIONAL PRIORITIES FOR 2002 ARE TO EXPAND OUR
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS EVEN MORE, CONTINUE TO
14 PROVIDE TECHNICAL GUIDANCE, AND MEASURE AND MONITOR
OUR COMPLIANCE.
15 I RUSHED THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I DID ADD
A LITTLE BIT FROM LAST NIGHT FROM YESTERDAY'S
16 PRESENTATION.
BUT I ALSO.ED TO SAVE ROOM TO SHOW YOU A BRIEF VIDEO
17 THAT OUR OFFICE HAS PUT TOGETHER.
IT DOESN'T RELATE SPECIFICALLY NECESSARILY TO 508
18 OTHER THAN IT'S PART OF OUR OVERALL PROGRAM AND I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
19 508 TO PUT ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IN PERSPECTIVE.
508 IS NOT ABOUT ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, BUT IT'S
20 IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
WHAT OUR VIDEO HOPEFULLY CONVEYS IS THE PRODUCTS AND
21 SERVICES THAT MY OFFICE PROVIDES AND ALSO EDUCATES
PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IS ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND WHY DO
22 PEOPLE USE IT.
AND IF PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT
23 ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IS AND WHY PEOPLE NEED IT, THEN
THEY'LL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE 508
24 STANDARDS MEAN AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO COMPLY.
>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DR. JOHN
25 HALVERSON, AND HE CURRENTLY IS SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
135
1 FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
HE LEADS THE OFFICE OF RIGHTS SECTION 508 ENFORCEMENT
2 ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDES OTHER ASPECTS OF CIVIL RIGHTS
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM.
3 HE SERVED AS A REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE OF
CIVIL RIGHTS, U.S. COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL RIGHTS
4 ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR A FOUR-STATE REGION OF IOWA,
KANSAS, AND NEVADA BEFORE HE CAME HERE.
5 HE JOINED OCR IN WASHINGTON IN 1979 AS A SOCIAL
ANALYST AND MOVED TO CANADA IN 1986 AS A REGIONAL
6 DEPUTY MANAGER.
HE SERVED AS ADJUNCT PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS AT
7 MISSOURI AND KANSAS AND HE RECEIVED HIS PH.D. IN
ECONOMICS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
8 JOHN?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TODAY, AND IT'S A
9 HARD ACT TO FOLLOW, TO FOLLOW A NICE VIDEO LIKE THAT,
BUT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT VIDEO
10 THAT ARE REALLY TRUE.
I WANT TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND I'M GOING TO
11 TALK MORE TODAY ABOUT THE -- SOME ASPECTS OF THE
LEGAL ENFORCEMENT.
12 IF FOR SOME SAD REASON AN ORGANIZATION RECEIVES A
COMPLAINT UNDER SECTION 508, BUT MOSTLY I'M GOING TO
13 TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE TO HELP
ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND I THINK THAT WE'VE DONE A
14 PRETTY GOOD JOB.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS A HUGE
15 DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
16 TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE, FOR THE CENTERS FOR
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES, AND WE ARE SPREAD OUT
17 THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
SO IT'S A VERY DECENTRALIZED DEPARTMENT.
18 HHS SET UP A SECTION 508 CORE TEAM.
IT WAS ESTABLISHED EARLY THIS YEAR.
19 IN FACT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN AROUND BEFORE THAT, BUT I
WAS IN KANSAS CITY BEFORE THAT AND WAS NOT INVOLVED.
20 THE CORE TEAM COORDINATES OUR SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE.
PATRICIA ABRAMS IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSISTANT
21 SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETS ASNB, OFFICE OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT -- WHAT IS THAT?
22 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
SHE'S A DIVISION OR AN OFFICE DIRECTOR THERE, AND SHE
23 CHAIRS THE GROUP.
THE CORE TEAM IS COMPOSED OF STAFF FROM VARIOUS
24 DEPARTMENTAL COMPONENTS.
AND FUNCTIONS IN AN CENTRAL CAPACITY TO COORDINATE
25 THE DEPARTMENT'S SECTION 508 TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION
ACTIVITIES.
136
1 THE CORE TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TECHNOLOGICAL PROCEDURES REQUIRED FOR THE HHS SECTION
2 504 PROGRAM.
THE TEAM IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
3 ON WHAT CONSTITUTES ACCESS OR WHAT MAY BE AND WHAT
MAY CONSTITUTE AN UNDUDE BURDEN.
4 ENFORCEMENT OF SECTION 508 REQUIRES EXPERTISE IN
AREAS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, PROCUREMENT,
5 REGULATIONS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS NON-DISCRIMINATION.
THUS THE CORE TEAM IS A BROAD-BASED AND CONSISTS OF
6 MEMBERS FROM MOST DEPARTMENTAL AGENCIES INCLUDING THE
INFORMATION RESOURCES AREA, PROCUREMENT, THE OFFICE
7 FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND PROGRAM DIVISIONS SUCH AS THE
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND CENTERS FOR
8 MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES.
AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN MEETING AT LEAST I'VE BEEN
9 INVOLVED SINCE FEBRUARY WHEN I CAME.
THE LANGUAGE IN SECTION 508, THAT IS THE STATUTORY
10 LANGUAGE, STATES THAT COMPLAINTS FILED SOMEBODY
SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN THE SAME MANNER AS COMPLAINTS
11 FILED UNDER SECTION 504 PART 85.
NOW, SECTION 504 PART 85 IS ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO THE
12 REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, AND IT COVERS COMPLAINTS
OF DISCRIMINATION BASED UPON THE FEDERALLY CONDUCTED
13 ACTIVITIES.
THE ORIGINAL SECTION 504 WHICH WAS PASSED IN 1973
14 INVOLVES DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THE RECEIPT OF
FEDERAL DOLLARS, THAT IS FEDERAL FINANCIAL
15 ASSISTANCE.
SO OUR OFFICE AND EQUIVALENT OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT
16 OF EDUCATION AND IN SEVERAL OTHER DEPARTMENTS ENFORCE
THAT.
17 AND THAT MEANT THAT WE ENFORCED ANTIDISCRIMINATION
REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO DISABILITY FOR, IN OUR
18 CASE, HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, MENTAL HEALTH
FACILITIES, WELFARE.
19 SO 504 PART 85 EXTENDED THAT LAW TO ACTIVITIES THAT
THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF CARRIES OUT WITH REGARD TO THE
20 PUBLIC, AND THAT WOULD BE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES OF
COURSE OF THE CDC, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH,
21 AND ACTIVITIES OF SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH UNTIL A FEW
YEARS AGO WAS PART OF HHS.
22 THE SECTION 508 LANGUAGE SAID THAT IF YOU HAD A
COMPLAINT, IT SHOULD BE RESOLVED IN THE SAME MANNER
23 AS COMPLAINTS UNDER SECTION 504 PART 85.
WHICH IS WHY I BRING THAT UP.
24 THUS, FOLLOWING SECTION 504 PART 85 REGULATIONS, WE
SEE IT BREAKS COMPLAINTS DOWN INTO TWO TYPES.
25 THE FIRST IS EMPLOYMENT-RELATED COMPLAINTS.
AND AN EMPLOYMENT-RELATED COMPLAINT WOULD BE A
137
1 COMPLAINT WHICH WOULD BE RESOLVED USING THE EXISTING
FOLLOW OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS PART AT PART
2 29, SECTION 49 -- I'M SORRY, 504 PART 85.
IT SOMETIMES GETS SO CONFUSING, THERE'S SO MANY
3 LETTERS: STATES THAT EMPLOYMENT RELATED COMPLAINTS
WITH REGARD TO PART 85 SHOULD GO THROUGH THE REGULAR
4 EEO PROCESS.
THEREFORE, EMPLOYMENT RELATED COMPLAINTS UNDER
5 SECTION 508 WILL GO THROUGH THE SIMILAR PROCESS.
EXAMPLES MAY BE AN EMPLOYEE WITH A DISABILITY IS
6 COMPLAINING THAT AN UNACCESSIBLE PIECE OF SOFTWARE
MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT
7 THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF HER JOB.
THAT WOULD BE AN EMPLOYMENT-RELATED COMPLAINT.
8 YOU MIGHT ARGUE IT'S NOT SECTION 508 BUT AGAIN IT HAS
TO DO WITH SOFTWARE AND THE ELECTRONIC AND
9 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
A SPECIFIC PIECE OF OFFICE EQUIPMENT SUCH SAZ A NEWLY
10 PROCURED COFFEE MACHINE RELIES ON PRESSURE SENSITIVE
BUTTONS FLUSH TO THE MACHINE FOR OPERATION.
11 AND AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS BLIND IS UNABLE TO LOCATE OR
DETERMINE THE FUNCTIONALITY, THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBLE
12 VIOLATION, EMPLOYMENT RELATED, IF THE EMPLOYEE'S JOB
IS TO, PART OF IT WOULD BE TO MAKE COPIES.
13 OTHER COMPLAINTS INCLUDE THOSE FILED BY THE PUBLIC
BASED UPON INABILITY TO HAVE COMPARABLE ACCESS TO
14 INFORMATION OR NON-JOB SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS FILED BY
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES BASED UPON SECTION 508.
15 THESE NON-EMPLOYMENT COMPLAINTS ARE RESOLVED THROUGH
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE
16 FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECTION 504 PART 85
17 REGULATION, IT STATES THAT THE COMPLAINTS WITH REGARD
TO THE PUBLIC OR WITH REGARD TO NON-EMPLOYMENT WILL
18 BE RESOLVED THROUGH OCR.
NOW, THAT MEANS THAT OCR HAS A HISTORY AND A
19 BACKGROUND OF SOLVING OR RESOLVING SIMILAR
COMPLAINTS.
20 SO WE ARGUE THAT A LOT OF THIS ISN'T REALLY NEW; IT'S
BEEN AROUND.
21 IF YOU LOOK AT THE REGULATION TO SECTION 504, IT SAYS
THAT -- OR PART 85, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS
22 AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE ITS INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE AND
AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
23 SO THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOME OF THESE
OBLIGATIONS OUT THERE AND THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN
24 ENFORCED.
NOW, THE CORE TEAM ESTABLISHED OR PUT TOGETHER A
25 SERIES OF DOCUMENTS RELATED TO SECTION 508.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE WAS A REQUEST FOR
138
1 SECRETARY THOMPSON TO PROVIDE TO EACH STAFF MEMBER
THROUGH E-MAIL A SECTION 508 DISCUSSION PIECE.
2 IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HIS
SUPPORT FOR 508.
3 ALSO, ON AUGUST 30, 2001, SECRETARY THOMPSON SIGNED
TWO DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY.
4 THE FIRST DELEGATION DELEGATED EMPLOYMENT-RELATED
COMPLAINT ENFORCEMENT TO THE OFFICE OF EQUAL
5 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
THE SECOND DELEGATION SAID THAT THE RESOLUTION OF
6 OTHER COMPLAINTS UNDER SECTION 508 WOULD BE CONDUCTED
BY THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
7 SO WE USE THE DELEGATION PROCESS INSTEAD OF GOING
THROUGH THE REGULATORY PROCESS BECAUSE WE DECIDED
8 THAT IF YOU LOOKED AT THE STATUTE, THE STATUTORY
LANGUAGE OF SECTION 508 ESTABLISHED A COMPLAINT
9 PROCESS ALREADY THAT IS THROUGH SECTION 504 PART 85.
AND IT ALSO DELEGATED THIS TO THE AGENCY HEADS.
10 SO WE BELIEVED WITH A BLESSING FROM OUR GENERAL
COUNSEL AND I BELIEVE WE'RE CORRECT ON THIS, THAT ALL
11 THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY WOULD BE A DELEGATION OF
AUTHORITY FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SECTION 508.
12 NOW, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A COPY OF THE
PACKAGE THAT WE SENT UP TO THE SECRETARY, I'D BE GLAD
13 TO E-MAIL IT TO YOU.
AND MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS VERY SIMPLE.
14 IT'S JOHN.HALVERSON AT HHS.GOV.
ON THE SAME DAY, THE SECOND RELEASED A SECTION 508
15 [] E-MAIL MEMORANDUM TO ALL HHS. /* EMPLOYEESMENT IT
STRESSED HIS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
16 SECTION 508.
AND I WANT TO QUOTE JUST A COUPLE SENTENCES FROM IT.
17 I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THIS IMPORTANT
LAW AS AN EXISTING -- I'M SORRY, AS AN EXCITING
18 OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN GENERAL AND
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN
19 PARTICULAR TO DO ALL WE CAN TO REDUCE THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
20 HOWEVER, WE SHOULD NOT DO THIS MERELY BECAUSE IT IS
THE LAW; WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS THE CORRECT
21 ROAD TO TAKE TO ENSURE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
AMERICANS TO BENEFIT FROM EVERYTHING TECHNOLOGY
22 OFFERS.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY STRONG STATEMENT AND SAYS SOME
23 THINGS THAT ARE REALLY CRITICAL, THAT IS EVERYONE
SHOULD BE BENEFITTING FROM THE TECHNOLOGY, AND WE
24 FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS HISTORICALLY
25 PROVIDED BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO THOSE WHO ARE LEAST
ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE THEMSELVES.
139
1 SO WE BELIEVE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
NOW, I WANT TO TURN VERY BRIEFLY AS I CONCLUDE TO
2 SOME OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE DONE.
/* IN THE DEPARTMENT.
3 CURRENTLY THERE ARE TWO DRAFT POLICIES OUT FOR
CLEARANCE, AND THE FIRST OF THESE POLICIES IS THE
4 SECTION 508, THE DEPARTMENT POLICY WITH REGARD TO
SECTION 508 AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
5 AND WHAT THAT POLICY DOES IS PROVIDES KIND OF A
GUIDELINE AS TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT.
6 IN TERMS OF WHO BEING WHICH AGENCY.
THE SECOND POLICY IS A DOCUMENT WHICH IS GOING TO BE
7 USED WHEN AN ORGANIZATION WANTS AN EXCEPTION FOR
SECTION 508.
8 FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAY BE FROM TIME TO TIME A PAGE ON
A WEB SITE THAT SIMPLY CAN'T BE MADE ACCESSIBLE AND
9 WE ARE DEVELOPING A VERY STRINGENT PROCESS THAT HAS
TO BE GONE THROUGH IN ORDER TO GRANT THAT EXCEPTION.
10 AND REMEMBER THAT EVEN IF THE PAGE ISN'T ACCESSIBLE
THAT STILL MEANS THE MATERIAL MUST BE PROVIDED IF
11 NEEDED IN AN ACCESSIBLE MANNER.
ALSO WE ARE CIRCULATING A LETTER ASKING THE AGENCIES
12 TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE
HHS SECTION 508 CORE TEAM.
13 WE ALSO ON THE HSS WEB SITE WHICH IS A MASSIVE WEB
SITE, HAVE DISCLOSURES -- NOT DISCLOSURES BUT HAVE
14 ACCESSIBILITY LINKS.
AND THESE ACCESSIBILITY LINKS SAY IF YOU WERE TO GO
15 TO IT, IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO USE THE PAGE YOUR BROWSER
HAS POINTED TO IF IT'S UNACCESSIBLE, IT GIVES YOU AN
16 E-MAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT AND IT SUGGESTS THAT YOU
CONTACT THE DEVELOPER OF THE PAGE AND THAT PERSON MAY
17 BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE MATERIAL.
SO WE HAVE THIS E-MAIL BOX WHICH WE EXPECTED TO HAVE
18 A LOT OF COMMENTS.
AND SO IT'S BEEN NOW AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND
19 THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS OF WHICH ONLY
TWO ARE RELATED TO SECTION 508.
20 THE BALANCE OF THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN "HOW DO I GET
MY MEDICARE CHANGED OR" OR I WANT TO GET ON MEDICAID
21 OR JUST GENERAL COMMENTS THAT THE DEPARTMENT GETS.
AND SO WE FOUND THAT FASCINATING THAT THERE HAD BEEN
22 SO FEW COMMENTS ON SECTION 508.
BUT OF COURSE I LIKE TO THINK THAT THAT MEANS THAT
23 WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
WE'VE ALSO HAD NO COMPLAINTS, AND I REMEMBER TELLING
24 PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
THIS IS NEW FOR YOU BUT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN DEALING
25 WITH UNDUE BURDEN SINCE 1977, MAKING THESE KINDS OF
JUDGMENTS.
140
1 AND I HOPE I AM PROVED RIGHT.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANT ANY OF THIS MATERIAL, THAT IS THE
2 PACKAGE WE SENT TO THE SECRETARY, OR A COPY OF HIS
SECTION 508 STATEMENT TO THE EMPLOYEES AT HHS, I'D BE
3 GLAD TO GET THAT TO YOU IF YOU WANTED TO E-MAIL ME AT
JOHN.HALVERSON AT HSS.GOV.
4 >> THANK YOU.
(APPLAUSE)
5 >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLES REDMOND AND
HE WORKS FOR NASA HEADQUARTERS AND HE'S A WEB MASTER
6 AND HE JOINED NASA IN 1973 AT THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER WHERE HE WORKED NEAR SEVEN YEARS THROUGH 1980
7 SERVING AS THE COMMISSION COMMENTATOR FOR THE SKYLAB
MISSIONS AND THE SHUTTLE APPROACH AND LANDING TESTS.
8 IN 1984 MR. REDMOND BECAME PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR
THE OFFICE OF SPACE AND FLIGHT AND WORKED FOR THE
9 SHUTTLE PROGRAM UP TO THE CHALLENGER ACCIDENT IN 1987
MR. REDMOND AGAIN BECAME PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER FOR
10 OFFICE OF SPACE,.
IN 1993, HE TRANSFERRED TO NASA HEADQUARTERS AND HAS
11 BEEN INVOLVED IN INTERNET APPLICATIONS AND MULTIMEDIA
APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT EVER SINCE.
12 HE'S ALSO PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE PUBLISHING EARTH ECOLOGY AND EARTH MANAGEMENT
13 JOURNALS FOR THE MCS OUTREACH PROGRAM.
MR. REDMOND?
14 MR. REDMOND: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I GUESS I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE ROCKET SCIENTISTS.
15 AND JOHN IS CORRECT, IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE.
WHY DID I TRANSFER FROM PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO IT?
16 BECAUSE IN 1993 NASA BEGAN A MAJOR INVASION OF THE
WORLD WIDE WEB AND IT'S FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT
17 I'D LIKE TO TALK TODAY.
CLEARLY WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE 508
18 ISSUE, WE ARE AN OUTSOURCED AGENCY AT THIS POINT FOR
IT SERVICES, DESKTOP, AND BACK END, AND WE HAVE GONE
19 THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR PROCUREMENT FOLKS RIGHT
NOW BECAUSE THE 10 NASA CENTERS AND HEADQUARTERSES
20 EACH HAVE A DIFFERENT VENDOR FOR OUTSOURCING,
INCLUDING THE DESKTOP ISSUES, SOFTWARE UPDATES, ALL
21 THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE PROCUREMENT FOR US.
OUR VENDORS TOTALLY RECOGNIZE THAT AND HAVE BEEN
22 WORKING WITH THEIR VENDORS.
WHAT HAPPENED SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE
23 NOTIFICATION OF REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED 508 RULING IS
I THINK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, WE REACTED PRETTY
24 DRAMATICALLY.
FIRST OFF WE'RE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY SO ANYTIME GSA
25 TELLS THEM TO DO SOMETHING, WE GO, OH, MY GOD! AND
SAME THING WITH OMB.
141
1 THEY NEVER GIVE US ANY MONEY OR FUNDS OR EXTRA FTE.
BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE NASA FOR 40 YEARS HAS HAD A
2 SKILL MIX SITUATION WHERE AT THE 10 NASA CENTERS WE
HAVE A VARIETY OF SKILLS.
3 SOME OF THEM ARE IN COMMON, HR, PERSONNEL, WE DO HAVE
THOSE SHOPS AT EVERY CENTER.
4 BUT BEYOND THAT EACH CENTER HAS EVOLVED ITS OWN SKILL
SET ASK: AND WE MATRIX MANAGE CERTAIN PROJECTS.
5 AIMS IS OUR BIOMEDICAL SEARCH FACILITY.
SO WE'RE WELL USED TO WORKING ACROSS DISTRICT
6 PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES, TIME ZONES, WHAT HAVE YOU, WITH
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO A
7 24 HOUR PLANET, WE SCHEDULE TELECONS NOW SO WE
INCLUDE FOUR OR FIVE CONTINENTS.
8 SO ONE THING THAT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE GOT
THE NOTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED RULING IS THAT THE
9 AGENCY CIO SENT A COPY OF THAT NOTIFICATION TO THE
CENTER CIO'S.
10 WE HAVE SORT OF A SMALL HIERARCHY AT EACH CENTER
LOCATION.
11 SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD AT THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AT THE NASA
12 HEADQUARTERS.
THEY THINK THAT WAY.
13 AT HEADQUARTERS WE ACTUALLY MANAGE PROGRAM STRATEGY,
FUNDING, AND OBVIOUSLY THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH
14 CONGRESS AND THE REST OF GOVERNMENT.
SO EACH CIO WAS REQUESTED TO RESPOND TO THE AGENCY
15 CIO WITH IMPACT COMMENTS, ET CETERA.
WHAT THE AGENCY CIO DID WHICH WAS CLASSIC NASA IS HE
16 CONSTITUTED A WORKING GROUP ACROSS ALL CENTERS,
INCORPORATING ALL OF THE THE COMPONENTS HE BELIEVED
17 IN CONCERT WITH OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND IN
CONCERT WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR, DAN GOLDMAN.
18 THOSE ARE OFFICE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, THE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICES AT THE VARIOUS
19 CENTERS, OUR HR OFFICE, BUT IN PARTICULAR OUR
TRAINING OFFICE AND OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE.
20 AND SO VERY EARLY ON THE APPROACH THAT NASA TOOK WAS
TO CONSTITUTE AN AGENCY-WIDE CROSS-FUNCTION WORKING
21 GROUP.
AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, THAT BEGAN IN '98.
22 WE HAD A SERIES OF TELECONS AND I'M BASICALLY GOING
TO LIST THROUGH THE THING WHICH WE DID THAT WORKED
23 FOR US BUT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE ON WHY IT
WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE APPROACH IT THIS WAY, BEGINNING
24 IN 1993 WE BEGAN A MAJOR PRESENCE ON THE INTERNET
WITH WORLD WIDE WEB SITES OPERATED BASICALLY FROM
25 PEOPLE'S DESKTOPS.
WE WERE AN AGENCY THAT PARTICIPATED WITH DARPA BACK
142
1 IN THE 60S TO HELP DEVELOP THE STRATEGY FOR THE
INTERNET.
2 OBVIOUSLY WE WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO USE IT.
IN 1983 WE HAD AN AGENCY-WIDE E-MAIL SYSTEM THAT WENT
3 TO EVERY DESKTOP.
IF YOU WERE A NASA EMPLOYEE, YOU HAD AN E-MAIL
4 ADDRESS.
SO WE'VE BEEN USED TO DEALING WITH ELECTRONIC
5 INFORMATION, WE'VE BEEN USED TO DOING TELECONS,
OBVIOUSLY COMMUNICATION ACROSS THOSE CROSS-FUNCTIONS
6 ORGANIZATIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
SO WORK GROUPS WERE IMPORTANT.
7 WE HAD E-MAIL, WE HAD WEB SITES, WE HAD TELEPHONES.
NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER OF PRIORITY, BUT THE THINGS
8 THAT WE DID IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GET US IN
THE POSITION NOW WHERE THE FOUR POINT SOME MILLION
9 WEB PAGES, APPROXIMATELY 25 PERCENT AT THIS POINT ARE
ACCESSIBLE.
10 AND THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THEM ALL ACCESSIBLE.
WE HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF LEGACY WEB MATERIAL, BUT
11 FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THAT MATERIAL IS STILL VALID.
THE FACT THAT THE VIKING PROGRAM OCCURRED IN 1976
12 DOESN'T MAKE THAT DATA OLD; IT STILL MAKES IT NEW TO
SOME PEOPLE.
13 THAT'S TRUE OF ALL OF THE AERONAUTICAL STUFF WE'VE
DONE.
14 THE TESTING THAT GOT US TO SPACE, THERE'S PEOPLE
STUDYING IN HIGH SCHOOL TODAY THAT ARE STILL
15 INTERESTED IN THOSE PROGRAMS.
HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WORKED.
16 THEY ESTABLISHED A NETWORK WIDE WORKING GROUP AND
ACROSS THOSE CROSS-FUNCTION ORGANIZATIONS.
17 SOME CENTERS ADDADTO THAT.
THE WORKING GROUP HELD TELECONS EVERY TWO WEEKS.
18 WHEN IT WAS TIME TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED
LEGISLATION, EVERY CENTER HAD COMMENTS, THOSE WERE
19 AGGREGATED AT THE HEADQUARTERS LEVEL AND FORWARDED TO
GSA.
20 WE ESTABLISHED SUBGROUPS BECAUSE REMEMBER IN '98 WHEN
WE STARTED THIS, THERE WERE NOT MANY TOOLS.
21 BOBBY HAD BEEN AROUND IN VERSION 1.0, IT DID OR
DIDN'T WORK WELL, DEPENDING ON THE PLATFORM.
22 A LOT OF US HAD BEEN DOING WEB WORK BUT HAD VERY FEW
TOOLS IN THE FORM OF DREAMWEAVER WITH PREFERENCES
23 THAT WE COULD SET UP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE HAD A GROUP SET UP TO LOOK AT SOFTWARE TOOLS
24 FOR DEVELOPERS AND SOFTWARE TOOL FOR END USERS WHO
NEEDED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
25 ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS HAS HAD A LONG-TERM
COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
143
1 EDUCATION AND WHERE WE PROVIDED INTERACTIVE VIDEO, IF
YOU WILL.
2 THEY SEE US, WE HEAR THEM, WE USE CHAT CHANNELS AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
3 THAT CENTER HAD FOR THE LONGEST TIME BEEN LOOKING AT
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES BECAUSE OF COURSE SCHOOLS USE
4 THOSE.
SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF IN-HOUSE HELP.
5 WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A SECTION 508 WEB SITE OBVIOUSLY
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR US WAS TO
6 AGGREGATE INFORMATION TO A SINGLE LOCATION.
IT MADE SENSE TO DO THAT AT HEADQUARTERS, SO I
7 ESTABLISHED THAT SITE.
EVEN CENTER THEN WORKED INDEPENDENTLY TO CLEAN UP AND
8 RENOVATE THAT CENTER'S TOP 20 WEB SITES AND THEY DID
THAT BY UNIQUE VISITOR COUNT, NOT BY HITS BECAUSE
9 SOME CENTERS WOULD HAVE A HUNDRED PICTURES.
THOSE WOULD COUNT AS A HUNDRED HITS; THEY ONLY HAD
10 ONE VISITOR.
SO WE WENT BACK TO UNIQUE VISITORS AND THEN CLEANED
11 THOSE UP.
AT HEADQUARTERS THE TASK I HAD HAD TO DO WITH A LOT
12 OF THE ENTERPRISE WEB SITES.
SO OFFICE OF SPACE SCIENCE, OFFICE OF EARTH SCIENCE,
13 ALL OF THOSE WEB SITES HAD TO BE CLEANED UP UNDER MY
WATCH BUT AT THE CENTERS WHERE A LOT OF THOSE WEB
14 SITES POINT TO FOR BACKGROUND AND HISTORIC DATA AND
EXISTING PRESENT PROGRAMMING INFORMATION, THE CENTERS
15 HAD TO DO THAT.
SO OUR FIRST ROUND WAS TO CLEAN UP THE TOP 20.
16 WE THEN ESTABLISHED CONTACTS AT HEADQUARTERS WITH THE
EEO OFFICE AND THE AGENCY TRAINING OFFICE BECAUSE WE
17 KNEW WE WOULD BE WALKING DOWN A LONG PATH MOSTLY
FILLED WITH QUESTIONS.
18 SO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS I'VE BEEN BEST BUDS
WITH THOSE FOLKS AND THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I
19 NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD WIND UP IN A LAWYERS'S OFFICE,
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFICE,.
20 BUT THE GOOD NEWS THERE IS THAT THE RELATIONSHIPS WE
FORMED VERY EARLY ON HAVE PAID TREMENDOUS DIVIDENDS
21 OVER TIME.
BECAUSE WE KNOW EACH OTHER NOW, WE KNOW WHO TO GO TO
22 IF WE HAVE PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.
WE ALSO ESTABLISHED PARTICIPATION BASICALLY SOLICITED
23 PARTICIPATION FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD DISABILITIES
AT VARIOUS SESHLTS WE HAD WEB ACCESSIBILITY FOCUS
24 GROUPS ALREADY PARTICULARLY AT AIMS FOR THE CLASSROOM
AND AT GODDARD WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS
25 BY NASA STANDARDS WHO HAD PHYSICAL AND SENSORY
DISABILITIES.
144
1 SO THE GODDARD SPACE CENTER ACTUALLY HAD INDIVIDUALS
ON THEIR WEB TEAM WHO LOOKED AT THE ACCESSIBILITY
2 COMPONENT OF THE WEB SITE I'M VERY FORTUNE THAT ONE
OF THE INDIVIDUALS AT HEADQUARTERS THAT WORKS IN THE
3 BENEFITS SECTION OF OUR BENEFIT HR DEPARTMENT IS
BLIND, BUT HE'S ALSO A GEEK.
4 AND IT DAWNED ON ME THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY EMPLOY
THIS INDIVIDUAL, SCOTT HOWL, TO HELP US BECAUSE HE
5 UNDERSTOOD CODING, HE ACTUALLY UNDERSTOOD HTML.
SO WE EMPLOYED HIM VERY EARLY ON ON OUR REVIEW TEAM
6 AND THEN LATER ON OUR RENOVATION TEAM BECAUSE HE HAD
UNDERSTANDINGS WHICH WE LOOKED AT THE TIME.
7 WE DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW SCREEN READERS WORKED;
NOW WE DO.
8 WE THEN BEGAN DEVELOPING OF AN AGENCY-WIDE TRAINING
PROGRAM BECAUSE IT DAWNED ON US THE ONE THING THAT
9 WAS MISSING WAS FULL AGENCY AWARENESS.
EVERY EMPLOYEE AT NASA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY IS THE
10 WAY IT WAS VIEWED.
SO WE BEGAN A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS AT EACH CENTER
11 AND AT HEADQUARTERS WE FIRST TALKED TO THE FOLKS IN
IT, THE WEB DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ITSELF, TRAINED
12 THEM, GAVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEEDED,
PARTICULARLY THE CHECKLISTS, AND THEN FROM THERE WENT
13 THROUGH BASICALLY MIDDLE MANAGEMENT UP TO THE
DIVISION LEVEL.
14 THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT OBVIOUSLY WITH THE
ADMINISTRATOR, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND THE
15 CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, PUSHING THIS AT THE VERY
BEGINNING, THE TOP OF THE AGENCY, TOP MANAGEMENT IN
16 ALL CENTER DIRECTORS WERE BUY-INS AND AT THE BOTTOM,
THOSE OF US ON THE WORKING GROUPS, WE WERE BUY-INS.
17 SO THE DIFFERENCE IS WHO IS IN THE MIDDLE.
SO OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM FOCUSSODE
18 BRINGING AWARENESS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
THE NEXT THING WE DID WAS WE BASICALLY BEGAN WORKING
19 WITH OTHER GROUPS.
NASA IS 20,000 CIVIL SERVANTS WITH ROUGHLY A HUNDRED
20 THOUSAND CONTRACTORS.
THE CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY HAD TO BE BROUGHT IN.
21 WE ARE ONE OF THE -- ALTHOUGH YOU DON'T THINK OF US
THIS WAY -- WE'RE ONE OF THE MAJOR GRANTING
22 AUTHORITIES IN THE SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL WORLD.
A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR UNIVERSITY GRANTS SUPPORT WEB
23 SITES.
THE UNIVERSITIES NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT IN BECAUSE
24 THOSE WEB SITES ARE OPERATING AS IF THEY ARE A
GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
25 THE WAY THE LAW READS, THOSE WEB SITES WOULD BE
REQUIRED TO BE COMPLIANT.
145
1 SO WE BEGAN A SERIES OF TELECONS WITH UNIVERSITIES
THAT OPERATE A LOT OF WEB SITES FOR US.
2 AGAIN, WORKING FROM THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP SO THE
MANAGEMENT OF THAT UNIVERSITY AND THE FOLKS INVOLVED
3 IN THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT WERE FULL BUY-INS.
THE NEXT THING WE DID WAS SORT OF REPACKAGE ALL OF
4 THAT MATERIAL AND PUSHED IT OUT SO WE HAD REGULAR
TRAINING SEMINARS, WE INSTILLED THE TRAINING XHOENTD
5 OF HOW TO DEVELOP CLEAN WEB PAGES INTO EACH TRAINING
AREA AT EACH CENTER.
6 NASA RUNS A FAIRLY LARGE INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAM,
ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE USE PLUS ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT
7 ALL OF US USE, DESKTOP, WORD PROCESSORS, THINGS LIKE
THAT, SINCE NASA BASICALLY HAS FREE LICENSE TO
8 PUBLISH ALMOST ANYTHING ACCORDING TO SPACE ACT, THERE
ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF WEB DEVELOPERS.
9 BASICALLY ANY SCIENTIST THAT HAS THE UNIX WORK
STATION HAS A WEB SITE WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 1500
10 INDIVIDUAL HTTP SERVERS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY.
ALL OF THOSE FOLKS HAD TO BE GIVEN TOOLS OR AT LEAST
11 SHOWN HOW TO USE THE TOOLS THAT THEY MIGHT BE USING.
SO WE INCORPORATING THE SAME TRAINING DOWN INTO THE
12 TRAINING PROGRAM ITSELF.
HOW DO YOU USE A DREAM WEAVER?
13 HOW DO YOU HAVE IT REMIND YOU TO PUT ALL TAGS IN SO
WE LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE TOOL THAT WAS USED BY ANY
14 INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE AGENCY AND STARTED DEVELOPING
PREFERENCE SETTINGS FOR THOSE TOOLS.
15 WE HAVE STANDARDIZED ON A VARIETY OF DESKTOP
SOFTWARE, SO IT WAS EASY FOR US TO WORK WITH OUR
16 VENDORS TO MAKE THOSE THINGS COMPATIBLE.
THE OTHER THING WE DID IS THAT WE STARTED WORKING
17 WITH VENDORS.
IT DAWNED ON US SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT FIRST OFF
18 ACROBAT AND MACROMEDIA HAVE GREAT PRODUCTS.
THEY'RE GREAT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO
19 DISABILITIES.
THEY'RE PRETTY PATHETIC FOR PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE
20 DISABILITIES.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS GET A HOLDA OF THE
21 RIGHT INDIVIDUALS AT THE CORPORATE OFFICES EARLY ON
AND POINTED OUT SEVERAL THINGS NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH
22 IS WE LIKED USING YOUR PRODUCT, PEOPLE LIKE OUR WEB
PAGES, WE'RE TYPICALLY IN THE TOP 10 OF ANY
23 GOVERNMENT WEB SITE, WE'LL QUIT USING YOUR PRODUCT IF
YOUR PRODUCT DOESN'T EVOLVE.
24 WE GOT GOOD LISTENING FROM THOSE COMPANIES.
MICROSOFT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY ATTENTIVE, SO HAS
25 APPLE.
SO WE WENT OUT AND FOUND THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK AND
146
1 STARTED WORKING WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS OR COMPANIES
TO HELP THEM EVOLVE.
2 WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A LONG-TERM PROCESS.
WE STARTED WORKING WITH SOME OF THE SOFTWARE
3 COMPANIES WHOSE PRODUCTS YOU SEE TODAY.
CRUNCHY TECHNOLOGIES CAME TO US EARLY ON AND ASKED IF
4 WE WOULD LIKE TO BETA TEST PAGE SCREAMER.
WE SAID SURE, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GIVE US WE'LL
5 HELP.
SO WE WERE INVOLVED IN TWO BETA CYCLES WITH THEM FOR
6 THAT PRODUCT.
AMONG THE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST
7 DIFFERENCE, FRANKLY, THE AGENCY HAS PUBLISHED A 508
WEB POLICY AS OPPOSED TO A 508 POLICY REALIZING THAT
8 SOME COMPONENTS ON 508 ARE TAKEN CARE OF BY OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN NAS A. THE 508 WEB POLICY IS
9 PRETTY DRAMATIC.
IT GOES BEYOND ANYTHING THAT THE LAW STATES, IT GOES
10 BEYOND ANYTHING THAT GSA, OMB, OR JUSTICE HAVE SAID.
AND I'LL JUST QUOTE FROM PORTIONS OF IT.
11 THE SCOPE OF THIS POLICY IS ALL NASA WEB SITES.
ALL WEB SITES IN THE NASA.GOV DOMAIN AND WEB SITES
12 THAT MAY NOT BE IN THE NASA.GOV DOMAIN BUT WHICH ARE
FUNDED OR REPRESENT THE AGENCY.
13 SO WE'VE GONE REALLY WAY BEYOND THE LAW.
ANOTHER COMPONENT SAYS THAT CENTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO
14 BRING WEB PAGES INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508
RATHER THAN CLAIM UNDUE BURDEN, WE'RE PUSHING UNDUE
15 BURDEN NOT TO THE BACK BURNER BUT OFF THE STOVE.
BUT ONE THING THAT OUR CIO DID IS HE WENT AHEAD
16 REALIZING THAT EARLY ON IN THE SCHEME A LOT OF FOLKS
WERE PULLING WEB SITES OFF, BUT ARE NOT EXPECTED TO
17 TAKE OFF LINE OTHERWISE USEFUL NON-COMPLIANT PAGES.
MAKE THEM AVAILABLE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE MEANS.
18 AND THEN AT A MINIMUM, EVERY NASA CENTER'S TOP PAGE
WILL INCLUDE CONTACT INFORMATION.
19 WE'VE ANSWERED THAT FAIRLY SIMPLY.
WE'VE CREATED AN OMNIBUS PRIVACY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND
20 ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES ALONG THAT EVERY WEB PAGE
MUST HAVE, WE HAVE A SINGLE DOCUMENT.
21 LIKE I SAID, I'M BEST BUDS WITH OUR GENERAL COUNSEL.
SO I MAINTAIN THAT DOCUMENT.
22 THE DOCUMENT HAS MY NAME ON IT.
ALL CENTER WEB PAGES AND TOP WEB PAGES AT CENTER
23 HEADQUARTERS, HAS A PRIVACY BUTTON.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A DISPARATE AGENCY WITH LOTS OF
24 SERVERS EVERYWHERE, WE HAVE METHODS WHEREBY WE CAN
BRING THINGS BACK HOME IF NECESSARY.
25 EVERYBODY AGREED WITH THAT. WHY?
BECAUSE I GET THE E-MAIL.
147
1 JUST LIKE JOHN, I'VE HAD THAT BLANK ON THE ANALYSISA
WEB SITES AND BASICALLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FAENL00
2 DIFFERENT SERVERS WITH 4.1 MILLION PAGES AT LAST
COUNT.
3 10 PERCENT OF THE.GOFF INDEX IS NAS A. I'VE RECEIVED
REQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO NEEDED THE INFORMATION
4 IN A FORM THAT WAS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM.
AND IT GET LOTS OF PLEASE SEND ME INFORMATION
5 ABOUT... IF YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS AND A WEB
PAGE, YOU WILL GET MAIL.
6 THE OTHER THING THAT THE CIO POLICY SAID IS
EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY, NEW WEB PAGES MUST BE
7 COMPLIANT.
IT WENT FURTHER THAN THAT.
8 ANY WEB PAGE MANUFACTURED, CREATED, MODIFIED FOR A
NASA ENTITY BY ANYBODY, BY UNIVERSITY, BY A
9 CONTRACTOR, BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, THAT MUST BE
COMPLIANT AS WELL.
10 WHICH IS WHY WE HAD TO GO OUT AND TALK TO ALL THOSE
FOLKS.
11 SO BASICALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WORKED WAS AN
EARLY VIEW WITHIN THE AGENCY OF WHAT WAS ASKED FOR BY
12 THE LAW AND HOW WE WOULD APPROACH IT.
SINCE NASA IS IN THE BUSINESS OF ACQUIRING
13 INFORMATION, ALL OF OUR INFORMATION IS VALUABLE.
NOW WHY DID THIS WORK AT NASA?
14 AND AGAIN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT YOUR AGENCY SITUATION
TO SEE IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE.
15 IT WORKED AT NASA BECAUSE WE HAVE A 40-YEAR HISTORY
OF OPERATING AS A MATRIX ORGANIZATION.
16 WE KNOW WE IT CHAIR THE PAIN, AS IT WERE, ACROSS THE
AGENCY.
17 WE HAVE ENABLING LEGISLATION AS BOTH TJ AND JOHN HAVE
MENTIONED.
18 WE WENT BACK TO OUR CHARTER, THE SPACE ACT OF
FIFTY-EIGHT AS AMENDED SAID THAT THE AGENCY WILL
19 PROVIDE FOR THE WIDEST PRACTICABLE DISSEMINATION OF
THE RESULTS OF.
20 AND AS FAR AS WE WERE CONCERNED, INCLUDING A GROUP OF
PEOPLE WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY NOT HAD ACCESS TO OUR WEB
21 SITE MADE THAT A WIDER PRACTICABLE DISSEMINATION.
SO WE WERE PLEASED TO DO THAT.
22 WE'RE ALSO AN AGENCY THAT HAS A HISTORY OF TAKING
TECHNOLOGY AND APPLYING IT TO OTHER PURPOSES.
23 WE HAVA A LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOT OF
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE EYE INSTITUTE IN
24 BALTIMORE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN ON THE DESIGN AND
CREATION END OF A LOT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, SO IT
25 WAS IN THE CULTURE OF THE AGENCY TO DO THIS.
THE TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS AND CONTRACTORS WE
148
1 UNDERSTOOD THAT UP CANNOT ASK SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING
IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING O. SO EARLY ON
2 WE CREATED THE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND WE'RE CONTINUING
TO EVOLVE THEM LIKE TJ, WE HAVE AN ON-LINE WEB SITE
3 ACTUALLY WE HAVE AN ON-LINE TRAINING PROGRAM AND AS
PART OF THIS YEAR'S ACTIVITIES FOR 508 WE'VE WORKED
4 THE GENERAL AWARENESS MODULE AND WE SHOULD BE
BRINGING THAT ON LINE LIVE BY OCTOBER 15.
5 WE WILL FOLLOW THAT WITH SUPERVISOR TRAINING AND EEO
COUNSELOR TRAIN MODULES.
6 THOSE WILL INVOLVE GAME PLAYING, SO THOSE WEB SITES
WILL HAVE LIVE ACTION AS PART OF THAT COURSE.
7 THE OTHER THING'S EMBEDDING THE ACCESSIBILITY
COMPONENT DOWN INTO TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
8 GETTING READY TO DO WEB SITES.
MAKE IT A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.
9 IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A WEB SITE, HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO DO AND HERE'S HOW TO DO IT.
10 SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE INCREDIBLY USEFUL AND
PAID TREMENDOUS DIVIDENDS.
11 WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR EDUCATION COMPONENT, I WON'T GO
THROUGH IT, BUT WE DID A CAKE WALK THROUGH EVERY
12 SINGLE COMPONENT OF THE AGENCY AND HOW THOSE
ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS ARE TRAINED AND FOUND THE
13 MEANS OF EMBEDDING THIS INTO THAT TRAINING PROCESS.
SO PART OF IT WAS THE DISSEMINATION OF THE
14 INFORMATION, PART OF IT WAS THE TRAINING, BUT
CERTAINLY IN THE CASE OF NASA, PART OF IT WAS THE
15 IMTUS BECAUSE OUR LEGISLATION ASKED US TO DO THESE
KINDS OF THINGS AND PART OF IT WAS THE LONG CULTURE
16 OF WORKING HARD PROBLEMS ACROSS THE AGENCY WHERE EACH
OF US CONTRIBUTES A SKILL, AND PART OF IT CLEARLY WAS
17 THE CONTRIBUTORY ASPECT OF THE AGENCY TO ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGIES THEMSELVES.
18 SO IT WAS -- I KEEP SAYING IT WAS REALLY EASY FOR ME
TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.
19 I WORK FOR A VERY POSITIVE ORGANIZATION, NASA TENDS
TO THINK OF ITSELF AS GOOD GUYS, AND THIS WAS CLEARLY
20 A GOOD-GUY THING TO DO.
SO IT WAS NOT A HARD SELL, FRANKLY.
21 SO I APPRECIATE THIS TIME.
THANK YOU.
22 (APPLAUSE)
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AND I
23 WANT TO OPEN THE FLOOR UP TO QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE
MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
24 YES, MA'AM.
CAN YOU STAND UP AND SPEAK UP?
25 >>.
Q. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR TJ.
149
1 WOULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR
PERFORMANCE PLAN, THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT YOU
2 CHOSE AND WHY YOU CHOSE THEM?
TJ: ACTUALLY, THOSE ARE NOT YET DONE.
3 WE DON'T HAVE THOSE DELIVERABLES, SO THEY'RE NOT YET
DONE.
4 BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ME, I'D BE
HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU WHEN THEY ARE DONE.
5 THE EASIEST WAY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ME IS STAR
ASTERISK 508 AT IRS.GOV.
6 ASTERISK 508 AT IRS.GOV.
Q. MR. REDMOND, I'M THE SHORT ONE IN THE
7 SEAT, HI.
THE GUIDANCE AND TRAINING AND THE DOCUMENTS THAT
8 YOU'VE DEVELOPED FOR WEB MASTERS THAT YOU'VE
DISSEMINATED WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION, IS IT
9 AVAILABLE OR GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR PLAGIARIZATION
AND IF SO, WHEN?
10 A. YES.
WE MADE AN EARLY DETERMINATION THAT THE WEB SITE AND
11 ALL THE INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WILL BE
PUBLIC.
12 I CAN GIVE YOU THE URL NOW.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF HAND OUTS THAT HAVE IT IN IT.
13 IT'S WWW.HQ.NASA.GOV/WEB ACCESS.
>> OKAY.
14 DIBS ON ONE OF YOUR HANDOUTS.
>> MAY I COMMENT ON THAT BECAUSE IT
15 REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING I BROUGHT UP YESTERDAY THAT I
NEGLECTED TO DO TODAY.
16 I DIDN'T KNOW CHARLES UNTIL YESTERDAY, AND WE WERE
SPEAKING THIS MORNING AND AFTER HAVING JUST MET EACH
17 OTHER, AND DECIDED THAT AFTER THIS IS OVER WE NEED TO
DO SOME COLLABORATION.
18 AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED YESTERDAY FOR
THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE REALLY HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH
19 508 IS DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO STEAL.
HAVE NO PRIDE.
20 WE'RE ALL GETTING PAID BY UNCLE SAM, AND SO WHATEVER
WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THAT'S GOOD OR WHATEVER WORK
21 THAT NASA'S DOING IS GOOD.
I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN AS FAR AT IRS IF IT HADN'T
22 BEEN FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION.
23 ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES I WENT WHICH WAS SORT OF A
SISTER AGENCY TO US IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND
24 CUSTOMER BASE, SSA, AND THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK AT
SSA.
25 THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR ANY OF US TO BE
INVENTING THE WHEEL AND EVERYBODY THAT I'VE CONTACTED
150
1 AT OTHER AGENCIES HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FORTHCOMING IN
EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE.
2 THAT'S SORT OF WHERE I STOLE MY ACCESSIBILITY POLICY
FROM WAS THE GREAT FOLKS AT EDUCATION.
3 SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT AND DO THAT.
>> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE
4 HAVE THE SECTION 508 COORDINATORS.
BECAUSE THIS GROUP THAT WE'VE PULLED TOGETHER ARE
5 SUPPOSED TO BE THE FOCAL POINT AT YOUR AGENCY FOR
FUNNELING INFORMATION THROUGH YOUR AGENCIES AND
6 DISSEMINATING IT WITHIN YOUR AGENCY, NOT ONLY THROUGH
THEM BUT THROUGH THE TEAM THAT THEY PULLED TOGETHER.
7 SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO
YOUR COORDINATOR IS YOU FIND OUT.
8 Q. THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MR. HALVERSON.
COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HHS APPROACHES
9 UNDUE BURDEN?
A. YES.
10 I THINK TO PUT IT SIMPLY, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT
TO PROVE.
11 WHEN YOU HAVE A LARGE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT, IN FACT, NO ONE HAS EVEN COME UP YET
12 TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR UNDUE BURDEN, BUT WE'RE
EXPECTING ONE FROM A WEB SITE AT ONE OF THE AGENCIES
13 THAT COLLECTS HANDWRITTEN COMMENTS, AND THERE'S NO
WAY TO MAKE THOUSANDS OF HANDWRITTEN COMMENTS
14 ACCESSIBLE.
AND SO APPARENTLY WHAT THEY DO IS TAKE THOSE COMMENTS
15 AND TAKE AN IMAGE OF THEM AND PUT THAT UP ON THE WEB.
ANDSO WHAT WILL PROBABLY -- IF SOMEONE WANTS THOSE
16 COMMENTS, SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THEM
ACCESSIBLE BY TYPING THEM OR READING THEM, BUT THAT'S
17 THE KIND OF LEVEL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO
BE NEEDED TO PROVE UNDUE BURDEN, IT'S GOING TO HAVE
18 TO WORK ITS WAY UP THROUGH THE REQUESTER, THROUGH THE
INDIVIDUAL AGENCY, THROUGH I BELIEVE IT WILL GO -- IT
19 HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET, BUT PROBABLY THROUGH THE
/* EACH AGENCY'S IRM AREA, THROUGH THEIR CIO AND THEN
20 FINAL DECISION AT A HIGHER LEVEL, AND THEN IT WILL
COME TO THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF WHERE THE CORE TEAM
21 WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE EASIEST THING.
22 AND EVEN IF YOU GET A WAIVER, AND YOU CAN ARGUE THAT
BECAUSE OF UNDUE BURDEN YOUR WEB SITE OR SOMETHING
23 ELSE ISN'T GOING TO BE MADE ACCESSIBLE, IF SOMEONE
WAS TO FILE A COMPLAINT, THEY MAY WELL ARGUE THAT IT
24 IS ACCESSIBLE AND THEN THE WAIVER BASICALLY IS GOING
TO BE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OR WHAT THE AGENCY HAS TO
25 USE TO SHOW THAT IT'S MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT
BECAUSE IT'S GONE THROUGH ALL THESE HOOPS.
151
1 BUT LET'S SAY THEN THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS HAS TO
RESOLVE THE COMPLAINT.
2 IT MAY WELL FIND THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS AROUND AND
IT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE ACCESSIBLE.
3 SO THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPS THAT HAVE TO BE GONE
THROUGH TO REALLY GET AN UNDUE BURDEN ACCEPTED, AND
4 THEN WHEN THAT'S DONE, IT'S ALWAYS OF COURSE SUBJECT
TO THE COMPLAINT OR LAWSUIT PROCESS LATER ON.
5 DOES THAT HELP?
>> MR. HALVERSON, I WORK FOR ONE OF YOUR
6 OPTIVES WHICH I'D LIKE TO KEEP ANONYMOUS AT THE
MOMENT, BUT IS THERE ANY GUIDANCE COMING OUT FROM HHS
7 ENCOURAGING VARIOUS OFFICES, WEB PEOPLE, EEO FOLKS,
TO NOT REINVENT WITHIN THEIR OWN LITTLE AREA?
8 BECAUSE I'VE ENCOUNTERED SOME RESISTANCE INTERNALLY
IN TERMS OF TAKING SOMETHING THAT LIKE AN
9 ACCOMMODATION PROCESS OR TRAINING MODULE AND USING IT
WHEN OH, NO, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR WON'T BECAUSE IT'S
10 A WAY OF LOOKING GOOD FOR THEIR BOSS.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL SO
11 I'M NOT GOING TO IN THAT REGARD, BUT I THINK SOME
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ABOVE AND SOME TESTING OF THE
12 UNDUE BURDEN THRESHOLD, NOT JUST FROM A COMPUTER
PERSON, MIGHT BE USEFUL BECAUSE THE HANDWRITTEN
13 ARGUMENT THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, I JUST LOOKED AT
$500 WORTH OF SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY OVER IN THE
14 THING THAT WOULD READ AND RECOGNIZE MY HAND SCRIBBLES
AND I'VE HAD TWO CARPAL TUNNEL RELEASES.
15 SOCIETY SOFTWARE MAY BE THERE OR SOON TO BE THERE TO
READ THE DIFFICULT.
16 SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING FROM THE TRENCHES
TO TAKE HOME.
17 >> I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY, THAT --
AND THERE WILL BE TRAINING, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING,
18 FROM THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL.
BUT I GUESS ONE OF MY GREAT FRUSTRATIONS HAS BEEN
19 THAT IT IS SUCH A DECENTRALIZED DEPARTMENT AND OUR
SECRETARY NOW TALKS ABOUT THE ONE HSS.
20 I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING.
>>ID HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. REDMOND.
21 I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOUR EDUCATION PROGRAM'S WORKED
BECAUSE I'M A SUBCONTRACTOR FOR A CONTRACTOR THAT HAS
22 A GRANT IN THE LEARNER'S PROGRAM AND WE DID HEAR
ABOUT WEB ACCESSIBILITY VIA NASA.
23 WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING IT ON SOME NAVY AND DOD
PROGRAMS.
24 SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
25 THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM LOOKS AT SATELLITE MAPS.
THAT'S GOT TO BE IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF EARTH SCIENCES,
152
1 RIGHT?
>> ACTUALLY WE HAVE HAD A SERIES OF
2 DISCUSSIONS WITH NOAA AND WITH NIH A CONTINUATION OF
THE NASA WORKING GROUP BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WE
3 PUBLIC PROBABLY 30 DIFFERENT SITES AT THREE DIFFERENT
CENTERS, JPL, HOUSTON AND KENNEDY, THAT HAVE LIVE
4 DATA.
SO THERE'S NO INTERPRETATION FROM, IF YOU WILL, THE
5 SATELLITE CENSOR DOWN TO THE RECEIVING STATION AND
OUT THROUGH THE WEB SERVER TO THE REAL PLAYER, OR
6 QUICK TIME PLAYER OR WHATEVER ELSE, AND WE ALSO
PUBLISH A HUGE NUMBER OF MOVIES AND VR COMPONENTS
7 THAT SHOW HURRICANES, THE PLAINS ON MARS, WHAT HAVE
YOU.
8 THE DISCUSSIONS HAVE HAD TO DO, AND THEY HAVE
INVOLVED INDIVIDUAL WHOSE ARE VISION DISABLED OR
9 BLIND, BECAUSE HOW DO YOU TAKE SOMETHING AND
CORRECTLY DESCRIBE ITS TRUE FEATURES IF A PERSON
10 DOESN'T HAVE THE SENSORY CAPABILITY.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ALL ALONG;
11 WE AS A RESULT HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT FOR
THESE KINDS OF IMAGES.
12 ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE
SCIENCE SPACE OFFICE IS CREATE THE MEANS WHEREBY YOU
13 SIT DOWN WITH A SCIENTIST DURING A LIVE MISSION AND
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME IMAGE, SAY FROM VIKING OR
14 VOYAGER OR GAL LAYO OR THE SPACE LANDING ON THE COMET
EROWS [] THE SCIENTIST IS LOOKING AT IT FROM THE
15 PERSPECTIVE OF THAT PERSON HAVING THE SKILL TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMAGE DATA IS GIVING THE SCIENCE
16 COMMUNITY.
THE INTERLOCK TERIS ASKING QUESTIONS, WHAT DOES THIS
17 MEAN?
HOW DO YOU INTERPRET IT IT [] SO WE HAVE THE SKILLS
18 AND THE BXD TO FIND OUT HOW WE TAKE WHAT IS SCIENTIST
IMAGES AND DESCRIBE THEM IN A MEANINGFUL MANNER.
19 WHAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW IS HOW DO WE DO THAT
WITH A LOT OF THIS LIVE DATA.
20 AND SO THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD WITH OUR COLLEAGUES
SCIENCE AGENCIES AS IT WERE HAD TO DO WITH IS THERE A
21 WAY THAT WE CAN EMBED THAT INFORMATION IN THE WEB
PAGE ITSELF SO THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT HAVE AN
22 ACTUAL COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING EITHER ORALLY OR
TEXTURALLY.
23 WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PICTURE IS SHOWING, CAN YOU AT
LEAST LEARN WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS GIVING YOU IN
24 ANOTHER SENSE?
AND I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES.
25 I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'LL GET THERE THAT SOON; WE HAVE
AN EXISTING PROJECT TO LOOK AT XML TO SEE IF WE CAN'T
153
1 ADD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HIDDEN DOCUMENT DATA
TYPE, IF YOU WILL, SO IF A WEB SITE IS PORTRAYING
2 EARTH SCIENCE IMAGERY AND IT'S LOOKING AT A
HURRICANE, THAT WE CAN AT LEAST IDENTIFY THAT THIS
3 ISSA I HURRICANE AND WITH THE CURRENT NOAA DATA, AT
LEAST PULL UP THE NAME OF THE HURRICANE.
4 SO THERE ARE SOME APPROACHS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL
WORK.
5 CONCURRENTLY WE ARE LOOKING AT PERHAPS MARRYING VIA
VOICE OR DRAGON VOICE WITH SOME TEXT SCRIPTING
6 CAPABILITIES WITH REALTIME PLAYER AND QUICK TIME HAVE
SO WE CAN INJECT LIVE CAPTIONING THAT'S DONE
7 AUTOMATICALLY.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT IF THE VENDORS ARE CORRECT IN THE
8 ASSESSMENT OF THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY PRODUCE 85
PERCENT ACCURACY, THEN NOT ONLY IS THAT BETTER THAN
9 NOTHING, IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD.
SO WE ARE EXPLORING SOME IN-HOUSE TECHNICAL
10 SOLUTIONS.
SOME OF THEM ARE INVOLVING OTHER AGENCIES.
11 AS SOON AS WE HAVE ANY POSITIVE ANSWER IN ANY DREXZ,
WE WILL ACTUALLY POST THESE ALONG WITH THE EXISTING
12 BEST PRACTICES.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ANIMAL MIGRATION ON
13 SATELLITE PHOTOS AND WE WERE BASICALLY DISPLAYING
GIF'S AND A DESCRIPTION THAT SAYS HERE'S WHAT IT IS
14 BUT YOU PROBABLY NEED TO GET A SIGHTED PERSON TO
LOOK.
15 OR GOING TO ACTUALLY GOING TO LIVE PLOTTING, SO TO
SPEAK, SO INSTEAD OF NOW HAVING THOSE BLOBS THAT SAY
16 HERE'S WHERE THE WHILES ARE, HAVING THEM BE PART OF
THAT GIF, YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE IT PART OF ACTIVE
17 PLOTTING.
>> AND THE OTHER THING IS -- THE
18 INTERESTING THING ABOUT NASA AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW,
THE RESEARCH CENTER IS THE CENTER THAT DOES EXTENSIVE
19 COMMANDER CONTROL AND ECTOMORPHIC ASSESSMENT.
WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE NOW.
20 ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NIH IS HOW
CAN AN NIH MOLECULAR SCIENTIST WEAR GOGGLES AND MOVE
21 MOLECULES AROUND AND HAVE TALK-BACK IF YOU WILL FROM
THE MOLECULES, THAT'S FAIRLY DIFFICULT TO DO
22 MECHANICALLY, BUT IT'S EASY TO DO ORALLY.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME MEANS USING ORAL STIMULATION
23 THAT CAN GET PAST THE LACK OF VISUAL STIMULATION THAT
HAVE THE SAME CONTEXTUAL MEANING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
24 AND THE REASON I HAVE SUCH A FUN JOB, FRANKLY, 508 IS
A GREAT LAW, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON IT ALLOWS PEOPLE
25 WHO HAVE SOCIAL ASPIRATIONS AND TECHNICAL ASPIRATIONS
TO MARRY THOSE.
154
1 I WORK WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TECHNICALLY
BRILLIANT AND THEY LOVE A CHALLENGE AND I'M GIVING
2 THEM A CHALLENGE A DAY.
>> OKAY, NEXT.
3 >> THIS IS ADDRESSED TO EVERYONE BUT MORE
PARTICULARLY TO CHARLES FROM NASA.
4 SINCE NASA IS DOING LOTS AND LOTS OF GRAPHICS AND
HART, HAVE YOU TESTED THE COURT OF TECHNOLOGY POP
5 CHART THAT THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE HAS DONE FOR
THEIR FIVE MILLION GRAPHICS WHICH IS BASICALLY A
6 CONVERSION PROCESS THAT TAKES THE GRAPHICS AND
DESCRIBED THEM?
7 I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'VE TESTED THAT, BUT THAT'S
UNDER HSS SHOP, CORRECT AND THIS WAS IN GOVERNMENT
8 COMPUTER NEWS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND ALSO THEY'RE GOING TO DO AT THE NATIONAL CANCER
9 INSTITUTE WHERE YOU TAKE MICROSOFT EXCEL WHERE YOU
PATCH IT IN AND DESCRIBE THE GRAPHICS.
10 I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS WILL WORK WITH VOORXS LIKE WITH
HURRICANES, IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO DESCRIBE THEM
11 WHERE SOMEONE HAD TO PUT THE DESCRIPTION IN.
BUT IT CAN BE DONE, SO I'M WONDERING, IT'S NOT A FAIL
12 SAFE JUST LIKE A LOT OF THESE WEB SPELL CHECK TOOLS
ARE, BUT YOU CAN PROBABLY CATCH QUITE A BIT AND SAVE
13 A LOT OF TIME.
>> WE HAVE LOOKED INTO IT, WE ACTUALLY
14 HAVE GONE OUT TO NIH SEVERAL TIMES.
WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL CANCER
15 INSTITUTE, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CATEGORIES OF
IMAGE THAT WE MAINTAIN AT THE SPACE SCIENCE DATA
16 CENTER AT GODDARD, PARTICULARLY PLANETARY GEOLOGY
LOOKS A LOT LIKE CELL SLIDES, AND SO WE THINK THERE
17 IS SOME APPLICATION.
OUR ISSUES RIGHT NOW ARE HOW TO DEFINE THE DATA BASE
18 CONTENTS IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN BATCH IT SO THAT
IT MAKES SENSE SO WE CAN HAVE A SINGLE HUMAN EXAMINE
19 THE PRODUCT INSTEAD OF HAVING PEOPLE REVIEW EVERY
SINGLE OUTPUT.
20 BUT THE ANSWER IS YES WE HAVE BEEN LOOK AT THAT.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THE WEB CASTING
21 THAT NIH IS DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE EMPLOYING A VARIETY
OF CAPTIONING TECHNOLOGIES THERE TOO.
22 THEY SUFFER FROM THE SAME FATE THAT WE HAVE AND THAT
IS MOST OF THE TECHNICAL TERMS THAT WE DEAL WITH HAVE
23 NOTHING TO DO WITH EVERYDAY LIFE.
SO HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE A MRAJIO CLAILS COLORADOO VEEJ
24 INCLUSION?
IT SOUNDS LIKE NIH TALKING, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY GEOLOGY
25 TALKING.
WE'RE TRYING TO PURSUE THAT WITH EXISTING RESOURCES
155
1 SO SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE BASELINED TO OCCUR OVER
TIME.
2 FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE A TIME TABLE NOW THROUGH 2005
THAT WILL HAVE US BASICALLY RETROFIT OUR CLIENT
3 SERVER AND WEB APPLICATIONS USING CGI COLDFUSION SO
THEY GENERATE ACCESSIBLE PAGES.
4 WITHOUT FULL FUNDING AND A LIMITED FTE, THE BEST WE
CAN DO ARE IDENTIFY THE ISSUES, FIND A TECHNOLOGY
5 THAT MAKES SENSE, REALIZING THAT TECHNOLOGY EVOLVES,
SO SOMETHING THAT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE A DAY, A YEAR
6 FROM NOW MAY BE POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE LOOKED AT IT
AND IT IS GOOD.
7 >> OKAY.
I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION HERE.
8 >> I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE ON THE PANEL
WAS DOING ANY FORM OF RISK ANALYSIS.
9 >> IN WHAT SENSE?
RISK TO THE AGENCY?
10 >> BALANCING RESOURCES.
>> YEAH, WE HAVE DONE SOME RISK ASSESSMENT
11 AND HAVE A RISK MANAGEMENT AND ARE LOOKING AT RISK
MANAGEMENT FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
12 WHERE ARE OUR WEAKNESSS AND STRENGTHS, AND WHERE ARE
WE MOST LIKELY TO BE HIT.
13 IS IT INTERNALLY, IS IT EXTERNALLY?
SO WE HAVE DONE SOME OF THAT.
14 AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> NEXT QUESTION.
15 >> FOR CHARLES, YOUR AGENCY PRODUCES A LOT
OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, I ASSUME.
16 HOW DO YOU HANDLE MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSIONS SO THAT
THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE?
17 >> WELL, PRESENTLY WE DON'T DO A VERY GOOD
JOB OF IT BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE SOME
18 EQUATIONS.
WE CAN DESCRIBE THEM IN TEXT.
19 TYPICALLY WHEN WE PUBLISH RESULTS OR PUBLISH
SOLICITATIONS WE DO IT IN THREE FORMATS.
20 WE DO IT IN MICROSOFT WORD.DOC FORMAT, WE DO IT IN
PDF FORMAT WITH THE TEXT LAYER, AND WE DO IT IN TEXT.
21 AND IN TEXT WHERE WE HAVE A SCIENTIFIC FORMULA, IF
IT'S TOO COMPLEX WE JUST SAY SCIENTIFIC FORMULA
22 INSERTED HERE.
NOT MUCH SATISFACTION FOR YOUR PHYSICISTS, THOUGH, IS
23 IT?
>> NO.
24 IT'S TRUE, AND NOR IN A LOT OF THE -- WE HAVE SOME
INTERESTING WORK GOING ON IN CLEVELAND WORKING ON
25 HIGH ON ENGINES WHICH IS VERY INTENSIVE IN THE
PHYSICS WORLD.
156
1 THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE PUT, IF YOU
WILL, ON A PLATE THAT'S A LITTLE FURTHER BACK FROM
2 THE FRONT PLATE FIGURING THAT MATHEMATICA, WOLFRAWILL
HELP US.
3 IF IT'S TOO TECHNICALLY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO TRY TO RESOLVE IT.
4 I THINK OUR BIGGEST APPROACH RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF
TECHNOLOGY IS TO SEE IF WE CAN'T DO LIVE SPEECH
5 RECOGNITION TO TEXT CONVERSION.
IN THE MEANTIME I'M HOPING SOMEONE WILL COME UP WITH
6 SOME REGZ LUGZS.
>> THE FELLOW THAT'S A PHYSICIST FROM THE
7 UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND WHO'S GOT A BOOTH OUT HERE AND
HE'S DONE THIS WITH RTF, BUT NOT WITH MATH ML, AND I
8 THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED MATH ML BECAUSE OTHERWISE
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EXPRESSION THAT'S ALL ACROSS
9 ONE LINE WHICH IS GREAT IF YOU'RE A FORTUNE COMPILER,
BUT NOT TOO GREAT FROM SOMEBODY WHO STUDIED PHYSICS
10 FROM A PHYSICS BOOK.
BUT HE'S INTERESTED IN LOOKING FOR A SPONSOR TO --
11 >> WELL, IT TURNS OUT WE ARE GRANTING
INSTITUTIONS SO I SHOULD GO TALK TO HIM.
12 >> RIGHT, OKAY, GREAT.
>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.
13 >> IS THIS WORKING?
THIS IS WORKING?
14 >> OKAY.
>> A COUPLE OF SMALL QUESTIONS, I GUESS.
15 ONE, I DIDN'T GET THE REST OF THAT HQ.NASA.GOV
ADDRESS.
16 >> IT'S WWW.HQ.NASA.GOV/WEBACCESS.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION, IS THERE ANYTHING
17 BEING DONE TO GENERATE SORT OF A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL
THAT'S NONCOMMERCIAL, NONPROPRIETARY THAT WILL SPEAK
18 THE SAME LANGUAGE AND TALK THE SAME TALK TO ALL WEB
SITES THAT'S UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED?
19 >> YOU MEAN AS FAR AS SAYING THAT THEY'RE
ACCESSIBLE?
20 >> RIGHT.
>> WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S COME UP A FEW
21 TIMES AND WE'VE RUN INTO A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT BEING WORKED ON,
22 BUT WE SORT OF HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH DOING
SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT CAN CONNOTATE
23 TO SOMEONE LOOKING AT THE WEB SITE IT'S LIKE IN THE
BEGINNING PEOPLE THOUGHT IF THEY HAD THE BOBBY SYMBOL
24 ON THEIR WEB SITE --
>> THAT NONCOMMERCIAL, NONPROPRIETARY.
25 >> RIGHT.
SOME AGENCIES WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THEIR
157
1 INDIVIDUAL WEB SITES IS USING THE LITTLE PICTURE OF
THE WHEELCHAIR.
2 AND I DON'T KNOW THAT GSAN OR THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE OR ANYBODY'S EVER GOING TO COME UP WITH
3 SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING TO BLAST.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT AGENCIES HAVE BEEN SAYING,
4 OKAY, WE'RE TAKING IT UPON OURSELVES AND WE'RE
PUTTING THIS ON HERE TO LET PEOPLE TO KNOW TO COME TO
5 OUR WEB SITE THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE.
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAY BE COMING DOWN THE ROAD TO
6 ONE OF THE OTHER FORUMS, BUT NOTHING AT THIS POINT.
YEAH.
7 RIGHT.
RIGHT.
8 AND THAT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THE AGENCY LOOKS AT IT
AND HE IS PERFECTLY RIGHT.
9 IT PROBABLY IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANT TO DO
BECAUSE YOU COULD COME BACK AND GET HIT WITH A
10 LAWSUIT BY SOMEBODY WHO SAYS WE PUT THAT THERE AND
IT'S NOT.
11 >>ALONG THE SAME LINE, YOU'VE DONE
EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE THE PAGE ACCESSIBLE AS FAR
12 AS YOU KNOW.
YOU'VE TESTED IT, YOU KNOW YOUR CODE, YOU'VE RUN IT
13 THROUGH ASSISTIVE READER PROGRAMS.
AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU SATISFIED THAT YOU'VE MADE THE
14 PAGES ACCESSIBLE, ACCESSIBLE BEING THERE'S SO MANY
DIFFERENT METHODS OF TESTING AND DIFFERENT APPROVALS
15 AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> WE INVOLVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HEARING
16 OR VISION DISABILITIES IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.
>> I WORK WITH SOME PEOPLE AT THE CAPS
17 OFFICE AND GOTTEN SOME INPUT AND INFORMATION FROM
THEM.
18 >> WELL, IF YOU'VE GONE DOWN A PATH AND
YOU BELIEVE THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE, THE BEST THING YOU
19 CAN DO IS PUBLISH IT.
WHAT WE DO IN OUR WEB SITES IN THE PRIVACY STATEMENT
20 BLANK, WE STATE THAT WE BELIEVE THIS WEB SITE IS
ACCESSIBLE.
21 IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM ACCESSING DATA FROM THIS WEB
SITE OR LINK AT THIS SITE THAT THIS REFERS TO, PLEASE
22 CONTACT.
>> THAT'S THE WORD I WAS LOOKING FOR,
23 BELIEVE.
THANK YOU.
24 >> OKAY.
WE HAVE -- THIS WAY.
25 >> THE QUESTION I HAD AND FROM
CONVERSATION WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, THEY SAY, NO, I
158
1 DON'T THINK IT'S HAPPENED.
YOU TALK ABOUT LAWSUITS.
2 ARE THERE ANY OUT THERE?
BECAUSE I THOUGHT I HAD PEOPLE THAT TOLD ME, HEY,
3 JUNE 21, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO -- YOU KNOW, ONE
ADVOCACY GROUP OR ANOTHER.
4 BUT WHAT'S THE WORD?
IS ANYTHING IN THE LEGAL PIPELINE?
5 >> YES.
THIS IS JOHN HALVERSON.
6 AND OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE
DEPARTMENTS, BUT ALL I KNOW IS AS FAR AS I'M TOLD
7 THERE'S NOTHING AT HHS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING ANYWHERE.
8 BUT THERE MAY BE.
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY LAWSUITS AT IRS.
9 INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, EVEN BEFORE THE STANDARDS WERE
PUBLISHED WE ACTUALLY DID HAVE A UNION SETTLEMENT
10 AGREEMENT THAT CITED 508 EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T
EFFECTIVE YET.
11 BUT SINCE 508 HAS COME INTO ENFORCEMENT, WE HADN'T
HAD ONE.
12 THAT BEING SAID, WHEN DOUG WAKEFIELD CAME TO OUR
FACILITY AND GAVE A PRESENTATION ON 508, WE ACTUALLY
13 HAD AN EMPLOYEE STAND UP AND SAY HOW DO I FILE A
COMPLAINT?
14 BUT IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW, AND THEY
HAVEN'T DONE IT.
15 >> AND I THINK THIS IS MOSTLY TO YOU,
HELEN.
16 I THINK YOU WOULD KNOW IF ANY SUITS WOULD KNOW.
>> WELL, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WOULD
17 KNOW.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE
18 MONITORING THOSE, AND THEY WOULD BE THE DEPARTMENT
THAT WOULD BE ASSISTING AN AGENCY I WOULD ASSUME IF A
19 LAWSUIT GOT THAT FAR.
MOST AGENCIES, THE PLAN IS TO HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO
20 HANDLE IT WITHIN THE AGENCY THROUGH THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WORKING
21 ITS WAY UP IF ONE GETS THAT FAR AND IT HITS THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO SET A
22 PRECEDENT AND AN AGENCY MAY DO THAT INTERNALLY BEFORE
THAT POINT AT WHICH TIME I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD
23 MAKE THAT KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY
WOULD KNOW HOW IT WAS HANDLED AND WHAT CAME OF IT SO.
24 I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL PROBABLY BE OUT
THERE AND IT WILL BE PUBLICIZED WHEN IT HAPPENS.
25 >> YEAH, BECAUSE I WAS THINKING WE SHOULD
HAVE HEARD SOMETHING.
159
1 I WAS WONDERING IF PEOPLE WERE JUST KEEPING IT A
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET THAT THEY HAD A SUIT FILED
2 BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WAITING IN INTERIOR FOR THE FIRST
SUIT, AND OUR CLASSES WILL TAKE -- I MEAN, THEY'VE
3 ALREADY BEEN -- PEOPLE ARE SCARED.
SO THEY WANT TO TAKE CLASSES TO BETTER DESIGN THEIR
4 SITES.
BUT BOY, THE FIRST SUIT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE
5 WORKING 24 HOURS 7.
SO THANKS.
6 >> OKAY.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING.
7 IF YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE TO THE FRONT, WE DO HAVE
SOME HANDOUTS FROM CHARLES, AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK
8 TO ANY OF THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME UP.
(APPLAUSE)
|