COAT Affiliates Attend White House ADA Technology Accessibility Event

On July 19, 2010, as part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the White House held a morning event in its South Court Conference Room focused on technology and accessibility. Several COAT affiliate representatives -- and many others in the disability technology community -- were invited to attend.  COAT affiliates attending were AADB, AAPD, AFB, CSD, HLAA, Inclusive Technologies, NVRC, TDI, Trace Center, and WID.

Hosted and moderated by Kareem Dale, Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement & Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, an Expert Panel of federal officials answered questions posed by Dale on federal agency activities in regard to implementing more accessible technology. Panelists included: Vivek Kundra, White House Chief Information Officer;  Dan Gordon, Administrator, OMB Office of Federal Procurement Policy; Michael Copps, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Science & Technology Policy; and Larry Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications & Information, NTIA.  Dale asked the panelists several questions such as on the importantance of technology for people with disabilities, lowering the cost of accessible technology and whether there is a need for legislation.

Strickling mentioned that the adoption rate for broadband is 33% for people with disabilities, compared to a 65% national rate. He described the "broadband revolution" as a way to create more jobs, such as for people with disabilities. He also announced that CSD, a COAT affiliate, would receive a $15 million award to increase adoption of broadband by people with hearing and other disabilities and that would lead to more employment.

Kundra noted that "the federal government is the largest purchaser of information technology on the planet," spending more than $80 billion a year. He said the intent now is "to change the default setting of putting accessibility in as an afterthought." As part of that commitment, the CIO Council has established a working group on accessibility, focused on Section 508 implementation.

Gordon said OMB would release soon a new policy memo affirming Section 508 requirements in procurement that would emphasize that federal agencies would be held accountable for ensuring accessible technology policies.

Copps said the FCC's challenge was in implementing the National Broadband Plan, saying the FCC would issue several NPRMs focused on issues of people with disabilities so they "are not left behind and their talents wasted." He also mentioned the importance of a universal design approach in developing technology, how accessibility benefits people without disabilities as well, and mentioned the current House and Senate legislation, i.e., S. 3304 and H.R. 3101, as important.

Chopra said the government should "unlock the hidden potential of people with disabilities [that is] based in failed connectivity." He also mentioned a new initiative at the VA to ensure more accessible technology for veterans. He also raised the topic of more telecommuting or telework efforts to solve unemployment.

The Panel discussion was followed by a captioned video  presentation chronicling personal stories about the impact of technology on people with disabilities. One cameo included Paul Schroeder of COAT affiliate AFB. This was followed by three demonstrations of new technologies: NPR's captioned radio programming initiative; robotic prosthetic feet developed by Professor Hugh Herr and his biomechatronics team at the MIT Media Lab; and Apple's iPad with built-in accessibility such as VoiceOver, typically used by people with vision loss, and captioning display. 

Representatives from other entities were also present such as Amtrak, Benentech, Maryland Relay Services, Communication Services for the Deaf, Verizon, Microsoft, the WC3 Web Accessibility Initiative, the Information Technology Industry association, among others.  Numerous federal officials also attended such as from the Federal Communications Commission, General Services Administration, Department of Commerce, U.S. Access Board, and the Social Security Administration.

Participants were encouraged to attend the Technology Showcase and other events sponsored by the Commerce Department and FCC during the afternoon of the same day.