The “Win-Win” of Accessible Tech for Government and Industry

Date & Time

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 - 9:20 AM PST  

Location

Elite 1-3  

Description

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires the US Government to buy, build, and implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that is accessible to all its employees and members of the public. Since the US Federal Government buys more Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology than it builds in-house, it relies on Industry to understand and implement the Section 508 standards into the products they build. This presentation provides an overview of the Section 508 Technical Standards, discusses the importance of accessibility, and shares information about the Federal acquisition lifecycle. The Federal CIO Council established an Accessibility Community of Practice (ACoP) to promote the adoption of Section 508 across the Federal Government. As leaders of the ACoP Industry Outreach Subcommittee, we will share our stories of Industry engagement. We will define and explain the importance of Accessibility Conformance Reports and roles that Industry and Government customers play in the acquisition of accessible technology. In order to guide Industry towards addressing the Section 508 standards and developing reports on the accessibility of its products, NASA developed a guide to “Demystify Section 508” that will be reviewed. The presentation will conclude with best practices for the development of accessible technology, Accessibility Conformance Reports, and reiterates why building accessible ICT is a “Win-Win” proposal for both Industry and Government.

This Presentation Link is provided by the Presenter(s) and not hosted by the Center on Disabilities at CSUN. The Center on Disabilities has confirmed, as of April 10 2023, content linked is relevant to the presentation, but has not been reviewed for accessibility nor will the Center on Disabilities attempt to remediate any accessibility issues in the linked content. Please contact the Presenter(s) with any accessibility concerns.

 

Audience

• Higher Education
• Information & Communications Technology
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Employment & Human Resources

Audience Level

Intermediate  

Session Summary (Abstract)

The US Federal Government is required to implement accessible technology. This presentation promotes the “Win-Win” situation achieved when Industry develops tech with accessibility in mind, stimulating an ecosystem of accessible tech benefitting all.  

Primary Topic

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)  

Secondary Topics

• Design
• Digital Accessibility
• Evaluation & Remediation
• Law, Compliance, and Policy

 

Session Type

General Track  

Presenters

• Betsy Sirk
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
• Antonio Haileselassie
  NIH

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