[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54414-54415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22158]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2010-0057]


On Behalf of the Accessibility Committee of the U.S. Council of 
CIOs; 29 U.S.C. 794d; Listening Session Regarding Improving the 
Accessibility of Government Information

AGENCY: U.S. Council of CIOs.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a listening session being conducted in 
response to a memo dated July 19, 2010 from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) on ``Improving the Accessibility of Government 
Information''. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d) 
requires Federal agencies to buy and use electronic and information 
technology (EIT) that is accessible. The July memo directs agencies to 
take stronger steps toward improving the acquisition and implementation 
of accessible technology. In order to better understand the needs of 
diverse communities and provide better solutions, the U.S. Council of 
CIOs, in collaboration with the Chief Acquisition Officers Council, the 
GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy and the U.S. Access Board, is 
holding the first in a series of listening sessions to engage citizens 
and employees in expressing concerns and proposing ideas. Persons with 
disabilities, their advocates and government employees are invited to 
participate.

DATES: Meeting Date: The listening session will be held on Thursday, 
September 30, 2010, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time (CT).
    Persons wishing to address the panel at the listening session can 
pre-register by contacting Kathy Roy Johnson at (202) 272-0041, (202) 
272-0082 (TTY), or board.gov">johnson@access-board.gov. Pre-registrants will be 
given priority in addressing the panel in Chicago. Registration will 
also be available in person in Chicago on the afternoon of the 
listening session.

ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The listening session will be held at the 
Courtyard by Marriott Magnificent Mile Hotel, 165 East Ontario Street, 
Chicago, IL 60611 in the Ontario B & C rooms.
    Accommodations: The listening session will have sign language 
interpreters; CART (real time captioning) services, Assistive Listening 
Devices (ALDs), microphones and materials will be available in Braille, 
large print and electronic formats. The hotel is wheelchair accessible. 
Anyone needing other accommodations should include a specific request 
when registering in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Roy Johnson at (202) 272-0041, 
(202) 272-0082 (TTY), or board.gov">johnson@access-board.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and 
information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. 
Inaccessible technology interferes with an ability to obtain and use 
information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate 
barriers in information technology, open new opportunities for people 
with disabilities, and encourage development of technologies that will 
help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when 
they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information 
technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. 794 d), agencies must give 
disabled employees and members of the public access to information that 
is comparable to access available to others.
    Effective implementation of Section 508 is an essential element of 
President Obama's principles of open government, requiring that all 
government and data be accessible to all citizens. In order for the 
goal of open government to be meaningful for persons with disabilities, 
technology must also be accessible, including digital content. In July 
2010, the OMB took steps to assure that the federal government's 
progress in implementing Section 508 is stronger and achieves results 
more quickly.
    Section 508 requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to 
provide technical assistance to agencies on Section 508 implementation. 
GSA has created a number of tools, available at http://www.Section508.gov, to help agencies to develop accessible 
requirements, test the acceptance process, and share lessons learned 
and best practices. For example:
     The BuyAccessible Wizard, http://www.buyaccessible.gov, 
helps build compliant requirements and solicitations;
     The Quick Links site, https://app.buyaccessible.gov/baw/KwikLinksMain.jsp, provides pre-packaged Section 508 solicitation 
documents;
     The BuyAccessible Products and Services Directory, https://app.buyaccessible.gov/DataCenter/ provides a registry of companies and 
accessibility information about their offerings; and
     The Section 508 blog http://buyaccessible.net/blog/ 
provides a venue where stakeholders may share ideas and success 
stories, or engage in conversations on improving accessibility.
    The OMB has directed that several actions be taken to improve 508 
performance:
     By Mid-January 2011, the GSA Office of Governmentwide 
Policy (OGP) will provide updated guidance on making government EIT 
accessible. This guidance will build upon existing resources to address 
challenges, increase oversight, and reduce costs associated with 
acquiring and managing EIT solutions that are not accessible.
     By Mid-January 2011, the GSA OGP will update its general 
Section 508 training to offer refreshed continuous learning modules 
that can be used by contracting officers, program/project managers 
(especially those managing IT

[[Page 54415]]

programs), and contracting officer technical representatives (COTRs) as 
they fulfill their Federal Acquisition Certification requirements.
     In September 2010, the GSA OGP and the Department of 
Justice (DOJ) will issue a survey to allow agencies to assess their 
implementation of Section 508, including accessibility of Web sites and 
other technology used by the agencies. This information will be used by 
the DOJ in preparing its next assessment of agency compliance as 
required by the Rehabilitation Act. The CIOC Accessibility Committee 
will also use this information to identify best practices and lessons 
learned.
     In the spring of 2011, the DOJ will issue a progress 
report on Federal agency compliance with Section 508, the first since 
2004. Going forward, DOJ will meet its obligation to issue a report 
biennially.
     Beginning in FY 2011, the GSA OGP will begin providing OMB 
a quarterly summary report containing results of Section 508 reviews of 
a sample of solicitations posted on FedBizOpps.gov. GSA will provide 
the agencies a summary of the sampling results to facilitate sharing of 
best practices and successes, and to address common challenges.
    This listening session will focus on what other steps the federal 
government can take to increase the accessibility and usability of 
government information and data for persons with disabilities. Input is 
sought on the following questions:
     What can technology do to improve things for people with 
disabilities?
     What can the federal government do to use technology 
better or in new ways?
     What can the federal government do to make technology more 
accessible?
     What emerging technologies are being used by the federal 
government that you are left out of?
     What technologies should the federal government use that 
would enhance your interactions with the federal government?
     What are state and local governments doing that the 
federal government should follow?
     What can the federal government do to influence technology 
accessibility?
    Feedback from the listening session will be used by, and shared 
across, agencies to improve accessibility and usability.

Karen Palm,
Associate Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-22158 Filed 9-3-10; 8:45 am]
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