Technology to Maximize Independence

David Baquis U.S. Access Board October 6, 2015

ACCESS BOARD

The United States Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible

design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards.

The Access Board is the Federal government’s accessibility specialist. Our mandate includes responsibility for: --rulemaking (developing guidelines and standards); --technical assistance and training; --research; and

--Enforcement of the Architectural Barriers Act

• Built environment

• Technological environment

What needs to be accessible?

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Technology Accessibility

Telecommunication Products

• Volume control; large font; voice output

• Directions/wayfinding • Emergency use • Texting • Camera • Apps • Music

Information Kiosks

ATMs

• Tactile keys in addition to touch screen

• Audio jack for ear phones

• Interactive teller via video

• Installation height • Brightness, even in

sunlight

Voting Systems

• Election Assistance Commission Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

• Speech output • Tactile input • Large font, contrast • Usability

Health Information Technology • Accessible electronic

health records • Videos captioned and

audio described • Accessible forms • Usability, easy to

navigate • Speech output in hand-

held devices • Accessible apps

Online Learning

• Need to be computer literate

• Advantage of using accessible computer

• Importance of information technology for communication with friends and family

Standards and Guidelines

Section 508

• Rehabilitation Act • Focus on federal information technology • Benefits federal employees as well as

members of the public • Address: websites, software,

telecommunications products, videos, computers, office equipment

• Standards published in 2000; currently being updated

Section 255

• Telecommunications Act • Addresses telecommunications equipment • Cell phones, desk-top phones, fax machines • Guidelines published in 1998; currently being

updated • Complaints handled by the Federal

Communication Commission

Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

• Help America Vote Act • Developed by Election Assistance Commission • Minimum of one accessible voting system per

polling place • In addition, polling place must be ADA-

compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act)

Prescription Drug Container Labels

• “Best practices” for pharmacies to provide independent access

• Recommendations developed by a working group formed by the Access Board

• Various access alternatives, including: braille, large print labels, and auditory technologies such as “talking bottles” and radio frequency identification tags

Review of our Guidelines and standards • ADA Accessibility Guidelines (1991)

Supplements: – state and government facilities (1998) – children’s environments (1998) – play areas (2000) and recreation facilities (2002)

• Transportation Vehicles (1991) • Telecommunications Access (1998) • Electronic and Information Technology (2000) • Updated ADA and ABA Guidelines (2004) • Outdoor Developed Areas (2013) • Emergency Transportable Housing (2014)

Guidelines and standards under development

• Transportation Vehicles (buses) • Public Rights-of-Way and Shared Use Paths • Medical Diagnostic Equipment • Passenger Vessels • Information and Communication Technology • Transportation Vehicles (rail) • Self-Service Transaction Machines

Transportation

“The first and last mile”

• Getting to the transportation station from home is the big deal

• Audible pedestrian signals

• Curb cuts • Slope • Access to on-street

parking

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Buses and Vans

• Kneeling to curb • Wheelchair securement • Visual and audible

announcement of stops • Next stop information

available at bus shelters and on smartphones

Automatic Wheelchair Securement

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Passenger Vessels

Proposed Guidelines address various features of vessel accessibility and include provisions for onboard routes, vertical access between decks, doorways and coamings, toilet rooms, guest rooms, alarm systems, and other spaces and elements used by passengers

Trains

• Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee submitted to the U.S. Access Board a final report on refreshing the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles

• Issues addressed include: communications; boarding and alighting; rooms and spaces; onboard circulation and seating.

Taxis

• Wheelchair accessibility • Can’t discriminate against service dog users • DC Taxicab Disability Advisory Committee

recommends 100% universal design • Accessible communication would include

dispatching that is accessible to deaf callers and accessible to blind web-users if reservations are made online or via a smart phone app.

Accessible Taxi Payment System

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Transportation Intelligence

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Assistive Technologies

Captioned Telephone

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Talking Glucometer

• Correlation between diabetes and vision impairment

• Large font display in addition to voice output

Wander Prevention Technology

• Application for people with dementia

• Additional applications for children, people with autism

• Also, personal emergency response systems alert to falls

Low tech assistive technology

• Activities of daily living: – Eating/cooking – Hygiene – Using telephone – Answering doorbell – Reading/writing – Telling the time – Walking – Understanding and

organizing prescriptions

Assistive Technology Commonly Used with Computers

• Screen reader software

• Magnification software

• Refreshable braille displays

• Speech recognition software

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Access Board Technical Assistance

• Publications and guides online

• Newsletter

• Webinar series

How to Reach the U.S. Access Board

• Telephone (voice): – 202-272-0013 (direct to David Baquis) – 800-872-2253 (toll-free in U.S.)

• E-mail: 508@access-board.gov

• Internet: http://www.access-board.gov

Questions?

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