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Assistive-technology products are a great equalizer because they tear down barriers that historically have prevented people with disabilities from having access to information. But just getting the technology into the marketplace isn't enough. Sometimes it takes the power of the federal government to spread the wealth of this technology in the public and private sectors through legislation.
That's what Congress did when it authorized Section 508 as part of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Mention Section 508 to some technology vendors, and you're likely to hear them muttering angrily. But it's a good law, and it should be given a chance to work.
With nearly 200,000 federal employees -- almost one in six -- considered to have some form of disability, accessibility is a major issue for Uncle Sam Inc. Section 508 requires that all electronic and information technology of the federal government be usable by people with disabilities, unless it poses an undue burden to do so. This requirement extends to all federal contractors that build info-tech devices (e.g., kiosks, computers, electronic voting booths) or access government information and interact with government agencies. Federal agencies must be in compliance with these accessibility standards for all electronic and info tech acquired as of August 7, 2000.
An info-tech system is considered accessible if it can be used in a variety of ways that don't depend on a single sense or ability. For example, a system that provides output only in audio format may not be accessible to people with hearing impairments, and a system that requires mouse actions to navigate may not be accessible to people who have a dexterity or visual impairment. Some individuals with disabilities may need special software or peripheral devices to be able to use 508-compliant systems.
INTRUSION?
This is a big deal. The federal government purchases hundreds of millions of dollars of info tech each year, and the new requirements under 508 will have a major impact on how info-tech products and services are designed. A major barrier to employing people with disabilities will fall.
Some big vendors, such as Microsoft, are already well positioned to take advantage of the law. As Microsoft President and CEO Steve Balmer said in April at the Federal Office Systems Exposition 2000, "Microsoft applauds the government's efforts to bring accessible technology to all employees because it raises awareness and fosters marketplace competition needed to ensure accessibility into the mainstream." That's because the company has long designed accessibility features into all of its products, anticipating there would some day be a market for them.
However, not everyone supports 508. Some businesspeople see it as heavy-handed governmental intrusion, forcing businesses to make decisions that have nothing to do with a free market. An angry Fred Chaump, representative of a consortium selling software to the federal government, told me, "Section 508 is nothing but the federal government pandering to the disability activists who don't know anything about software development. If the software industry has to comply with Section 508, it may put thousands of vendors out of business."
If that were true, most vendors would be folding up about now. They aren't. In fact, even for those that think the government is handing them a lemon, 508 provides plenty of ways to make lemonade. Take training requirements. Vendors complain that federal agencies lack knowledge on implementing 508. True enough. But Microsoft, a consortium called Highway 1 that provides computer training to federal agencies, and Accessible Systems Inc. have already formed an alliance to bring accessibility training to government agencies implementing 508. I'm sure other opportunities are out there.
Accessible Systems, an assistive-tech consulting firm, developed and manages the curriculum. Microsoft has ponied up $250,000 to sponsor a state-of-the-art assistive-tech lab for courses and to allow agencies to test software for accessibility. The three-course program, called "Unlocking the Possibilities: Accessibility in the Government," starts in September, 2000, and includes:
A survey course (four hours) designed to give procurement officers and division managers an understanding of Section 508.
A technical course (16 hours) to give info-tech staff and management, as well as product developers and engineers, insights into software testing techniques and related assistive technologies.
A lab course (eight hours) for graduates of the technical course to get hands on experience.
Section 508 "demonstrates the government is serious about equal employment and education for all people," says Terri Youngblood, president of Accessible Systems. Well, yes, but Youngblood is happy because he wrote the requirements used to develop the software Section of 508. "With a little help and education, the transition into Section 508 compliance can be a smooth one for federal agencies," adds Christine Hughes, chairman of Highway 1.
This law needs time to work. It may have some flaws, and implementing it could be disruptive in the short term. But the long-term benefits could be dramatic. Vendors, particularly manufacturers of assistive-tech products, ought to step back and see that they could profit with a huge new buyer in the market.
For information on Highway 1, visit it at www.highway1.org. For information on the courses, you can call either Ms. Hughes or Ms. Youngblood at 202 628-3900. Additional 508 information is available at the General Services Administration's 508 Web site, www.Section508.gov.
What do you think about the requirements of Section 508? Let us know at BW Online's Assistive Tech Forum. Or drop John a line at JMMAW@aol.com
EDITED BY DOUGLAS HARBRECHT
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Copyright 2000, Bloomberg L.P.
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