Thread Subject: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-Action Needed

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From: Deborah Buck
Date: Mon, Apr 30 2007 8:25 AM
Subject: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-Action Needed

Subpart A Workgroup Members- this is the first of several emails you will
receive from the co-chairs. We have made significant progress in our work of
late, but need to come to some resolution. Recognizing that not all of you
have been able to join the conference calls and participate in our
discussions, we have decided to take this approach to determine whether we
have reached consensus.

You will receive several emails- the emails will be broken down between the
2 sections of Subpart A that we have been addressed to date- Definitions and
Exceptions. Within each of these categories you will received an email on
each of the issues or topics. For example, under the Definitions section we
have been reviewing and have made recommendations for definitions on
accessibility, assistive technology, comparable access, etc. You will
receive individual emails on each of the terms we've addressed. You will be
asked to take action on the terms.
* After reviewing the information you will be asked to indicate
whether you agree with the recommendation or disagree.
* If you disagree, specify the changes you think are needed. If you
need to explain your rationale, please do so. If at all possible, please do
not disagree, but then not provide alternative language.
* The group also needs to deal with cost-benefit impact of the
recommendations. Please indicate whether you think the recommended changes
will have an impact on cost of implementation and what the benefits will be
as a result of the proposed change.
* If you want, you can modify the subject in your response to indicate
whether you accept or reject the proposed language. This will enable us to
sort and categorize the responses more quickly and be prepared to see where
our efforts might need to be focused for our meeting on Thursday, May 3,
2007.
* Our plan is to have resolution of these topics and transmit the
information to the Access Board. We will then move to developing
recommendations on Subpart A: Application and hopefully close out our work.

If you need back ground information on some of the discussions- you should
refer to the Subpart A Report


ACCESSIBILITY
* This will be a new term added to Subpart A Definitions:

Recommended Language:
Accessibility: For the purpose of this regulation, general accessibility
means conformance to the technical provisions contained in this standard.
The term, accessibility, may also be used to define a broad set of features
and capabilities which enable people with disabilities access to technology.


ACTION:
Please indicate whether you can support this definition or if you think it
should be changed- please include your suggested changes:

___ I can accept this definition.
___ I can accept this definition with changes. I'm recommending that the
group consider the following changes:


COST BENEFITS OF PROPOSED CHANGE
Do you think this change will result in increased costs?
Do you think this proposed change will result in benefits such as increased
access for people with disabilities, increased implementation of Section
508, improve the likelihood that developers and manufacturers can and will
build products to meet the applicable standards?



Deborah V. Buck, Executive Director
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)
PO Box 32
Delmar, NY 12054
518.439.1263 (voice)
518.439.3451 (fax)
518.441.7204 (cell)
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
http://www.ataporg.org

From: Lybarger, Barbara (MOD)
Date: Mon, Apr 30 2007 9:10 AM
Subject: Re: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-ActionNeeded

See my responses below,

Barbara Lybarger


>

From: Katie Haritos-Shea
Date: Mon, Apr 30 2007 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-Action Needed

__X_ I can accept this definition.

Katie Haritos-Shea


-----Original Message-----
>From: Deborah Buck < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>Sent: Apr 30, 2007 10:19 AM
>To: Subpart A Workgroup TEITAC < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>Subject: [teitac-subparta] Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-Action Needed
>
>Subpart A Workgroup Members- this is the first of several emails you will
>receive from the co-chairs. We have made significant progress in our work of
>late, but need to come to some resolution. Recognizing that not all of you
>have been able to join the conference calls and participate in our
>discussions, we have decided to take this approach to determine whether we
>have reached consensus.
>
>You will receive several emails- the emails will be broken down between the
>2 sections of Subpart A that we have been addressed to date- Definitions and
>Exceptions. Within each of these categories you will received an email on
>each of the issues or topics. For example, under the Definitions section we
>have been reviewing and have made recommendations for definitions on
>accessibility, assistive technology, comparable access, etc. You will
>receive individual emails on each of the terms we've addressed. You will be
>asked to take action on the terms.
>* After reviewing the information you will be asked to indicate
>whether you agree with the recommendation or disagree.
>* If you disagree, specify the changes you think are needed. If you
>need to explain your rationale, please do so. If at all possible, please do
>not disagree, but then not provide alternative language.
>* The group also needs to deal with cost-benefit impact of the
>recommendations. Please indicate whether you think the recommended changes
>will have an impact on cost of implementation and what the benefits will be
>as a result of the proposed change.
>* If you want, you can modify the subject in your response to indicate
>whether you accept or reject the proposed language. This will enable us to
>sort and categorize the responses more quickly and be prepared to see where
>our efforts might need to be focused for our meeting on Thursday, May 3,
>2007.
>* Our plan is to have resolution of these topics and transmit the
>information to the Access Board. We will then move to developing
>recommendations on Subpart A: Application and hopefully close out our work.
>
>If you need back ground information on some of the discussions- you should
>refer to the Subpart A Report
>
>
>ACCESSIBILITY
>* This will be a new term added to Subpart A Definitions:
>
>Recommended Language:
>Accessibility: For the purpose of this regulation, general accessibility
>means conformance to the technical provisions contained in this standard.
>The term, accessibility, may also be used to define a broad set of features
>and capabilities which enable people with disabilities access to technology.
>
>
>ACTION:
>Please indicate whether you can support this definition or if you think it
>should be changed- please include your suggested changes:
>
>__X_ I can accept this definition.
>___ I can accept this definition with changes. I'm recommending that the
>group consider the following changes:
>
>
>COST BENEFITS OF PROPOSED CHANGE
>Do you think this change will result in increased costs?
>Do you think this proposed change will result in benefits such as increased
>access for people with disabilities, increased implementation of Section
>508, improve the likelihood that developers and manufacturers can and will
>build products to meet the applicable standards?
>
>
>
>Deborah V. Buck, Executive Director
>Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)
>PO Box 32
>Delmar, NY 12054
>518.439.1263 (voice)
>518.439.3451 (fax)
>518.441.7204 (cell)
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>http://www.ataporg.org
>
>


* katie *

Katie Haritos-Shea
Section 508 Technical Policy Analyst

703-371-5545

From: Gregg Vanderheiden
Date: Mon, Apr 30 2007 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-ActionNeeded

I don't think we should define accessibility to be just conforming to this
standard. There are many other things needed to make things accessible to
others. People with language, learning and cognitive disabilities would for
example not find things accessible that meet our standard.

We can define "conformance" (which is actually what this definition fits).
But not accessibility.

There is no need to define the word "accessible' or "Accessibility" unless
it is used specifically in a provision (Which would then make this
definition circular)

Suggest that we do not define the word.


Gregg
-- ------------------------------
Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.

From: Debbie Cook
Date: Mon, Apr 30 2007 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-ActionNeeded

ACCESSIBILITY
* This will be a new term added to Subpart A Definitions:

Recommended Language:
Accessibility: For the purpose of this regulation, general accessibility
means conformance to the technical provisions contained in this standard.
The term, accessibility, may also be used to define a broad set of features
and capabilities which enable people with disabilities access to technology.


ACTION:
Please indicate whether you can support this definition or if you think it
should be changed- please include your suggested changes:

___ I can accept this definition.
x___ I can accept this definition with changes. I'm recommending that the
group consider the following changes:

Must include the functional provisions. If you do not, you will effectively
ensure that closed products do not have to comply since there are not
specific technical standards that apply to them. If we end up with some,
this isn't an issue specific to closed, but the functional standards are
still available for equivalent facilitation so must be included in this
definition.

From: jagbell
Date: Mon, Apr 30 2007 7:50 PM
Subject: Re: Subpart A Definitions- Accessibility-ActionNeeded

I don't think this definition is clear. Also, Accessibility is used
in many place to define the type of access available at museums etc. :)
On Apr 30, 2007, at 10:19 AM, Deborah Buck wrote:

> Subpart A Workgroup Members- this is the first of several emails
> you will
> receive from the co-chairs. We have made significant progress in
> our work of
> late, but need to come to some resolution. Recognizing that not all
> of you
> have been able to join the conference calls and participate in our
> discussions, we have decided to take this approach to determine
> whether we
> have reached consensus.
>
> You will receive several emails- the emails will be broken down
> between the
> 2 sections of Subpart A that we have been addressed to date-
> Definitions and
> Exceptions. Within each of these categories you will received an
> email on
> each of the issues or topics. For example, under the Definitions
> section we
> have been reviewing and have made recommendations for definitions on
> accessibility, assistive technology, comparable access, etc. You will
> receive individual emails on each of the terms we've addressed. You
> will be
> asked to take action on the terms.
> * After reviewing the information you will be asked to indicate
> whether you agree with the recommendation or disagree.
> * If you disagree, specify the changes you think are needed. If you
> need to explain your rationale, please do so. If at all possible,
> please do
> not disagree, but then not provide alternative language.
> * The group also needs to deal with cost-benefit impact of the
> recommendations. Please indicate whether you think the recommended
> changes
> will have an impact on cost of implementation and what the benefits
> will be
> as a result of the proposed change.
> * If you want, you can modify the subject in your response to indicate
> whether you accept or reject the proposed language. This will
> enable us to
> sort and categorize the responses more quickly and be prepared to
> see where
> our efforts might need to be focused for our meeting on Thursday,
> May 3,
> 2007.
> * Our plan is to have resolution of these topics and transmit the
> information to the Access Board. We will then move to developing
> recommendations on Subpart A: Application and hopefully close out
> our work.
>
> If you need back ground information on some of the discussions- you
> should
> refer to the Subpart A Report
>
>
> ACCESSIBILITY
> * This will be a new term added to Subpart A Definitions:
>
> Recommended Language:
> Accessibility: For the purpose of this regulation, general
> accessibility
> means conformance to the technical provisions contained in this
> standard.
> The term, accessibility, may also be used to define a broad set of
> features
> and capabilities which enable people with disabilities access to
> technology.
>
>
> ACTION:
> Please indicate whether you can support this definition or if you
> think it
> should be changed- please include your suggested changes:
>
> ___ I can accept this definition.
> ___ I can accept this definition with changes. I'm recommending
> that the
> group consider the following changes:
>
>
> COST BENEFITS OF PROPOSED CHANGE
> Do you think this change will result in increased costs?
> Do you think this proposed change will result in benefits such as
> increased
> access for people with disabilities, increased implementation of
> Section
> 508, improve the likelihood that developers and manufacturers can
> and will
> build products to meet the applicable standards?
>
>
>
> Deborah V. Buck, Executive Director
> Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)
> PO Box 32
> Delmar, NY 12054
> 518.439.1263 (voice)
> 518.439.3451 (fax)
> 518.441.7204 (cell)
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> http://www.ataporg.org
>
>
> <winmail.dat>
>