Definition - ComparableAccess - May 30 Draft

May 30 Draft > Working Copy of Definition - Comparable Access

• Subcommittee: Subpart A
• Section: Subpart A: Definitions

Current Draft (for reference only)

None, this is a new definition since the May 30 draft.

Comments or suggested edits

GreggVan This is generally ok but comparable access to a product needs to include “functionality” of the product – not just information.

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  • ACCESS TO AND USE OF INFORMATION AND DATA THAT IS ...
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  • ACCESS TO AND USE OF INFORMATION, DATA AND FUNCTIONALITY THAT IS …

Updated version for June 30

COMPARABLE ACCESS MEANS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO AND USE OF INFORMATION AND DATA THAT IS TIMELY, ACCURATE, COMPLETE AND EFFICIENT WHEN COMPARED TO THAT AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT DISABILITIES.

Discussion or Rationale

Timely access means that individuals with disabilities have information and data available to them at the same time as individuals without disabilities, but that does not preclude captions that are a millisecond or two delayed or other reasonable differences in timing given individual situations. Accurate means that the information and data reflects the intended meaning especially when converted into another form or media. Complete means that all critical information and data is present when accessed by assistive technology or converted into another form or media. Efficient means that an individual with a disability exerts a reasonably similar or comparable amount of effort (given the capacity of current assistive technology) in using electronic and information technology as compared to an individual without a disability.

Rationale: Addition of comparable access definition at the request of federal procurement officials and other subcommittees to provide framework for application of functional performance standards.

Subcommittee could not reach consensus on including some or all of the explanatory information as part of the defintion itself. It will be critical to expand on and explain the terms “timely, accurate, complete and efficient” to ensure understanding and consistency in application but the group could not reach consensus on where that explanation should occur.

Subcommittee also could not reach consensus on possible addition of the word “communication” to “information and data” to clarify that communication is part of information and data.