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Re: DoJ delays website accessibility rules

for

From: Chagnon | PubCom
Date: Aug 5, 2013 3:19PM

Jennison wrote: "Perhaps this is happening behind the scenes."

Not at all. What's happening behind the scenes is that the business
community (via their lobbyists) is working against accessibility. They view
it as just another "blanking" regulation by the Federal government that
reduces their profits.

Remember, the political climate in Washington is very conservative, very
libertarian, and very anti-government. Reade my lips: no more regulations.

Jennison wrote: "it would be great to see the national disability advocacy
organizations come together and lobby the DoJ as one voice to inspire
movement."

It's essential that this happen; otherwise you'll never be able to counter
"the force" and get your message heard by not only the Dept. of Justice, but
also the White House (which controls DOJ) and both houses of Congress (which
are controlled by the political parties and fractions).

Accessibility isn't on the radar screen of any of the big guys in
Washington, so start putting it there.

You can start right now by emailing, first, President Obama (he's DOJ's
boss) about your concern about this postponement. And most importantly, talk
about your personal need for this ruling, how inaccessible websites and
documents affect your life. I suggest also mentioning getting the Section
508 Refresh "refreshed" and submitted into the Federal Register. He has
oversight of the US Access Board.

Here's the White House online form: you have 2,500 characters in the
"message" field. Use them well! If you can find some links to online
articles about accessibility, such as the Wall Street Journal's from earlier
this year, it would be effective to include them in your message.

Also email the White House Office on Disability Issues:
www.whitehouse.gov/issues/disabilities

Second, write your congressional representative and 2 senators. Congress'
websites are:

www.Senate.gov and use the field at the top of the page to "Find Your
Senators." From there you'll find links to email them.

www.House.gov and use the field at the top of the page to "Find Your
Representative." Again, you'll have a link on his/her webpage for email.

Third, contact DOJ's ADA office and let them know your concern. Their main
website is http://www.ada.gov , and their contact webpage is
http://www.ada.gov/contact_drs.htm .

Every US citizen who is disabled, or has someone close to them who is
disabled, should do these simple actions. You'd generate a lot of buzz and
that's the first step of getting on the radar screen.

But more importantly, this starts the awareness program the community must
undertake in order to make any headway.

Back when I did PR and political campaigns, the saying went something like
"change people's minds first, and then you can get the laws changed." This
was what the civil rights, human rights, women's rights, gay rights, pet
rights and all the other rights groups have done, all very successful.

But I've never heard anyone discuss "accessibility rights."

-Bevi Chagnon
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-----Original Message-----
From: <EMAIL REMOVED>
[mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> ] On Behalf Of Jennison Asuncion
Sent: Monday, August 05, 2013 3:42 PM

Bevi
Re your comment: "How do we get these corporations, both large and small, to
address accessibility?"

Perhaps this is happening behind the scenes, but it would be great to see
the national disability advocacy organizations come together and lobby the
DoJ as one voice to inspire movement.

Jennison