IT Accessibility Review

Volume 1, Number 1

Fast Accessibility Facts

Accessible Technology is Currently Under-Utilized

Accessible technology is currently under-utilized-- there is widespread awareness, but only modest use of accessible technology.

• 44% of computer users with mild or severe difficulties/impairments use accessible technology; however, 57% can benefit from the available technology.
• Only 24% of computer users with severe difficulties/impairments are using the assistive technology products they need to make computing effective.
• 35% of computer users with severe difficulties/impairments reported that they didn´t know if there were additional assistive technologies that would enhance their use of computers.
• 33% of computer users rely on friends and family to help them find the assistive technology products they need.

Computer users with severe difficulties/impairments report lower computer confidence and experience-- these are barriers to finding and using assistive technology products.

Couresty of a new report entitled, "Accessible Technology in Computing-Examining Awareness, Use, and Future Potential," published by Microsoft and Forrester Research.

To view the entire report, visit the Microsoft website at:
www.microsoft.com/enable/research/.

U.S. Department of Justice Releases Results on Section 508 Survey

The U.S. Department of Justice recently released a report entitled, "Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Accessibility for People with Disabilities in the Information Age (Results of 2001 Survey)." Some of the conclusions from the report are as follows:

1. Website problems, such as the absence of ALT tags for graphic images, can be easily redesigned.
2. Interactive voice-response systems, accessed through a Relay Service, can require repeated calling for proper use;
3. ITMs pose barriers to individuals with disabilities who use wheelchairs if controls are placed too high, and "[b]lind users may not be able to determine the function of the keys or the visual display on the screen."

In addition to those findings, the report also offers solutions, which include the following:

1. Offering challenge grants to create incentives to improve accessibility of modern technologies;
2. Creating an informal complaint resolution process;
3. Making the complaint process well-known;
4. Training employees to use relay services, TTYs, and other options for communicating with deaf users;
5. Including TTY lines for high volume call lines;
6. Ensuring compatibility with TTY lines;
7. Ensuring that ITM´s procured after June 21, 2001, conform to Section 508 standards.

To read the entire Section 508 survey report, go to:
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/report2/.

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