IT Accessibility Review
Volume 1, Number 6
State of the States
Governor Warner Announces Effort to Link Virginians with Hearing and Speech Difficulties to Businesses
Governor Mark R. Warner (VA) today announced the launch of Virginia Relay Partner, a statewide program that connects registered businesses with a largely untapped customer base - Virginians with hearing or speech difficulties who use relay telephone technology.
To read this article:
http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2005/Apr05/0426.htm
Perry: World Congress on Information and Technology Event Highlights Need for Emerging Technology Fund in Texas
Gov. Rick Perry (TX) today highlighted the need for passage of the Emerging Technology Fund at a meeting of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance. Perry proposed the Emerging Technology Fund as a means to foster greater innovation and increase public-private partnerships in the emerging technology fields.
To read this article:
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2005-05-04.0530
2005 -- State Access Initiatives
As election officials move into 2005 and start to look at "next steps" with respect to addressing access issues for voters with disabilities, several states continue to move forward with exciting new initiatives. Other states continue to encounter barriers and are just now starting to address access issues.
Iowa has moved forward on polling place accessibility and now has created Grant Forms for Polling Place Improvements to allow local counties to receive funds to address issues. Other materials available on the state HAVA page include letters to auditors on these issues, a grant overview and more.
Washington has also moved to the forefront on these access issues. Even with pending legislation on possible vote by mail, the state has identified accessibility barriers and is now providing officials with detailed grant information and other information on polling place accessibility.
New Hampshire has always been a progressive state on accessibility issues. The state has distributed funds to local officials for polling place access improvements and now has created a New Hampshire Video on Accessible Polling Places to overview barriers voters may encounter.
Indiana has historically been a great leader on polling place access initiatives through extensive statewide surveys and the state´s Count Us IN Project. Now, Indiana is taking the "next steps" and is planning a statewide purchase of certain accessibility equipment to be distributed to county election officials. See Indiana Polling Place Improvement Form for more information.
Other states profiled in the last issue remain leaders. New Jersey Director of Elections Ramon DeLaCruz has followed up on his successful polling place accessibility workshop by providing over 600 local and county election officials with survey tools to evaluate their polling places. The state will soon have available a grant application and reimbursement form. Also, check out their resource guide of accessible materials.
Likewise, Ohio continues to work hard as well. Grant forms will soon be available, and the local Accessibility newsletter educates Ohio officials on these requirements.
But in other states, problems have not yet been solved.
New York has suffered from well-known problems with getting HAVA-enabling legislation passed. Not surprisingly, accessibility to the electoral process remains a serious concern in the state and officials are running into problems when schools cannot be used for polling places. In fact, a state Independent Living Council released a March 1, 2005 report outlining these barriers.
Missouri is also addressing Polling Place Access Barriers. However, despite the barriers identified in this story, the Secretary of State´s office is moving forward with initiatives in 2005 to address some of these issues.
2005 remains an important year on all accessibility initiatives with HAVA´s January 1, 2006 accessible machine requirement (as well as possible polling place access requirements) looming and additional funding available.
Source:
HAVAccess, www.inclusionsolutions.com
