What is accessible information technology?

Accessible information technology is technology that can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. Each user is able to interact with the technology in ways that work best for him or her. Accessible technology is either directly accessible-in other words, it is usable without assistive technology-or it is compatible with standard assistive technology. Just as buildings that have ramps and elevators are accessible to wheelchair users, products that adhere to accessible design principles are usable by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.

Examples of accessible electronic and information technology:

• Accessible software applications may include features specifically designed for users with disabilities. However, they always give users more than one way of accomplishing a task. They use established standards for displaying menus and prompts that can be interpreted by assistive technology. They allow users to use the mouse alone, the keyboard alone, or a combination of the two. They rely on more than color to convey information. Installation instructions, user guides, and other documentation are available in alternate formats, such as large print, Braille, and electronic text.
• Accessible multimedia products, which may be distributed on videotapes, CDs, DVDs, or the World Wide Web, include synchronized text captions for spoken information and other audio content and provide synchronized audio descriptions for visual content. They offer more than one way to input commands or respond to prompts. For example, captions may be provided in addition to spoken instructions to allow children with hearing impairments who can read to participate. Providing keyboard commands for all functions of the software allows children with visual impairments to participate. Captioning and alternative ways of navigating can make a big difference in the ability of students with disabilities to use these technologies independently. Descriptive narration and audio navigation (talking menus) are also essential in order for those with vision impairments to access videos and DVDs independently.
• Accessible websites are designed to be usable by individuals with a broad range of abilities and disabilities; they are designed so that all visitors can navigate the site, access content, and participate in interactive web activities. Accessible web sites provide a text equivalent (typically a description) for all nontext elements, such as audio, video, graphics, animation, graphical buttons, and image maps. This allows those who cannot see the screen to access the information with a screen reader that can read the description of a picture but cannot “read” the picture.
• Accessible copy machines can be operated in more than one way using keypads, touch screens, or voice recognition. Height and position can be adjusted so that controls are within easy reach and the display can be viewed easily. Document feeders are located at desk height, putting them within reach.

Dispute & Mediation Employment Laws & Regulations Update: 10 Reasons to Mediate 

The below video link introduces businesses to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) National Mediation Program. Mediation is an alternative to traditional EEOC investigations that helps to resolve disputes quickly and easily. 

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/mediation/10reasons.cfm 

Source: disability.gov 

---

Workplace Accommodations for Employers Update: Job Accommodations for People with Voice DisordersBelow fact sheet from the Job Accommodation Network gives a brief overview of some of the accommodations that might be useful for people with voice disorders in the workplace. These include interviewing job candidates in a quiet room and avoiding trying to complete words or sentences for the individual. 

http://www.disability.gov/clickTrack/confirm/13745937?external=false&parentFolderId=7135&linkId=361297 

Source: disability.gov

Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to Spend Millions to Reduce Commuter Train Emissions in Clean Air Act Settlement

WASHINGTON – In response to a federal enforcement action for excessive train engine idling, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR) will spend more than $2 million to reduce diesel locomotive emissions throughout the MBTA’s commuter rail system, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.   Under a consent decree lodged in federal court, MBTA and MBCR will spend over $1 million on anti-idling equipment at all end-of-line stations and maintenance facilities, and will spend another $1 million on ultra-clean diesel fuel for all trains in the commuter rail system for two years.

           These emission-reducing measures are the result of a federal enforcement action brought by the Justice Department on behalf of EPA in response to MBTA’s and MBCR’s excessive locomotive idling at the Widett Circle layover facility in South Boston and the Greenbush line station in Scituate, Mass.   Neighboring residents have complained of excessive train idling at both locations.  

 To settle the enforcement action, MBTA and MBCR will:

•  Install or upgrade electric plug-in stations as anti-idling equipment to supply all commuter locomotives with electric auxiliary power to prevent excess idling during train layovers;
• Switch to cleaner burning, ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel for all trains on the MBTA’s commuter rail lines for a two year period at an estimated cost of $1 million;
• Install new, less polluting auxiliary engines on fourteen commuter locomotives by no later than December 2012; and
• Pay a $225,000 fine.

The anti-idling measures, clean diesel fuel switch and new auxiliary engines required by the federal settlement will have significant clean air benefits.   For example, a reduction in commuter locomotive idling by even one hour per day per locomotive, together with the fuel switch and new engines, could result in yearly carbon dioxide emission reductions of an estimated 800 tons, nitrogen oxides reductions of nearly 170 tons, carbon monoxide reductions of about 80 tons, particulate reductions of 23 tons, and sulfur dioxide reductions of 1-2 tons.     

 MBTA owns 80 commuter locomotives used on 13 commuter rail routes in Eastern Massachusetts.   Since 2003, MBCR has managed and operated the commuter train system for the MBTA.   The system includes 14 layover facilities where the locomotives and passenger cars are parked and serviced between runs.   Electric plug-in stations at these facilities supply the trains with electric power for lights and ventilation.   If a plug-in is not available, a train on layover idles its auxiliary diesel engine to supply any needed electric power.  

 Under today’s settlement, which must be approved by the court, commuter train layovers will only be allowed at locations where there are sufficient electric plug-in stations for all trains.  

The Massachusetts locomotive idling regulation, a federally-enforceable state regulation, prohibits all unnecessary diesel locomotive idling for more than 30 minutes.   According to a 2008 notice of violation issued by EPA, MBTA and MBCR committed 33 violations of this regulation at Widett Circle and Greenbush in three months.   At Widett, the average idling time during the violations was just under four hours (234 minutes).  

“This precedent-setting, multi-million dollar settlement for train idling is appropriate in light of the defendants’ conduct,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.   “The settlement will provide immediate and lasting environmental benefits to the residents of Eastern Massachusetts, particularly those in environmental justice communities.”

           “It is imperative that anti-idling laws are followed, given the proximity of these layover facilities to densely-populated communities and environmental justice neighborhoods,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office.   “Diesel pollution can be very harmful, especially to sensitive populations such as the young, elderly and people who suffer from asthma.”

 Diesel emissions contribute to a number of serious air pollution problems such as smog, acid rain and increased carbon concentrations in the atmosphere.   Diesel exhaust contains fine particles that can cause lung damage and aggravate respiratory conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis.   Based upon human and laboratory studies, there is also considerable evidence that diesel exhaust is a likely carcinogen.

 Since 2002, EPA has brought more than a dozen federal enforcement cases to stop diesel engine idling violations in Mass., Conn. and R.I.   Most of the cases have involved diesel truck and bus idling, including a judicial settlement announced in July 2010 against National Car Rental for shuttle bus idling at two airports.   Only Massachusetts and Rhode Island have federally-enforceable locomotive idling regulations, and today’s action marks the first time EPA and DOJ have sued a railroad for excessive idling violations.

 The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court, will be subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.  Once it is published in the Federal Register, a copy of the consent decree and instructions on how to comment will be available on the Justice Department Web site at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

 Diesel exhaust and anti-idling guidelines ( www.epa.gov/ne/eco/diesel )

Some words disapear

We do not today talk about the Edsel car or use many other words. We ask those who promote their business or create an ad to please consider cripple or handicap words that have gone the way of the Edsel car.

To see a ad that talks about a business whose product  is handicap accessible makes no sense, as long as it is accessible is does serve persons with a disability. To be asked what do you call a child who uses a wheel chair and has to have a person with him when mentioned that was a child with a disability seemed quite surprised.

 

Please take a minute and look at this chart.

 

PREFERRED TERMS

BELOW ARE THE  POLITE WAYS OF TALKING ABOUT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY

 

Please use                                          Please do not use
____________                                                _______________________

Person with a disability                            Handicapped, crippled,

                                                                                  Disabled, victim.

                                                                                  Suffers a disability, lame,

                                                                                   deformed

He is intellectually and

devolpmentally disabled                          He’s retarded

He has autism, diabetes                           He’s Autistic, He’s diabetic

He has a learning disability                     He’s learning disabled

She has a physical disability                   She’s crippled

He’s short or a person

of short stature                                              He’s a dwarf (or midget)

She has an emotional disability              She’s emotionally     

                                                                                        disturbed 

He uses a wheelchair                               He’s wheelchair bound or
                                                                                wheelchair bound

                                                                                Confined  to a wheelchair 

She has a need for                                     she has a problem with

Accessible parking/bathrooms       handicapped   parking/bathrooms      

Person who is blind                                 The blind woman

Person with mental illness                     Crazy

Person who is deaf or person                Deaf and dumb, suffers a hearing

With a hearing loss                                     loss 

    

Remarks from Marca Bristo at the White House Celebration commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the ADA

By Lead On: Chronicling the work of Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago