Access Board News

As part of the Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Equity, Access & Inclusion for All Series, the Access Board will present its preliminary findings on the risks and benefits of AI for people with disabilities. The findings are based on the outcomes of three recent AI hearings held in August 2024, independent research and engagements, as well as comments received from the public. The presentation will take place virtually . . .

With great sadness, the U.S. Access Board mourns the passing of former staff member and lifelong disability advocate, Dennis Cannon. Cannon served as the Transportation Accessibility Specialist for the Access board from 1981-2010. As a long-time advocate for accessible transportation, his remarkable legacy of disability advocacy was evident in his service to the Access Board. Cannon serviced on the Passenger Vessels Access Advisory Committee, where he supported efforts for accessible guidance and inclusive design for passenger vessels . . .

This year’s annual Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) will be held virtually on November 13 and 14. IAAF will feature a mix of presenters and speakers, workshops, and discussions led by accessibility professionals in the federal, private, academic, and other sectors. Presentation topics include best practices in managing and implementing digital accessibility imperatives including Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act . . .

The U.S. Access Board is the sole Federal agency responsible for enforcing the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA), which it accomplishes by investigating complaints filed by the public. The ABA requires buildings or facilities designed, built, altered, or leased by the Federal Government, as well as certain nongovernment buildings constructed with funds from a federal grant or loan . . .

The WCAG2ICT Group Note has been a key resource for including WCAG in ICT accessibility regulation, legislation, and other standards around the world. The updated WCAG2ICT now facilitates further adoption of WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2 in non-web contexts.

On September 30, 2024, the ICT Testing Baseline Portfolio site published the new ICT Testing Baseline for Documents. This baseline establishes the minimum tests and evaluation guidance to determine if an electronic document meets Section 508 requirements. Federal agencies are encouraged to adopt this baseline when developing Section 508 conformance test processes for non-web electronic documents . . .

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the U.S. Access Board, which will be open to the public and take place virtually on October 30 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees, federal agency updates, and a report by Executive Director Sachin Pavithran. Members of the public may attend the meeting through the Zoom.gov platform or by phone (listen-only mode). Please note that . . .

On September 3, the U.S. Access Board published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA) to specifically address the accessibility of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This proposed rule provides specifications for the accessibility of EV charging stations, to include . . .

Throughout the month of August, the U.S. Access Board held a series of public hearings on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on people with disabilities. On August 8, two hearings (in the morning and afternoon) were held to hear from members of the disability community. Additionally, a panel of speakers delivered remarks on the risks, benefits, and potential of artificial intelligence with respect to accessibility . . .

On August 9, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a final rule on the accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This final rule establishes standards for MDE used by state and local government entities that are consistent with the standards issued by the Access Board on January 9, 2017. The rule adopts a 17 to 19-inch low transfer height for MDE used in the supine, prone, side-lying, and the seated position, although DOJ indicated a willingness to consider future rulemaking . . .