Listening Session Regarding Improving the Accessibility of Government Information, 75188-75189 [2010-30273]

Download as PDF 75188 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 231 / Thursday, December 2, 2010 / Notices The Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development shall submit to the President, no later than one year after its first meeting, a report on the performance of its functions and any proposals developed pursuant to the ‘‘six focus areas’’ identified above. The purpose of the meeting is scheduled as a full Task Force meeting. The agenda will include presentations and discussion from the Task Force Subcommittees on their progress regarding the ‘‘six focus areas’’ of the Task Force. In addition, the Task Force will allow time to obtain public comment from individuals and representatives of organizations regarding the areas of focus. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The meeting is open to the public; however, advance notice of attendance is requested. Anyone wishing to attend and/or make a presentation to the Task Force must contact Raymond B. Snyder by December 7, 2010, by e-mail in order to be placed on the agenda. Comments for the Record should be applicable to the ‘‘six focus areas’’ of the Task Force and e-mailed prior to the meeting for inclusion in the public record; verbal presentations, however, will be limited to five minutes in the interest of time and to accommodate as many presenters as possible. Written comments should be e-mailed to Raymond B. Snyder, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Veterans Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street, SW., Washington, DC 20416, e-mail address: raymond.snyder@sba.gov. Additionally, if you need accommodations because of a disability or require additional information, please contact Raymond B. Snyder, Designated Federal Official for the Task Force, at (202) 205–6773; or by e-mail at: raymond.snyder@sba.gov, SBA, Office of Veterans Business Development, 409 3rd Street, SW., Washington, DC 20416. For more information, please visit our Web site at https://www.sba.gov/vets. Dated: November 24, 2010. Dan Jones, SBA Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2010–30302 Filed 12–1–10; 8:45 am] WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 8025–01–P SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Listening Session Regarding Improving the Accessibility of Government Information U.S. Council of CIOs, SSA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:28 Dec 01, 2010 Jkt 223001 On behalf of the Accessibility Committee of the U.S. Council of CIOs 29 U.S.C. 794d. SUMMARY: This notice announces a listening session being conducted in response to a memo dated July 19, 2010, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on ‘‘Improving the Accessibility of Government Information.’’ Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d) requires Federal agencies to buy and use electronic and information technology (EIT) that is accessible. The July memo directs agencies to take stronger steps toward improving the acquisition and implementation of accessible technology. In order to better understand the needs of diverse communities and provide better solutions, the U.S. Council of CIOs, in collaboration with the Chief Acquisition Officers Council, the GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy and the U.S. Access Board, is holding the second in a series of listening sessions to engage citizens and employees in expressing concerns and proposing ideas. Persons with disabilities, their advocates, technology companies, government employees and other interested parties are invited to participate. DATES: The listening session will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Persons wishing to address the panel at the listening session can pre-register by contacting Emily Koo at (410) 965– 4472 or Innovate.Accessibility@ssa.gov. Pre-registrants will be given priority in addressing the panel in Washington, DC. Registration will also be available in person in Washington, DC on the afternoon of the listening session. Meeting Location: The listening session will be held at the Marvin Center at George Washington University, 800 21st St., Washington, DC, in the Grand Ballroom. Accommodations: The listening session will have sign language interpreters; CART (real time captioning) services, Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs), microphones and materials will be available in Braille, large print and electronic formats. The Marvin Center is wheelchair accessible. Anyone needing other accommodations should include a specific request when registering in advance. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: mailto: Emily Koo at (410) 965–4472 or Innovate.Accessibility@ssa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, open new opportunities for people with disabilities, and encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. ‘794 d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to access available to others. Effective implementation of Section 508 is an essential element of President Obama’s principles of open government, requiring that all government and data be accessible to all citizens. In order for the goal of open government to be meaningful for persons with disabilities, technology must also be accessible, including digital content. In July 2010, the OMB took steps to assure that the Federal government’s progress in implementing Section 508 is stronger and achieves results more quickly. Section 508 requires the GSA to provide technical assistance to agencies on Section 508 implementation. GSA has created a number of tools, available at https://www.Section508.gov, to help agencies to develop accessible requirements, test the acceptance process, and share lessons learned and best practices. For example: • The BuyAccessible Wizard, https:// www.buyaccessible.gov, helps build compliant requirements and solicitations; • The Quick Links site, https:// app.buyaccessible.gov/baw/ KwikLinksMain.jsp, provides prepackaged Section 508 solicitation documents; • The BuyAccessible Products and Services Directory, https:// app.buyaccessible.gov/DataCenter/ provides a registry of companies and accessibility information about their offerings; and • The Section 508 blog https:// buyaccessible.net/blog/ provides a venue where stakeholders may share ideas and success stories, or engage in conversations on improving accessibility. The OMB has directed that several actions be taken to improve 508 performance: • By Mid-January 2011, the GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy (OGP) will provide updated guidance on making government EIT accessible. This guidance will build upon existing E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 231 / Thursday, December 2, 2010 / Notices resources to address challenges, increase oversight, and reduce costs associated with acquiring and managing EIT solutions that are not accessible. • By Mid-January 2011, the GSA OGP will update its general Section 508 training to offer refreshed continuous learning modules that can be used by contracting officers, program/project managers (especially those managing IT programs), and contracting officer technical representatives (COTRs) as they fulfill their Federal Acquisition Certification requirements. • In 2010, the GSA OGP and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will issue a survey to allow agencies to assess their implementation of Section 508, including accessibility of Web sites and other technology used by the agencies. This information will be used by the DOJ in preparing its next assessment of agency compliance as required by the Rehabilitation Act. The CIOC Accessibility Committee will also use this information to identify best practices and lessons learned. • In the spring of 2011, the DOJ will issue a progress report on Federal agency compliance with Section 508, the first since 2004. Going forward, DOJ will meet its obligation to issue a report biennially. • Beginning in FY 2011, the GSA OGP will begin providing OMB a quarterly summary report containing results of Section 508 reviews of a sample of solicitations posted on FedBizOpps.gov. GSA will provide the agencies a summary of the sampling results to facilitate sharing of best practices and successes, and to address common challenges. This listening session will focus on what other steps the Federal government can take to increase the accessibility and usability of government information and data for persons with disabilities. Input is sought on the following questions: • What can technology do to improve things for people with disabilities? • What can the Federal government do to use technology better or in new ways? • What can the Federal government do to make technology more accessible? • What emerging technologies are being used by the Federal government that you are left out of? • What technologies should the Federal government use that would enhance your interactions with the Federal government? • What are State and local governments doing that the Federal government should follow? • What can the Federal government do to influence technology accessibility? VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:28 Dec 01, 2010 Jkt 223001 • From the perspective of Federal employees, how has Section 508 improved your ability to do your job? How can implementation of Section 508 be improved? • From the perspective of vendors, how can implementation of Section 508 be improved? • What could the Federal government ask that would allow vendors to better show that their products meet accessibility needs? • What improvements could be made to VPATs? • Do you believe the IT industry would benefit from a professional certification or credential that denotes a company’s expertise in accessibility? How could that be implemented and managed; and should the government play a role in making that happen? • Feedback from the listening session will be used by, and shared across, agencies to improve accessibility and usability. Karen Palm, Associate Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2010–30273 Filed 12–1–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 7244] 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form DS–3057, Medical Clearance Update, OMB 1405–0131 Notice of request for public comments. ACTION: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. • Title of Information Collection: Medical Clearance Update. • OMB Control Number: 1405–0131. • Type of Request: Extension of Currently Approved Collection. • Originating Office: Office of Medical Services, M/MED/C/MC. • Form Number: DS–3057. • Respondents: Foreign Service Officers, State Department Employees, Other Government Employees and Family Members. • Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,800 per year. • Estimated Number of Responses: 9,800 per year. • Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes per response. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 75189 • Total Estimated Burden: 4,900 hours. • Frequency: On occasion. • Obligation to Respond: Mandatory. DATES: Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for up to 30 days from December 2, 2010. ADDRESSES: Direct comments and questions to Katherine Astrich, the Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who may be reached at 202–395–4718. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: E-mail: kastrich@omb.eop.gov. You must include the DS form number, information collection title and OMB control number in the subject line of your message. Mail (paper, disk or CD–ROM submissions): Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Fax: 202– 395–6974. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including requests for copies of the proposed information collection and supporting documents, to Barbara Mahoney, Department of State, Office of Medical Clearances, SA–15 Room 400, 1800 North Kent St., Rosslyn, VA 22209. PHONE 703–875– 5413 and FAX 703–875–4850. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to: • Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of our functions. • Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. • Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. • Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of technology. Abstract of proposed collection: Form DS–3057 is designed to collect medical information to provide medical providers with current and adequate information to base decisions on whether a federal employee and family members will have sufficient medical resources at a diplomatic mission abroad to maintain the health and fitness of the individual and family members. Methodology: The information collected will be collected through the use of an E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 231 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75188-75189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30273]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Listening Session Regarding Improving the Accessibility of 
Government Information

AGENCY: U.S. Council of CIOs, SSA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    On behalf of the Accessibility Committee of the U.S. Council of 
CIOs 29 U.S.C. 794d.

SUMMARY: This notice announces a listening session being conducted in 
response to a memo dated July 19, 2010, from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) on ``Improving the Accessibility of Government 
Information.'' Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d) 
requires Federal agencies to buy and use electronic and information 
technology (EIT) that is accessible. The July memo directs agencies to 
take stronger steps toward improving the acquisition and implementation 
of accessible technology. In order to better understand the needs of 
diverse communities and provide better solutions, the U.S. Council of 
CIOs, in collaboration with the Chief Acquisition Officers Council, the 
GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy and the U.S. Access Board, is 
holding the second in a series of listening sessions to engage citizens 
and employees in expressing concerns and proposing ideas. Persons with 
disabilities, their advocates, technology companies, government 
employees and other interested parties are invited to participate.

DATES: The listening session will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 
2010, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
    Persons wishing to address the panel at the listening session can 
pre-register by contacting Emily Koo at (410) 965-4472 or 
Innovate.Accessibility@ssa.gov. Pre-registrants will be given priority 
in addressing the panel in Washington, DC. Registration will also be 
available in person in Washington, DC on the afternoon of the listening 
session.
    Meeting Location: The listening session will be held at the Marvin 
Center at George Washington University, 800 21st St., Washington, DC, 
in the Grand Ballroom.
    Accommodations: The listening session will have sign language 
interpreters; CART (real time captioning) services, Assistive Listening 
Devices (ALDs), microphones and materials will be available in Braille, 
large print and electronic formats. The Marvin Center is wheelchair 
accessible. Anyone needing other accommodations should include a 
specific request when registering in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: mailto: Emily Koo at (410) 965-4472 or 
Innovate.Accessibility@ssa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation 
Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and 
information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. 
Inaccessible technology interferes with an ability to obtain and use 
information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate 
barriers in information technology, open new opportunities for people 
with disabilities, and encourage development of technologies that will 
help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when 
they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information 
technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. `794 d), agencies must give 
disabled employees and members of the public access to information that 
is comparable to access available to others.
    Effective implementation of Section 508 is an essential element of 
President Obama's principles of open government, requiring that all 
government and data be accessible to all citizens. In order for the 
goal of open government to be meaningful for persons with disabilities, 
technology must also be accessible, including digital content. In July 
2010, the OMB took steps to assure that the Federal government's 
progress in implementing Section 508 is stronger and achieves results 
more quickly.
    Section 508 requires the GSA to provide technical assistance to 
agencies on Section 508 implementation. GSA has created a number of 
tools, available at https://www.Section508.gov, to help agencies to 
develop accessible requirements, test the acceptance process, and share 
lessons learned and best practices. For example:
     The BuyAccessible Wizard, https://www.buyaccessible.gov, 
helps build compliant requirements and solicitations;
     The Quick Links site, https://app.buyaccessible.gov/baw/KwikLinksMain.jsp, provides pre-packaged Section 508 solicitation 
documents;
     The BuyAccessible Products and Services Directory, https://app.buyaccessible.gov/DataCenter/ provides a registry of companies and 
accessibility information about their offerings; and
     The Section 508 blog https://buyaccessible.net/blog/ 
provides a venue where stakeholders may share ideas and success 
stories, or engage in conversations on improving accessibility.
    The OMB has directed that several actions be taken to improve 508 
performance:
     By Mid-January 2011, the GSA Office of Governmentwide 
Policy (OGP) will provide updated guidance on making government EIT 
accessible. This guidance will build upon existing

[[Page 75189]]

resources to address challenges, increase oversight, and reduce costs 
associated with acquiring and managing EIT solutions that are not 
accessible.
     By Mid-January 2011, the GSA OGP will update its general 
Section 508 training to offer refreshed continuous learning modules 
that can be used by contracting officers, program/project managers 
(especially those managing IT programs), and contracting officer 
technical representatives (COTRs) as they fulfill their Federal 
Acquisition Certification requirements.
     In 2010, the GSA OGP and the Department of Justice (DOJ) 
will issue a survey to allow agencies to assess their implementation of 
Section 508, including accessibility of Web sites and other technology 
used by the agencies. This information will be used by the DOJ in 
preparing its next assessment of agency compliance as required by the 
Rehabilitation Act. The CIOC Accessibility Committee will also use this 
information to identify best practices and lessons learned.
     In the spring of 2011, the DOJ will issue a progress 
report on Federal agency compliance with Section 508, the first since 
2004. Going forward, DOJ will meet its obligation to issue a report 
biennially.
     Beginning in FY 2011, the GSA OGP will begin providing OMB 
a quarterly summary report containing results of Section 508 reviews of 
a sample of solicitations posted on FedBizOpps.gov. GSA will provide 
the agencies a summary of the sampling results to facilitate sharing of 
best practices and successes, and to address common challenges.
    This listening session will focus on what other steps the Federal 
government can take to increase the accessibility and usability of 
government information and data for persons with disabilities. Input is 
sought on the following questions:
     What can technology do to improve things for people with 
disabilities?
     What can the Federal government do to use technology 
better or in new ways?
     What can the Federal government do to make technology more 
accessible?
     What emerging technologies are being used by the Federal 
government that you are left out of?
     What technologies should the Federal government use that 
would enhance your interactions with the Federal government?
     What are State and local governments doing that the 
Federal government should follow?
     What can the Federal government do to influence technology 
accessibility?
     From the perspective of Federal employees, how has Section 
508 improved your ability to do your job? How can implementation of 
Section 508 be improved?
     From the perspective of vendors, how can implementation of 
Section 508 be improved?
     What could the Federal government ask that would allow 
vendors to better show that their products meet accessibility needs?
     What improvements could be made to VPATs?
     Do you believe the IT industry would benefit from a 
professional certification or credential that denotes a company's 
expertise in accessibility? How could that be implemented and managed; 
and should the government play a role in making that happen?
     Feedback from the listening session will be used by, and 
shared across, agencies to improve accessibility and usability.

Karen Palm,
Associate Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2010-30273 Filed 12-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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