General E-Bulletin - November 2004

From the Department of Justice . . . . .

Civil Rights Division Commemorates 100th Agreement Milestone for Project Civic Action

Did you know that there are more than 50 million people with disabilities in the United States? And that they have $175 billion in discretionary spending power? In 2003 they spent $35 billion in restaurants nationally and spent an additional $3.6 billion on a combination of work and leisure travel?

This message is part of the Department’s ADA Business Connection, an initiative aimed at educating the American business community about the enormous business opportunities presented by people with disabilities. Under the leadership of R. Alexander Acosta, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, the initiative seeks to improve access to goods and services for people with disabilities and to promote the benefits of voluntary compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for businesses and customers alike.

The central piece of this multi-faceted initiative is a series of highly visible conferences held in cities around the country. These meetings, hosted by Assistant Attorney General Acosta, bring together local leaders from corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, trade associations, and organizations of people with disabilities to discuss issues and establish ongoing connections. They serve as a forum for initiating dialogue, gaining better understanding of customers’ and employees’ needs, and building working relationships between the business and disability communities at the local level.

Speakers representing businesses and disability organizations have discussed the advantages of offering accessible products and services, providing staff training, hiring employees with disabilities, and honing effective marketing techniques. These presentations spark lively discussions among participants. Business leaders benefit from discovering the opportunities presented by customers and employees with disabilities and develop contacts for continuing the discussions or collaborating in the future. Since inception of the program in January 2001, nine meetings have been held in Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

From the Access Board . . . . .

Access Provisions Take Effect for Federal Info Technology
Board Issues New On-line Guide to the Section 508 Standards

On June 25, 2001, accessibility requirements for Federal electronic and information technology took effect under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This law requires that such technology be accessible according to standards developed by the Access Board, which are now part of the Federal government’s procurement regulations. These standards, as issued by the Board last December, cover a variety of products, including computer hardware and software, Web sites, phone systems, fax machines, copiers, and similar technologies. Provisions in the standards spell out what makes these products accessible to people with disabilities, including those with vision, hearing, and mobility impairments. The Board included both technical criteria specific to various types of technologies and performance-based requirements, which focus on a product’s functional capabilities. The Board is developing new on-line guides to the standards.

From the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) . . . . .

The EEOC has posted the document, “How to Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guide for Restaurants and Other Food Service Employers” online.

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contact us: DBTAC Southwest ADA Center
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