U.S. Department of Education Assistive Technology Program

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U.S. Department of Education Assistive
TechnologyProgram
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Mission

• To ensure equal access through the appropriate
  use of information technology

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Assistive Technology Program

• Needs assessments
• Technical support and training
• Software accessibility reviews
• Assistive technology demonstrations
• Accessible software consultation
• Accessible web site design consultation
• Participation on committees on disability and
  access issues

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Program Requirements

• Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation
• Accessible EIT Policy
• Standards
• Federal Accessibility Standard
• Resources
• Technical Staff
• Technology
• Budget

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History Requirements for Accessible EIT Design

• Vendors wanted to know what was expected
• There were no existing government standards
• We developed our own ( Requirements for
  Accessible Software EIT Design)
• Functional specifications (focused on outcome,
  not method)
• Federal Accessibility Standard (508) integrated

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How ED Uses the Requirements for Accessible EIT
Design

• Software accessibility reviews
• Standard language for software development
  contract
• As guidance for commercial off- the-shelf
  software purchases

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Needs Assessments

• Determine customers barriers to access, and
  recommend assistive technology solutions

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Technical Support

• Provide ongoing support for assistive technology
  installation and use

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Training

• Group and desk-side training for assistive
  technologies and department information systems

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Assistive Technology Demonstration Center

• Demonstrate assistive technology to department
  employees, managers, customers and vendors.
• Provides opportunity to try technology (s) before
  acquiring/using.

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Software Accessibility Reviews

• Use the Requirements for Accessible EIT Design
  as review criteria

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Assistive Technology Demonstration Center

• Open to ED employees, customers, other Federal
  agencies, and public

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General Accessibility Web Links

• www.access-board.gov ltncam.org/webaccess/armgt
• www.disability.gov ltw3.org/waigt
• www.usdoj.gov/crt/508 ltcast.org/bobbygt
• www.usability.gov ltanybrowser.org/gt
• ltusablenet.comgt lthtmlhelp.comgt
• ltwebable.comgt ltaware.hwg.orggt
• ltwebable.comgt
• lttrace.wisc.edu/world/webgt
• ltdelorie.com/web/lynxview.htmlgt
• ltastro.temple.edu/kasdaygt

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• Questions?

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Assistive Technology TeamContact Information

• Central Number [phone]
• TTY (202)-401-8510
• FAX [phone]
• Team E-mail
  OCIO.AT.Team_at_ed.gov
• Bruce Bailey [phone]
  bruce.bailey_at_ed.gov
• Don Barrett [phone]
  don.barrett_at_ed.gov
• Maria Bryant [phone]
  maria.bryant_at_ed.gov
• John Eccles [phone]
  john.eccles_at_ed.gov
• Alex Koudry [phone]
  alex.koudry_at_ed.gov
• Joe Tozzi [phone]
  joe.tozzi_at_ed.gov