Gary Morin   •   over 12 years ago

Inclusion and Accessibility/Usability

I'm glad to see that Accessibility (Section 508-conformance) is included in the rules, but it's not a part of the judging criteria, which means it really doesn't have to be considered.  If HHS is as committed to persons with disabilities as it claims it is and as it should be, no activity or publication should be supported if it's not available for and accessible to everyone.  It's time for the Secretary and her Senior Staff to make a commitment and to demand that their subordinate staff, at all levels, integrate accessibility and Section 508 from the moment of inception of any project, and not to continue to leave it until it's, at best, an after thought.  Non-compliance with Section 508 should be an automatic point of disqualification.