Although our efforts to update and modernize the Code of Virginia, namely Chapter 35 – Information Technology Access Act during last year’s general assembly session did not come to fruition, our efforts are only stronger this year.
This effort is being undertaken by the following members of the VHEAP Legislative & Governance Committee:
- Korey Singleton – GMU (Lead)
- Lori Kressin – Univ of Virginia
- Barbara Zunder – Univ of Virginia
- Mark Nichols – Virginia Tech
- Jason Heron – Virginia Tech
Once again Delegate Kathy Tran is the patron for this bill. As our conversations begin with several stake holders, we will keep you informed of the progress and what you can do to help move this effort forward.
In short, we hope to:
- Bring public elementary and secondary schools under the current Information Technology Access Act, thereby negating the requirement of a new law
- Establish Section 508 as the baseline technical standard, thus broadening the law from non-visual access only to include all disabilities
- Each entity will be required to designate a Digital Accessibility Coordinator
- Define an implementation strategy for entities to increase their level of digital accessibility
- Bring in a level of accountability