Arkansas

• Nonvisual Standards for Arkansas
• Act 1227 Legislation

The project assisted in providing web accessibility resources to the state in the state's review of making the state system of web sites accessible. Under the initiative, passed on July 26, 2000, state agencies having a presence on the state's website, ConneCT, will incorporate the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 1.0, which are among the most stringent accessibility standards available today. The new policy takes effect July 26, 2000, the tenth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act." The goal is for full accessibility to be met within 18 months. The bulk of the credit must go to Kathleen Anderson, Webmaster at the Comptroller's Office who chaired the sub-committee. The web site address for the CMAC Accessibility Subcommittee is: http://www.cmac.state.ct.us/access/; the current link to the State policy is: http://www.cmac.state.ct.us/access/policies/accesspolicy40.html

In a May 2002 notice to consultants, the state's Department of Information Technology announced that all consultants will be required to take website accessibility training "in accordance with the state guidelines for achieving universal accessibility." The guidelines will be used in the creation of any state website. The directive includes all consultants currently under contract with the state who work in a number of areas, including Internet management and development; design; application server administration; Internet graphics; and as webmasters. See the complete article.

Kentucky

The Kentucky Assistive Technology Services Network (KATS) helped to successfully pass an "Information Technology" Bill through an amendment to SB 315, a larger bill to create the Governor's Office of Technology.

The amendment requires state and state-assisted entities to insure that information technology equipment and software used by the entity provide access to individuals who are blind or visually impaired and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The amendment requires technology access clauses in contracts for the purchase of information technology; requires the state Finance and Administration Cabinet to develop the contractual language and non-visual access standards; establishes that existing equipment when upgraded be brought into compliance and would permit a person injured by a violation of access requirements to seek injunctive relief. The bill with the amendment was signed by Kentucky's Governor, Paul Patton in April.
http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/record/00rs/SB315.htm

Missouri

Accessibility of Information Technology Assured through New Legislation:
A bill that requires the Missouri Assistive Technology Council and the Offices of Information Technology to assure state compliance with federal laws regarding accessibility of information technology for individuals with disabilities was passed during this session of the Missouri legislature. Under this bill, state agencies, when developing, procuring, maintaining, or using information technology, must assure that individuals with disabilities are provided with the same level of access as persons without disabilities. Furthermore, the Assistive Technology Council and the Office of Information Technology must adopt accessibility standards and review procedures, as well as develop training and technical assistance provisions.

North Carolina

The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 866, "An Act to Make Changes to the Persons with Disabilities Protection Act", which guarantees the right of persons with disabilities in accessing electronic information, including websites, computers in public libraries, etc. The bill requires compliance by municipalities, counties, community colleges, universities and any agencies in state government. Now they must make electronic media accessible. Senators Brad Miller, Bill Martin and Tony Rand introduced the bill, at the request of the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities (GACPD). The council is the protection and advocacy organization for North Carolina; it has counterparts in every state, mandated by federal law. GACPD has responsibility for protecting the rights of all persons in North Carolina with disabilities.

North Dakota

The state put together a small workgroup to address website accessibility and the North Dakota Interagency Program for Assistive Technology has worked with this workgroup to expand the focus of that work group to include all IT. On September 25, 2001, South Dakota issued its website accessibility policy.

Pennsylvania

As of September 2000, the Pennsylvania Office of Information Technology Policy Bulletin has announced that all Pennsylvania state inter- and intra-net sites are expected to comply with Section 508 by 6/30/01.

According to the Pennsylvania Initiative for Assistive Technology project director, Amy Goldman, "I believe these are very strong, and are written in an informational way, as well. We are especially delighted with the leading role of our staff, Len Kasday."

Texas

The associated guidelines for state websites

Special section on accessibility Note: This section also includes extracts from the Texas Legislation.

Texas rules on State Web Sites and accessibility The rule was proposed in September 1999. See the meeting notes from September 1999 and were adopted and published in the Texas Register on March 31, 2000.

Texas was also selected for a NASIRE award in the area of accessibility. Summary: Legislative and agency initiatives ensure that information technology systems are accessible to all employees and that the public can access government information and services on the World Wide Web. Summary of all nine (9) states nominated for NASIRE Accessibility Awards.

West Virginia

In 2001, West Virginia passed SB 476 in the legislature. Other advocacy groups in West Virginia plan to broaden the language of the IT Access Act to include other disabilities.

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