U.S. Senators, including Bob Casey and John Fetterman, have introduced a bill to make federal technology more accessible for people with disabilities.
The bill, dubbed Section 508 Refresh Act, would require federal agencies to take a series of steps to ensure people with disabilities can use the federal government’s technology. In addition to the Pennsylvania Senators, Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are part of the bill.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act currently requires agencies to make federal technology accessible, however, an investigation by Casey in 2022 found that department and agency technology, particularly within the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), is out of compliance.
“The federal government has an obligation to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities, including its websites and technology,” Casey, who is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, said. “We would not ask someone using a wheelchair to walk up the courthouse steps, but we are doing something similar when we ask people with disabilities to use federal websites, apps, kiosks, and other technologies that are not accessible. I’m introducing the Section 508 Refresh Act to compel federal agencies to make their technology accessible and ensure people with disabilities are not locked out of essential government services and resources.”
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