Departmental ADA Coordinators’ Academy

Session I – March 10, 2015Disability Access in a Technology Savvy EnvironmentPresented by the San Francisco Mayor’s Office on Disability

Today’s Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how technological advances can promote communication access to people with disabilities.

2. Learn about a variety of communication options that ensure your Department’s compliance with ADA requirements.

3. Discuss accessible information technology (IT) and how it interacts with assistive technology (AT).

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Communication Access & Technology

• The City has an obligation to provide access to the same information for people with disabilities as quickly and effectively as it does for the general public.

• Through the use of mobile technologies, social networking and the web, we conduct business quickly and on a 24-hour basis.

• Technological advancements have provided greater access for people with disabilities.

• At the same time, when technology is not applied appropriately, it can create additional access barriers.

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Tech Advancements Enhancing Communication Access

Assistive Listening Devices

CART and Captioning

Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)

Assistive technology (AT) software (e.g. voice-to-text, text-to-voice)

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Assistive Listening Devices (ALD)

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) or also known as Assistive Listening Systems (ALSs) are amplifiers that bring sound directly into the ear. They separate the sounds, particularly speech, that a person wants to hear from background noise.Typically used as an auxiliary aid for a person who is

hard of hearing. Types of Assistive Listening Devices: FM (Frequency- Modulated System)InfraredInduction Loop

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CART and Captioning

Effective communication services for people who are hard of hearing and deaf are:Computer Aided Real-time Translation

(CART) which is also referred to as Real-Time Captioning

Open and Closed Captions via Television or World Wide Web

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What Is Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)?A system that uses videoconferencing

technology equipment, and a high speed Internet connection to provide qualified interpreting services when a in-person interpreter is not available.

Just-in-time access to an interpreter for a Deaf person is not a luxury, it’s a civil right.

VRI should NOT replace an in-person interpreter for longer and more complex conversations!

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Susan Morgan, LanguageLine SolutionsVRI Demonstration

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AT & IT… What Does It All Mean?

Assistive technology (AT) refers to items or software people with disabilities use to access electronic information or accomplish tasks. AT may include, switches, pointers, or special software such as text to speech or speech to text.Accessible information technology (IT) refers to

electronics and infrastructure that is used to access information. Accessible IT may include telephones, fax machines, copiers and website architecture.

Remember that accessible IT makes AT usable!9

AT or IT?

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Making Choices about Providing Communication AccessUNDERSTAND the communication need:

• Deaf or deaf• Hard-of-hearing• Blind or legally blind• Visually impaired

KNOW the communication method:

• ALD, CART• Hand written notes• Sign language

interpreter• Braille• Audio, Jaws, ZoomText

11ALL of  the above can be used to provide access, but it must be effective!

Communication Access Federal Laws

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act

508 of the Rehabilitation Act

Who does it apply to? State and Local Governments and their contracted agencies

Federal Departments and Agencies; States which receive Federal funds under the Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988

What does it require? Must ensure that communications with people with disabilities are as effective as communication with others through the use of auxiliary aids and services or assistive technology.

Must develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, and ensure that it is accessible to people with disabilities

Who is covered? Members of the public who are individuals with disabilities

Federal employees and members of the public who have disabilities must have access to and use of information and services that is comparable to the access and use available to non-disabled Federal employees and members of the public.

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CCSF Effective Communication Resolutions and Ordinances

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Resolution #2005-1 Mayor’s Disability Council (MDC) Resolution for the Adoption of DTIS Web Site Accessibility Initiative• January 21, 2005 – Adopted by the Mayor’s Disability Council• March 22, 2005 – Adopted by the City’s Board of Supervisors

Ordinance Requiring Activation of Closed Captioning on Televisions in Public Areas• ORDINANCE NO. 111-08 Passed by the City’s Board of Supervisors on June 24, 2008

• Authorized SF Police to impose civil penalties and/or criminal fines for violations of this requirement

Ordinance Requiring Captions During Video Events; includes events in park, open space, zoo, or other outdoor recreation area • ORDINANCE NO. 284-08 Passed by the City’s Board of Supervisors on November 25,

2008 • Authorized SF Police to impose civil penalties and/or criminal fines for violations of this requirement

508 Standards: Not Just for Feds!Under the ADA, Title II must not be interpreted to

provide a lower benefit to individuals with disabilities than what is provided under the Rehabilitation Act.

Section 508 or W3C standards are the best practice to provide access to Information Technology for people with disabilities.

They apply to office equipment, Web applications, Web pages and all attached files on the intranet and Internet.

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Marco Bruno & Cristina Lutz-HatfieldCCSF Department of Technology

Section 508 Standards15

Basic Elements of 508 Standards

• Text Alternatives for Images• Multimedia• Adaptable Content• Image Maps• Tables• Flicker, Timed Responses & Forms• Frames & Navigation• Text-only pages, Scripts & Plug-Ins• Accessible PDF Content• Accessibility Evaluation Tools

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Thank You!For more questions & information contact:

Joanna Fraguli, Deputy Director for Programmatic Access Tel:  415.554.6750 or Joanna.Fraguli@sfgov.org

Heather Kittel, ADA Grievance & Intake Coordinator Tel:  415.554.6060 or Heather.Kittel@sfgov.org

Donna Adkins, Programmatic Access SpecialistTel. 415.554.6703 or Donna.Adkins@sfgov.org

Christina Lutz‐Hatfield, Department of Technologywebmaster@sfgov.org

Susan Morgan, Strategic Account Executive, Language Line SolutionsTel. 831.648.5556 or smorgan@languageline.com

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San Francisco Mayor's Office on Disability  www.sfgov.org/mod