What is your involvement in the accessibility of government services?
Governments and their services play a critically important role in the lives of people with disabilities today. As a person with a disability, I am a lifelong advocate for the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, including physical, programmatic and electronic accessibility.
From the late 1990s when I served on the National Council on Disability, through the implementation of United States Section 508, I have been intensely involved in the movement toward e-government.
As government closes physical places of service and opens virtual ones, new technology presents new challenges to people with disabilities. Personal experience has taught me that for people with disabilities — especially those who are aging — Internet access and accessible technology is the key to an independent future. That's why, as a critical part of the government ecosystem, I've become an advocate, educator, student and disability culturist.
What do you think is driving government agencies to become accessible?
Certainly, Section 508 in the United States and similar legislation in other countries are driving accessibility regulation. Governments around the world are being challenged to make today's sophisticated Web sites more accessible and easier to use. In doing so, they must continually consider how new technology will work to meet the needs of all citizens.
I believe governments are seriously committed to providing services for the 500 million people with disabilities worldwide. Legislation and regulation were the original drivers, but we are now at the critical junction of realizing the political and economic power of people with disabilities and the market power of seniors.
What is the benefit to government in making their information technology and services accessible to both citizens and employees?
The benefits, in terms of time, cost, quality and quantity, are tremendous. The efficiencies of accessible information and services to all Internet users — especially seniors and people with disabilities-should provide a cost-efficient channel of communication and help serve and engage every citizen in more meaningful ways in their communities. From receiving public-health information and voicing concern on policy matters, to applying for licenses, paying fees and voting, our citizenry can be included more completely than ever before. Full participation for all citizens, including people with disabilities, is the vision that we all share.
What do you see as the role of private corporations in driving government IT accessibility?
Government IT accessibility is the product of technology, legislation, agency mission and heightening social consciousness and fairness concepts, combined with the ever-increasing power of exponentially — expanding technologies and services. Technological innovation will transform our governments, helping to provide more people with full and equal access to the Internet. I see private corporations providing the technological innovation to help support the mission in all aspects.