From: empower@smart.net
Subject: NFB written testimony for Senate hearing on assistive tech
  Take for example the creation of a public service such as
  America's Job Bank on the Internet. According to one person who
  was candid enough to say it this way, disability (not to mention
  blindness) did not even make their radar screen. That was the case
  until Secretary Reich appeared before an audience at Gallaudet
  University in October, 1996, and committed his Department to a
  one-stop service delivery system that is fully accessible to all
  with state-of-the-art technology. Jobliner is at least one result
  of that commitment.
  Could the presentation of information in electronic forms be
  generally accessible to persons who cannot see? With the
  experience we have had in creating products such as Newsliner and
  Jobliner, my answer would be not just "yes," but emphatically
  "yes." In my opinion this will not be done, however, until the
  prominent leaders in technology today make the commitment such as
  Secretary Reich did. Then, having made the commitment, they must
  back it up with the resources needed so that universal access
  becomes a corporate priority.
  The challenge of getting to that point is substantial but not
  beyond our reach. The challenge is substantial because
  developments in technology are largely being driven by the goal of
  beating the competition to the market. Therefore, since most
  consumers can see and respond to visual cues, visual display
  technology has top priority in product design. Alternative access
  for nonvisual use may be considered at some point, but usually (if
  ever) as an afterthought.
  This will continue to be the case until the leaders in technology
  development are compelled to include nonvisual access features in
  the design of new products from the beginning. I use the term
  "compelled" advisedly, because designing alternative access
  features competes with the need to sell and invent more products.
  That's what technology companies are all about.
  If it would ever be possible to concentrate the total resources
  which blind people can bring to the table in buying information
  technology, the combined purchasing power would be insignificant
  to a company of the size of Microsoft or other major leaders.
  However, the combined strength of governmental entities is not
  insignificant in this market.
  Also, it is reasonable to expect governmental entities to insist
  upon having nonvisual and other universal design features included
  in the information technology which they buy. This is reasonable
  because of the use of public funds. Therefore, laws, such as the
  proposed revisions to section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act must
  be passed, although the loopholes should be closed and the
  language should be stronger.
  States, too, should commit themselves to procurement of
  information technology which must include nonvisual and other
  universal access features in the design. Acceptance of funds under
  the Tech Act should also mean that the state will join the effort
  to put such procurement requirements in place.
  Returning to my statement about the observable trend in
  information technology, the consequences of failing to plan for
  universal design are really quite frightening. Just consider the
  challenge still being met in our society to overcome barriers to
  persons with disabilities that were caused in the design of the
  physical environment. Dealing with situations such as this is
  always far more expensive and often less effective than
  anticipating the problem and solving it before the fact.
  In the case of our evolving technology, Mr. Chairman, the chance
  to plan for universal use still exists, and there is hope. That
  hope will die, however, unless there is a genuine national
  commitment to access which is backed by government and joined by
  the industry and consumers. Creating the leadership needed to
  support and fulfill this commitment must be a goal which the
  technology assistance program both expresses and embraces.
  In fact, I would say that the expression and enforcement of a
  commitment to access ought to be the central purpose of the
  amendments presented and passed this year.
  On behalf of the National Federation of the Blind, I thank you.
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