Government hears testimony on accessibility.
US Access Board in the area to hear from people with disabilities.
(BOULDER) The U.S. Access Board held a day-long series of meetings at the Westin Westminster Tuesday, July 24th. Known mostly for creation of accessibility regulations for people with disabilities, the Board heard testimony on voting equipment, acoustics and outdoor development.
David Bolin, Executive Director of the Center for People With Disabilities in Boulder took the opportunity to request that the Access Board make an effort to create accessible design specifications for parking meters and parking kiosks. An accommodation of just not paying for metered parking is simply not an equal accommodation for people with disabilities.
“I ask that you make some consideration around parking meters and for cities who are using parking kiosks, that those kiosks are accessible to people who are using wheelchairs,” he said.
Faith Gross of the Legal Center for People With Disabilities testified that printed voter verification must be considerate of people with low-vision and should have a larger-font or an option for a larger, more readable, font.
In the afternoon from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm the Access Board held a hearing on proposed accessibility guidelines for outdoor developed areas like parks, picnic areas, campgrounds and trails. Members of the public were encouraged to comment on the proposed guidelines.
The Access Board is an independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. The Board develops and maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for electronic and information technology. It also provides technical assistance and training on these requirements and on accessible design and continues to enforce accessibility standards that cover federally funded facilities.
The Board is structured to function as a coordinating body among Federal agencies and to directly represent the public, particularly people with disabilities. Half of its members are representatives from most of the Federal departments. The other half is comprised of members of the public appointed by the President, a majority of who must have a disability.
