The Board will propose standards for public comment in coming weeks. The standards, which will become part of the Federal Acquisition Regulation once finalized, will help Federal agencies determine whether or not a technology product or system is accessible. These standards will define the types of technology covered and set forth technical and functional performance criteria necessary to implement the accessibility requirements. The standards will be based on recommendations from an advisory committee the Board had established for this purpose. The Electronic and Information Technology Access Advisory Committee, which contained 27 members representing industry, various disability organizations, and other groups with an interest in the issues to be addressed, submitted its report to the Board in May 1999.
Access is addressed for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities.
The Board's standards were originally due February 7, 2000. To allow for additional time in the issuance of the standards, the Board has coordinated its efforts with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council so that the standards and the revised Federal Acquisition Regulation will be issued at the same time in August 2000. After OMB clearance, the standards will be published in the Federal Register and be made available for public comment.