It is the policy of the State that persons, including those with disabilities, have equivalent access to electronic equipment and information technology. Such access applies to current and prospective employees with disabilities, as well as to citizens with disabilities who need to access State offices and public information services. The purpose of this Technology Policy is to review the underlying statutory requirements and to provide guidelines to be followed by State agencies regarding accessibility to technology for persons with disabilities.
Universal design is the responsibility of the manufacturers of hardware and software products.
State agencies should seek to incorporate the concept of Universal Design, as a framework, into all current systems where feasible, and into all new development initiatives. This policy, and associated attachments, provides an overview of ways to ensure equal access for persons with disabilities and some examples of devices and products on the market that can comprise an agency's Universal Design. Statutory Requirements Attachment A provides a description of the Federal and State legislation and regulations governing an agency's responsibility to provide access to technology for persons with disabilities. To summarize, these provisions require that employees and citizens with disabilities have reasonable access to electronic and information technology. Guidelines As a general guideline, State agencies should strive to ensure that present and potential employees, and citizens with disabilities, have access to information and data comparable to that accorded individuals who do not have disabilities.