The council is required to work with the Office of Information Technology to assure that all technology information is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Not available at time of printing. Supporters say that this bill will help blind persons become productive citizens. Blind people are unable to use windows technology because icons are hard to read. Most computers no longer use character based systems.
Schools have little computer software for blind students.
This bill is not only for blind persons today but for the blind children of the future. There was no opposition voiced to the committee. This bill requires the head of state agencies and state-assisted organizations to ensure that information technology equipment and software used by employees, program participants, or the public provide the blind or visually impaired with equal access to equipment and services. The Office of Administration is responsible for phasing in the development of technology access for the blind and must include a technology access clause in all contracts for procurement of information technology. This bill has a penalty clause and an effective date of January 1, 1999.