Access Board News

With deep sorrow, the U.S. Access Board announces the passing of former Board Member Shelley Siegel, FASID of Lake Worth. Appointed to the Board in 2016 by President Barack Obama, Siegel used her tenure with the Board to regulate and implement the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and assist with the Board’s final rules on medical diagnostic equipment, information and communication technology, and buses and vans. She passed on . . .

All are welcome to attend the next bimonthly meeting of the U.S. Access Board, which will be open to the public and take place virtually on May 11 from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m. (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes recognition of outgoing Board members, introduction of new Board member appointees, brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees and the Executive Director, and remarks from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the U.S. Department of Justice. . . .

The U.S. Access Board will hold a virtual public information meeting on accessible medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) and the adjustability of transfer surfaces for patients who use wheelchairs on May 12, 2022 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (ET). The Board is hosting this meeting to gather information on the minimum heights that MDE with transfer surfaces, including . . .

Dave Yanchulis, the U.S. Access Board’s Director of Office of Technical and Information Services (OTIS), will retire from federal service at the end of this month. A Board employee for over 36 years, Yanchulis served in various capacities, including many years as an Accessibility Specialist. He was active in the development and update of . . .

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has published guidance on web accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to inform state and local governments and businesses open to the public on how to ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities. This guidance uses plain language and clear examples to . . .

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will host a virtual public meeting regarding air travel by persons who use wheelchairs on March 24 from 10:15 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (ET). This meeting is an opportunity to listen and learn from persons who use wheelchairs on the difficulties that they encounter during air travel and for . . .

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has finalized a new that would improve equity and mobility for drivers and passengers with disabilities. This final rulemaking allows . . .

The U.S. Access Board elected Board Member Taryn Williams as its new Chair on March 7. Williams serves as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy. In this position, she advises . . .

Under Executive Order on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce (14035), federal agencies must ensure that their workplaces are fully accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities. To assist agencies in promoting and enhancing accessibility in their DEIA Strategic Plans, the Board has developed . . .

U.S. Access Board staff presented at conferences, webinars, and meetings to enhance participants’ knowledge on accessibility standards and advance inclusion for people with disabilities. Board staff presented on various topics, such as accessibility in the federal workplace, accessible voting and . . .