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Information Technology IT Accessibility Committee (ITAC)

The Information Services Policy Board adopted a resolution in January 1998 that fully supported the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding reasonable accommodations in the workplace and recognized the State's commitment to meeting the needs of its employees and citizens with disabilities.

In addition, the Policy Board authorized the establishment of a standing accessibility subcommittee to evaluate and advise the Board regarding technological developments and products regarding compliance with the ADA and other relevant laws. The subcommittee's charge was broadened in November 1999.

The following links are all new pages, but I have cut and pasted that info below except for the meeting minutes which I reference in a link off that bookmark below

• Charter
• Membership
• Meeting Minutes

Information Technology Accessibility Committee Charter

Purpose

The Chief Information Officer and the Office of Information Technology fully support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding public access and reasonable accommodations in the workplace and recognizes the State's commitment to meeting the needs of its employees and citizens with disabilities. In addition, the Chief Information Officer authorizes the establishment of an Information Technology Accessibility Standing Committee to evaluate and advise the CIO regarding technological developments and products related to compliance with the ADA and other relevant laws.

Goals

The Committee's primary goals are:

• Integrate information technology accessibility into daily business processes and practices.
• Propose and maintain standards for information technology accessibility.
• Expand and maintain an evaluation methodology for current and future information technology endeavors.
• Prepare an annual report on previous year's accomplishments and proposed future work plan.
• Work in partnership with the Information Technology Accessibility Coordinator on identifying issues and providing technical assistance and solutions.

Organization and Structure

Membership

The Accessibility Committee membership shall include expertise in all of the major disability, accessibility and information technology specialty areas. Major core areas represented on the Committee should include deaf and hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired, mobility and speech impaired and cognitive considerations. Members must have a vested interest in accessibility and represent a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge including legal, policy, national perspective, human resources, purchasing and various technologies.

The Committee may establish project related work groups to address specific issues identified by the CIO or the Committee. The Committee is responsible for designing an ongoing process for membership recruitment, selection and decision making criteria. The Information Technology Accessibility Coordinator shall be responsible for facilitating administrative support to the committee members and committee meetings, including interpreters and materials in alternative format.

Leadership

• The Committee is responsible for designing an ongoing process for selection of the chairperson.
• The Committee shall meet monthly. The chair may call special or additional meetings of the Standing Accessibility as the chair deems necessary.

Duties

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Evaluate current and future technology and workarounds using the testing lab and independent verification and validation.
• Facilitate accessibility demonstrations of products being considered for purchase or development by Maine State Government.
• Evaluate national consensus standards to include but not limited to: software applications and operating systems; web-based Intranet and Internet information and applications; telecommunications products; video and multimedia products; self contained, closed products; desktop and portable computers; information, documentation and support.
• Review and stay current with standards being developed by nationally and internationally recognized public and private groups, to ensure they meet Maine 's needs and provide recommendations to the CIO.
• Maintain and monitor procurement proposal for evaluation criteria in RFPs and vendor compliance.
• Develop a process for monitoring progress toward information accessibility statewide.
• Provide ongoing information on new products, techniques and other changes related to accessibility in a variety of formats.
• Review and stay current with federal and other states' legislation, policies, rules and regulations.
• Review and provide ongoing lists of accessibility tools and resources.
• Arrange for and provide information technology accessibility training for State employees, vendors, developers and buyers.
• Provide technical assistance for departments as requested.

Membership and Function

The IT Accessibility Committee membership shall include expertise in all of the major disability, accessibility and information technology specialty areas. Major core areas represented on the Committee should include deaf and hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired, mobility and speech impaired and cognitive considerations. Members must have a vested interest in accessibility and represent a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge including legal, policy, national perspective, human resources, purchasing and various technologies.

Current Members

• Pauline Lamontagne (Chairperson), Dept of Education
• Carolyn Bebee, Bureau of Rehabilitation, DOL
• Eric Dibner, Bureau of Rehabilitation, DOL
• Kathleen Powers, Statewide Assistive Tech Project, MaineCITE
• Paul Sandlin, OIT/E-Government Services, IT Accessibility Coordinator
• Floyd White, Office of Information Technology, DAFS
• Ellen Wood, Maine State Library
• Leigh Wilkinson, Human Resources
• Bruce Prindall, Office of Information Processing, DOL
• Alan Parks, University of Maine at Orono
• Leah Smith, Dept. of Health & Human Services

The Committee may establish project related work groups to address specific issues identified by the CIO or the Committee.

The Committee is responsible for designing an on going process for membership recruitment, selection and decision making criteria.

The Information Technology Accessibility Coordinator shall be responsible for facilitating administrative support to the committee members and committee meetings, including interpreters and materials in alternative format.

Leadership

• The Committee is responsible for designing an ongoing process for selection of the chairperson.
• The Committee shall meet monthly. The chair may call special or additional meetings of the IT Accessibility Committee as the chair deems necessary.

Meeting Minutes

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