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 ITAC, 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.