Access Board News

The U.S. Access Board mourns the passing of former Public Board Member and Chair Patrick "Pat" Dale Cannon, who served on the Board from 1995 – 2003, and again from 2014 – 2022. Pat was a leader in accessibility and his efforts helped to transform the U.S. into a more accessible nation for millions of Americans with disabilities . . .

The General Services Administration (GSA) has released its third annual report on federal compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. While the report highlights strengthened acquisition and procurement practices, the federal government continues to fall short of its legal and statutory obligations to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities, including federal employees and members of the public . . .

The U.S. Access Board has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) asking for public comment on its approach to developing technical standards for universal changing stations required to be provided by sponsors of medium and large hub airports seeking airport development project grants. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 requires the Access Board to issue these standards, and the ANPRM proposes multiple approaches to developing them . . .

The U.S. Access Board will hold a public town hall meeting on Tuesday, May 5 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (ET) at Bally’s Lincoln Event Center, 100 Twin River Rd, Lincoln, RI. Presidentially appointed Access Board Members and representatives from other federal member agencies will be present to hear from the local community about the state of accessibility in Rhode Island . . .

The U.S. Access Board mourns the passing of former Public Board Member Mathew McCollough, who was appointed by President Obama in 2011 and served until 2022. Mat was a leader and advocate for accessibility, especially within the District of Columbia. In 2017, he was named Director of the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR), and prior to this role, Mat served as Executive Director of the DC Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) . . .

After 40 years of public service, the majority of which was spent at the U.S. Access Board, the agency’s Executive Secretary Rose Marie S. Bunales has retired. Rose Marie began her federal career in 1985 as a Clerk-Typist at the Steam Distribution Complex, a field office under the General Services Administration (GSA). After serving there for 18 months, Rose Marie began her time at the Access Board . . .

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the U.S. Access Board, which will be open to the public and take place virtually on Wednesday, January 28 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees, federal agency updates, two Board votes, and a report by Executive Director Sachin Pavithran . . .

The Access Board’s upcoming Board meeting on Wednesday, October 29 has been canceled due to the lack of appropriations. Subscribe to email updates for reminders of future Board meetings and other events.

Join G3ict and the General Services Administration (GSA) at the M-Enabling Summit for a complimentary open session tailored for U.S. Federal Employees interested in how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping Section 508 program management. Register now for this exciting session; confirmation will be sent to attendees closer to the event . . .

All are welcome to attend the next meeting of the U.S. Access Board, which will be open to the public and take place virtually on Wednesday, October 29 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees, federal agency updates, and a report by Executive Director Sachin Pavithran. Additionally, representatives from the City of New Orleans . . .