Access Board News

Today, May 16, 2024, the U.S. Access Board celebrates the 13th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), a day dedicated to conversations and learning about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.  Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director of the Board, joined fellow disability and government leaders at the White House today to celebrate GAAD . . .

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can increase accessibility, but it can also create barriers for people with disabilities. To address equity and accessibility, the Access Board was tasked with several actions in the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. The U.S. Access Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) . . .

Each year, the U.S. Access Board visits a city outside of Washington, D.C. to learn about the state of accessibility around the country. During the week of April 15th, the Access Board traveled to Los Angeles, where Members learned about the state of accessibility in the film and television industries, among other topics. The Board spent an entire day in meetings with representatives of the entertainment industry to understand . . .

Each year, the U.S. Access Board visits a city outside of Washington, D.C. to learn about the state of accessibility around the country. During the week of April 15th, the Access Board traveled to Los Angeles for its 2024 out-of-town Board meeting with two main goals. First, the Board sought to hear from residents, advocates, and local government leaders . . .

The U.S. Access Board seeks a Financial Program Manager to serve in its Office of Administration. This Financial Program Manager will develop, coordinate, and maintain an integrated system of financial services to include accounting, budgeting, management-financial reporting, auditing, financial management and analysis, procurement . . .

Amy Nieves has been appointed Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Access Board in the Office of Executive Director (OED). In this role, Nieves will design, plan, and direct the Board’s public affairs program that includes managing its external communication channels, developing informational materials, handling media relations, leading outreach . . .

Passengers who use wheelchairs often face accessibility barriers during air travel. In fact, more than 10,000 wheelchairs and other mobility devices are mishandled or damaged every year during air travel. In response to this, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would dramatically expand the rights and protections . . .

The U.S. Access Board will hold a public town hall meeting on Tuesday, April 16 from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. (PT) at the California Endowment’s Center for Healthy Communities in Los Angeles, California. Presidentially appointed Access Board members and representatives from other federal member agencies will be present to . . .

The U.S. Access Board’s YouTube channel is a helpful resource for watching Board meetings, shorts, training videos, and animations on accessibility guidelines and standards. The Board recently published three new videos on its YouTube channel to help explain the work of the agency and the resources that it offers . . .

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 January 24 from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. (ET). The agenda for the meeting includes brief reports from standing and ad hoc Board committees and the Executive Director, federal agency updates, and a guest presentation by Andrew Nielson, Director of . . .