TecAccess, VITA, and DRS Lay Out ´Roadmap to Accessibility´

For More Information:
Contact: Paul Spicer
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications
(804) 749-8646
info@tecaccess.net

Manakin Sabot-May 1, 2006-- TecAccess LLC, an award-winning leader in Section 508 Compliance and Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT), joined Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) on April 19, 2006 at the Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, VA for the "Road to Accessibility" workshop.

VITA, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, hosted this informative training session to better explain the implementation of the Virginia IT Accessibility Standard (GOV103-00) for non-Web applications and systems and to learn more about IT accessibility vendors and resources.

"The high level of attendance and participation from various State departments at the conference is a testimony to the Commonwealth´s commitment to making technology accessible to all Virginians," said Walter Andes, Business Development Manager for TecAccess.

VITA and DRS launched this energetic effort to encourage compliance to the Virginia IT Accessibility Standard, which is predicated on Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, for all technology procurements throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Section 508 is a U.S. law requiring electronic technology used by the Federal government to be accessible to persons with varying degrees of disabilities.

Disability statistics from the U.S. Census indicate that one in five households is affected by some form of a disability. VITA´s initiative to make sure all technology purchased and utilized throughout Virginia emphasizes the importance of equal access to technology by all citizens of the Commonwealth.

The April 19th workshop, geared towards IT developers responsible for non-Web applications and systems, also provided a special focus on Best Practices. Ms. Debra Ruh addressed assistive technology implementation, and using the perspective of (and the utilization of) persons with disabilities to test for compliance and offer accessibility solutions.

"But we don´t have any employees with disabilities in our department´, is a common response - but a significant misunderstanding," said Debra Ruh, president and CEO of TecAccess. "Yes, the challenge ahead is to address the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, but equally important to our Commonwealth is the 20% of our State´s population that have some form of disability. As one of the world´s fastest growing minority groups, these numbers will only continue to grow as the Baby Boomer demographic ages."

Representatives such as Mr. Fred DiFiore, Director of Section 508 & 504 compliance, United States Patent and Trademark Office, explained the federal government´s successful implementation of Section 508. In addition, Ms. Linda Harris, Disability Services Administrator at Tidewater Community College and Mr. Tomas Babinszki, Senior Accessibility Engineer at USPTO, shared their own success stories in implementing Section 508.

Workshop attendees also discussed strategies for implementing software applications and operating systems, telecommunications products, video and multimedia products, and Self-Contained, Closed Products, and featured presentations from The Honorable Aneesh P. Chopra, Secretary of Technology, The Honorable Marilyn B. Tavenner, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and Jim Rothrock, Commissioner of the Department of Rehabilitative Services.

About TecAccess

TecAccess is the most awarded risk management and accessibility consultancy in the world. TecAccess turns potential risks into a marketplace advantage through leading accessibility services and products. With a focus on Section 508 compliance, TecAccess makes Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) accessible to the world´s largest and fastest growing demographic - people with disabilities. TecAccess is a certified Woman-Owned and SBA certified 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB).

For further information about TecAccess, please call: (804) 749-8646, e-mail info@tecaccess.net, or visit our website at www.TecAccess.net.

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