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The Access Board will hold public events in Chicago on September 29 and 30 as part of its yearly out-of-town meeting. The agenda includes a community-wide reception on September 29 and, on the following day, a public hearing on the Board’s proposed update of its ADA guidelines for buses and vans and an open forum on ways to improve access to information technology in the Federal sector.
Community Reception at Access Living (Sept. 29, 4:00 – 5:00)
The Board and Access Living, one of the nation’s preeminent Independent Living Centers, will host a free community-wide reception at Access Living’s offices.
Public Hearing on Updated Guidelines for Buses and Vans (Sept. 30, 9:30 – 12:00)
The public hearing will provide an opportunity for interested parties to comment on a Board proposal to update sections of its ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles covering buses and vans. The proposed updates, which the Board published for comment on July 26, address new types of systems, such as bus rapid transit and low floor buses, and advances in technology, including automation of announcements. In addition to a new organization and format, the proposed guidelines revise specifications for vehicle ramps, circulation routes, wheelchair spaces, and securement systems. The Board will hold a second hearing on the proposal on November 8 in Washington, D.C. A published notice provides additional details about the hearings.
Public Forum on Information Technology in the Federal Sector (Sept. 30, 1:30 – 4:30)
As part of a new administration initiative, members of the Chief Information Officers Council will join the Board in conducting the first in a series of listening sessions on ways to promote access to information technology (IT) in the Federal sector under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Questions to be explored through this session include:
Members of the public are invited to attend the session to offer their ideas for improving IT accessibility or to share access concerns. Feedback from this session and future ones will be shared with responsible agencies to implement improvements.
The public hearing and forum will be held at the Courtyard Marriott Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. For more information, contact Kathy Johnson at johnson@access-board.gov, (202) 272-0041, or (202) 272-0082 (TTY).