Members from the occupational therapy program attended the Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), at the White House on May 16, 2024. GAAD is a day dedicated to conversations and learning about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Policymakers and advocates at the event discussed progress and the time commitment required to update regulations of Title II of the ADA.
Second-year OT student, Tori Leger, emphasized the importance of the regulations as she said, “People with disabilities are often overlooked and not considered in the making of new technologies so it is exciting to hear that the Title II revision now has specific language to ensure that all people with disabilities can access government sites and mobile apps through digital inclusion.”
“Understanding regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act is important for clinicians so that we can ensure clients receive equal access,” echoed assistant professor, Kellie Sawyer, OTD, OTR/L.
The revisions require that websites and apps maintained by state and federal entities have features to enable access to those with limited access previously, such as individuals who are hard of hearing, visually impaired, or have manual dexterity disabilities.
“This new regulation will significantly improve clients' occupational performance, enabling them to access services from the federal and state level, independently,” said Leger.
Learn more about Global Accessibility Awareness Day, here: https://accessibility.day/
