Pa Senators introduce bill to improve tech accessibility for people with disabilities

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAJ) — U.S. Senators, including Bob Casey and John Fetterman, have introduced a bill to make federal technology more accessible for people with disabilities.

The bill, dubbed Section 508 Refresh Act , would require federal agencies to take a series of steps to ensure people with disabilities can use the federal government’s technology. In addition to the Pennsylvania Senators, Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are part of the bill.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act currently requires agencies to make federal technology accessible, however, an investigation by Casey in 2022 found that department and agency technology, particularly within the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), is out of compliance.

“The federal government has an obligation to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities, including its websites and technology,” Casey, who is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, said. “We would not ask someone using a wheelchair to walk up the courthouse steps, but we are doing something similar when we ask people with disabilities to use federal websites, apps, kiosks, and other technologies that are not accessible. I’m introducing the Section 508 Refresh Act to compel federal agencies to make their technology accessible and ensure people with disabilities are not locked out of essential government services and resources.”

Under the new bill, it will make the first significant changes to Section 508 since 1998, which will place a framework that will hold agencies accountable for accessibility requirements.

With the Refresh Act, the bill will:

• Require federal departments and agencies to include people with disabilities who consume government services and information or work as government employees in the acquisition and accessibility testing of federal technology.
  
• Reform the complaint process for Section 508 and establish a new process for deciding what federal technology is purchased – with rigorous accountability requirements for ensuring the technology is accessible.
  
• Mandate regular testing to ensure technology being used by federal departments and agencies is accessible to federal workers and all Americans using federal programs and information.
  
• Direct each federal department and agency to appoint qualified, dedicated Section 508 compliance officers to ensure the technology purchased and used by their departments and agencies is accessible.

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters .

More about the Section 508 Refresh Act can be read online .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.