SubscribeFor the remainder of 2010 the U.S. Department of Justice has issued four advance notices of
proposed rulemaking (ANPRMs). They seek public comment on:
- Accessibility of Web Information and Services Covered by the ADA
- Movie Captioning and Video Description
- Accessibility of Next Generation 9-1-1
- Equipment and Furniture
Web Accessibility
State and local governments, businesses, educators, and other
organizations covered by the ADA are increasingly using the web to
provide information, goods, and services to the public. In the web
accessibility ANPRM, the department presents for public comment a
series of questions seeking input regarding how the department can
develop a workable framework for website access that provides
individuals with disabilities access to the critical information,
programs, and services provided on the web, while respecting the unique
characteristics of the internet and its transformative impact on
everyday life.
Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1
9-1-1 centers are moving towards an Internet-enabled network to allow
the general public to make a 9-1-1 call via voice, text, or video
over the Internet and directly communicate with personnel at the
centers. The NG 9-1-1 ANPRM seeks information on how the centers may
be able to provide direct access to 9-1-1 for individuals with
disabilities as they implement new communication technologies.
Captioning and Video Description in Movies Shown in Movie Theaters
Recent technologies have been developed to provide closed captions and
video description in movies being shown at movie theaters. Movie
studios have begun to produce and distribute movies with captioning and
video description. However, these features are not generally made
available at movie theaters. In the captioning and video description
ANPRM, the department asks for suggestions regarding the kind of
accessibility requirements for captioning and video description it
should consider as proposed rules for public comments, particularly in
light of the industrys conversion to digital technology.
Equipment and Furniture
Full use of the nations built environment can only be fully achieved
by the use of accessible equipment. There is now improved
availability of many different types of accessible equipment and
furniture, ranging from accessible medical exam tables, chairs, scales,
and radiological equipment and furniture to talking ATMs and
interactive kiosks. In the equipment and furniture ANPRM, the
department poses questions and seeks comments from the public, covered
entities, equipment manufacturers, advocacy and trade groups about the
nature of accessibility issues and proposed solutions for making
equipment and furniture accessible to persons with disabilities.
Details on the ANPRMs are available on the DOJ web site:
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