Guest: Dr. Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director of the United States Access Board
Host: Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D., Chairman, Burton Blatt Institute, University Professor, Syracuse University
Recording Date: August 22, 2022
Archive: A Conversation with Sanchin Pavithran
Contents
- About the 504@50 Podcast Series
- About This Episode
- Learn More About the U.S. Access Board
- Information and Communication Technology (Section 508)
- Section 504 Resources
About the 504@50 Podcast Series
504@50 is a special interview series created in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In the series, we speak with leaders of the disability rights movement who advance the cause of equal rights through their tireless work.
The 504@50 Series is produced by the Southeast ADA Center, the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University and in collaboration with the Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. Check out the Section 504@50 website at section504at50.org
About This Episode
In this interview, Dr. Sanchin Pavithran, executive director of the US Access Board, and Dr. Peter Blanck discuss the importance of society becoming more inclusive of people with disabilities. Dr. Pavithran says enforcing policies is an important part of inclusion. He says it is not enough to create laws and regulations that aim to support people with disabilities, they must also be enforced. He discusses the Architectural Barriers Act as an underrated but critical piece of disability rights in 2023.
Dr. Pavithran also talks about inclusive education and improving vocational rehabilitation programs to address the disparities people with disabilities face. He also discusses the importance of maintaining multidimensional ways of supporting people with disabilities and emphasizes that digital accessibility is one of the most important aspects of disability inclusion.
Learn More About the U.S. Access Board
- Laws Concerning the Access Board
Several federal laws shape the work and mission of the Access Board.
Link: access-board.gov/law - Access Board Rulemaking Process
Under the ADA and other laws, the Access Board develops guidelines and standards for the built environment, transportation systems, information and communication technologies, and medical diagnostic equipment.
Link: access-board.gov/about/rulemaking.html - Access Board Research Areas of Focus
Link: access-board.gov/research - Access Board Work on Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Link: access-board.gov/ict.html - Access Board Work on Autonomous Vehicles
Link: access-board.gov/av - Learn About the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968
One of the earliest measures by Congress to address access to the built environment, the ABA requires facilities designed, built, altered, or leased with federal funds to be accessible according to established standards. Under the ABA, the Access Board maintains accessibility guidelines upon which the ABA standards are based and enforces these standards through the investigation of complaints.
Link: access-board.gov/law/aba.html
Information and Communication Technology (Section 508)
- Section 508 (Federal Electronic and Information Technology)
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, specifically Section 508, requires that when U.S. Federal government agencies develop, procure, or maintain, information and communication technology (ICT) that the technology is accessible to persons with disabilities.
Link: section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies - Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series
This series of webinars will help federal agencies have the information they need to meet their obligations under Section 508. The series is co-sponsored by the Accessibility Committee of the CIO Council, the U.S. Access Board, and eFedLink/ODEP. Archived webinars available.
Source: Great Lakes ADA Center
Web: accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508
Archived Webinars: accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/archives - Article: NY [New York] Reaches Agreement with DOJ Over Vaccine Access for Blind People
Dr. Pavithran was interviewed about federal website accessibility.
Source: Kaiser Health News (October 8, 2021)
Link: khn.org/news/article/ny-reaches-agreement-with-doj-over-vaccine-access-for-blind-people
Section 504 Resources
- Public Law: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act [PDF]
Prohibits federal agencies, programs and activities that receive federal money from discriminating against individuals with disabilities.
Link: govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2018-title29/pdf/USCODE-2018-title29-chap16-subchapV-sec794.pdf - Fact Sheet: Your Rights Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act [PDF]
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Link: hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/civilrights/resources/factsheets/504.pdf - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: What You Need to Know
Source: Understood
Link: understood.org/en/articles/section-504-of-the-rehabilitation-act-of-1973-what-you-need-to-know - Legal Information on the Section 504 Law
Source: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Link: dredf.org/legal-advocacy/laws - Resources on Section 504 and Education Rights
Source: Parent Center Hub – Center for Parent Information and Resources
Link: parentcenterhub.org/section504 - Short History of the 504 Sit-in
Source: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Link: dredf.org/504-sit-in-20th-anniversary/short-history-of-the-504-sit-in - 504 Sit-in 20th Anniversary
The 20th Anniversary of Section 504 was on June 1, 1997.
Source: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Link: dredf.org/504-sit-in-20th-anniversary
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Visit the Section 504@50 website at: section504at50.org
The 504@50 Series is produced by the Southeast ADA Center, the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, and in collaboration with the Disability Inclusive Employment Policy Rehabilitation Research and Training Center.