Section 508 – A Celebration of Twenty Years

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the initial enforcement of the Section 508 Standards. This session will showcase the work of influential accessibility professionals who developed and implemented the original 508 Standards. The session will also highlight the impact the standards have had on the accessibility of information and communication technology in the United States and around the world.

Invited speakers include David Capozzi, former Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board (retired), who will discuss the collaborative process that resulted in the development of the Standards in 2000 and the Revised Standards in 2017; Bill Peterson, Department of Homeland Security (retired), who will cover the challenges with implementing the law and the ramifications; Terry Weaver, General Services Administration (retired), and John Sullivan, General Services Administration, who will review the implementation of Section 508 across government, including the continuing development of technical assistance and the creation of a central source for technical assistance and training materials at www.section508.gov. In closing, Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board, will present on collaboration efforts by the U.S. and global partners to promote accessibility, the advancement of accessibility testing processes, and the progress on the development of the ICT Baseline Testing Portfolio.

To allow more time for the speakers, there will be no live question and answer session. Registrants may submit questions in advance.