Entry bubble Discovering DisabilityInfo.gov

By: Nancy | July 24, 2008 | Category: General

I didn't want to move this morning when the Metro pulled into the station near my office. Normally, I'm more than ready to crawl through the tangle of arms and legs, newspapers and briefcases when the doors open. But this morning when I got to my stop, a black lab was resting his head on my leg. All warm and soft—I didn't want to get up. Nor did I want to go without giving him a pat on the head. But as a Guide Dog, he had to keep his mind on his work and I had to leave him alone.

people with disabilitiesThe interaction with my dog buddy and with his owner got me wondering about what was being done to guide people with disabilities through the maze of online government services. I know government websites like USA.gov and this blog are constantly being checked and modified to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires federal agencies to make what they offer online accessible to people with disabilities. That affects, among other things, the way we code and layout our websites, making it easier for people using assistive devices like screen readers to access all the information we offer.

There's also the relatively new website, DisabilityInfo.gov. It's managed by the Department of Labor and created in partnership with 21 other agencies, including Gov Gab's parent agency, the General Services Administration. The site provides a centralized location with information for people with disabilities, both physical and developmental, and for anyone involved in providing care or services for them.

DisabilityInfo.gov is divided into topics and features in-depth information including resources to help people with disabilities find jobs. If you're an employer, this section will also help you learn how to make your workplace more accessible.

The housing section shows builders how to create accessible living spaces and offers people with disabilities information on how to buy a home.

Whether you're traveling around town or around the world, the transportation section has lots of useful information to make travel safer and easier if you're using mass transit or catching a flight.

Healthcare is usually a special concern when disabilities are involved. The health section explains the range of benefits and services for people with disabilities and has special information for caregivers and for healthcare professionals.

And the technology section discusses tools that can help people with disabilities access information online more easily. If you have your own website or blog, you'll want to take a look at this section too. It shows you what you can do to your site to make it accessible to everyone.

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