September 2013 Technology and Disability Policy Highlights

Date of Publication: 
2013 September

This month, The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice [EB Docket No. 04-296] seeking comment on issues identified following the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  Although the test was regarded as successful, the Bureau is seeking comment on technical and accessibility issues identified during the test. 

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions released a report entitled, “High Expectations: Transforming the American Workforce as the ADA Generation Comes of Age.” The report noted that, while the ADA Generation has made strides within secondary education, there is still a general disparity in labor force participation among people with and without disabilities, except for those in the 16 to 19 year old age range.

The Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) released a report outlining the results from their ongoing study on workplace accommodations. The report highlights that workplace accommodations allowed employers to “retain valued and qualified employees” and many accommodations could be implemented at no cost, while the average cost for other accommodations is around $500.

Additional Information

File september_2013_technology_and_disability_policy_highlights_tdph.docx

Disclaimer

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RE5025-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.