President Obama encourages youth with disabilities to advocate for equal rights

 

The Deaf Service Bureau provides employment services to all people with disabilities in order to help them enjoy a productive and independent life. Call 1-800-616-4293 for more information.

President Obama Announces Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games

President Barack Obama today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to London, United Kingdom to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games on August 29, 2012. 

U.S. Army General Martin E. Dempsey, 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will lead the delegation. 

Members of the Presidential Delegation: 

• The Honorable Louis B. Susman, Ambassador of the United States to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 
• The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency 
• Mr. Kareem A. Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, The White House 
• Ms. Jean Driscoll, U.S. two-time Olympic silver medalist, five-time Paralympic gold medalist, three-time Paralympic silver medalist, and four-time Paralympic bronze medalist 
• Ms. Sharon Hedrick, U.S. two-time Olympic gold medalist, six-time Paralympic gold medalist, four-time Paralympic silver medalist, and two-time Paralympic bronze medalist 
• Mr. Larry T. Hughes, U.S. Paralympic gold medalist

DSB's CEO Wendi Herzman interprets for President Obama in Tampa

Wendi Herzman, CEO of the Deaf Service Bureau of West Central Florida, and Barry Blood, DSB staff interpreter and LMHC, had the honor to interpret for President Obama on Friday, June 22, 2012 as he delivered remarks at Hillsborough Community College's Dale Mabry Campus in Tampa, Florida.

President Obama signs "thank you" to deaf student

Implementing Section 508: Improving Access to Government Information and Data for Persons with Disabilities

From the White House

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ ​blog/2012/03/19/implementing-​section-508-improving-access-​ government-information-and-​data-persons-di

The President put it best when he said, “Americans with disabilities are Americans first and foremost, and like all Americans are entitled to not only full participation in our society, but also full opportunity in our society.” http://www.whitehouse.gov/the- ​press-office/2010/10/08/​remarks-president-signing-​ 21st-century-communications-​and-video-accessib And, the truth is that Americans with disabilities can’t fully participate and will not have the full opportunity to do so unless they have access to the technology that is so critical to that participation and those opportunities. That’s why, at the President’s direction, his Administration has focused on enhancing our commitment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, so that Americans outside the government can access information about their government and those working inside the government can be productive employees.

Over the past few years, we have taken several affirmative steps regarding Section 508. For the first time, the Chief Information Officer Council and the Chief Acquisition Officer Council now jointly chair the Chief Information Officers Accessibility Committee. Following that creation, in July 2010, OMB issued a memorandum, Improving the Accessibility of Government Information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/​sites/default/files/omb/​assets/procurement_memo/​improving_
accessibility_gov_info_​07192010.pdf, to set forth additional steps. This memo focused on (1) increasing awareness of responsibilities and requirements associated with Section 508, (2) improving agency accountability and accessibility performance, and (3) improving outreach and communication. It also included a requirement to host listening sessions with the community across the nation to gather input on Federal implementation of Section 508.

Recognizing that we still needed to do more, in July 2011, the President announced an effort to develop a strategic plan for Section 508 and the intent to share the strategy with the public. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the- ​press-office/2011/07/26/​anniversary-americans-​disabilities-act-obama- ​administration-recommits-en To support development of this plan, senior officials and staff from across the Executive Office of the President have met with advocacy groups, Section 508 coordinators, the CIOC Accessibility Committee, the Access Board, the General Services Administration, and other key stakeholders inside and outside the government. We have taken the information from the listening sessions as well as all the input received through various stakeholder meetings and pulled together a framework for the next phase in our efforts to improve Section 508 management.

That’s where you come in. Before proceeding further with development of the strategic plan, we are seeking your input and expertise. Taking into account ideas from all the stakeholders we’ve met with so far, we posted a strategy document on www.section508.ideascale.​com. It includes high level objectives, initiatives, focus areas, and potential measures. We’re looking for you to comment on what has been proposed, but also for you to propose broad management strategies, tactics, and actions that can ultimately help Federal agencies better comply with Section 508.

Whether we are working to achieve the goals of the President’s disability Executive Order, ensuring that people with disabilities have access to services during disasters, improving transportation services or so many other efforts, technology plays a critical role in our success. People with disabilities should be able to access their government on an equal footing with all Americans. With this strategy and your input, we take one more step toward achieving that goal.