ITAA joins Section 508 advisory committee

The U.S. Access Board has named the Information Technology Association of America to the advisory committee that will update Section 508 guidelines for the federal government. The committee will review standards and guidelines related to the accessibility of computer hardware, software and telecommunications for people with disabilities.

“ITAA looks forward to working with other committee members to see that the Section 508 standards are updated to ensure access without constraining innovation,” said Rex Lint, chairman of the association’s IT Accessibility Regulation Working Group, in a statement.

ITAA joins more than 40 federal agencies, international firms, and IT and telecom companies that serve as members of the committee. Although there is no deadline to renew the accessibility rules, the Access Board and the European Commission believe an update would allow for internationally coordinated standards.

ITAA is an industry group that includes members such as IBM, Computer Sciences Corp., Intel and Microsoft.