Advisory committee on accessibility named

The U.S. Access Board named last week the members of the advisory committee that will review and update Section 508 accessibility standards.

The committee will review standards and guidelines covering accessibility to computer hardware and software such as Web sites, phone networks and copiers. It will also look at telecommunications guidelines.

Formation of the advisory committee was announced in early April. Although it does not have a deadline for a rules renewal, a March Access Board meeting with agency leaders and their counterparts from the European Commission pushed for a 508 update to internationally coordinate accessibility rules.

The committee includes international agencies, information technology and telecom companies, and organizations such as the Homeland Security Department, the Social Security Administration, the European Commission, Industry Canada, Adobe Systems, AT&T, Cingular, Dell, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems. Click here for a full list of advisory committee members.