Self-Service Kiosk Association Launches Website & Kiosk Market Analysis

kiosk association round logo

WESTMINSTER, COLORADO, UNITED STATES, November 17, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ — The kioskindustry.org communications site for the Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA) is pleased to announce the launch of our new website design.

The new design emphasizes content such as videos, opinion, sponsor and member news as well as industry-wide news in the self-service kiosk related markets. Coverage of digital signage, smart city, POS and retail automation are also part of the content mix.

Major improvements include:

o More relevant content more quickly found
o Demo videos in articles by default
o Up to date SEO mechanisms such as Structured Data
o Inbuilt Ad and Analytics hooks (though we are no fan of Adsense)
o HTML5 | CSS3 support
o Author pagestyles
o Responsive slider for features
o And lastly, it is extremely quick (as measured by Google)

As part of the launch the KMA has commissioned a 2021-2022 Kiosk Market Analysis report covering a minimum of 40 companies (members and non-members). Participation is open to any company involved in self-service kiosks. That includes deployers and customers, as well as device supply chain providers (printers, service, displays, menuboards, touchscreens, drive-thru, mobile scanning, touchless touch, computers and more).

Markets covered include self-service kiosks, customer-facing POS (with exception of supermarkets checkout), Smart City, International markets such as SE Asia and Europe, plus a wide range of “interactive” and smart digital signage (including menuboards, outdoor and drive-thru).

How the market was before the pandemic and how it has changed due to the pandemic is a major focus. Looking forward to how self-service will be utilized in the future is final component.

Your input is welcome and completely confidential with the nationally recognized research firm commissioned (BCC Research). Contact Craig at catareno.com and we will forward your contact information to the research firm.

Lastly, as a public service announcement, we would like to bring to the attention recent in-depth content on current VA fever screening actions which are endangering veterans as well as content on deceptive temperature screening tablets from China. IPVM has been the leading independent test authority for temperature kiosks and surveillance cameras.

craig keefner
KMA/ Kiosk Manufacturer Association
+ +1 720-324-1837
email us here
Visit us on social media:
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PCI Compliance for Unattended Self-Service Kiosks – KMA Announcement

Press Release

PCI Compliance for Unattended Self-Service Kiosks

PCI Compliance for Unattended Self-Service Kiosks

PCI Compliance for Unattended Self-Service Kiosks

WESTMINSTER, Colo., Dec. 15, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA), the leading unattended self-service kiosk association established in 1995, today announced the launch of new initiatives in the PCI Compliance space for unattended self-service kiosks. Those initiatives include providing content for the PCI Perspectives Blog, creating a SIG or Special Interest Group on PCI SSC for unattended and semi-attended transaction, as well as new guidepost content from our sponsors and members outlining best practices.

The kiosk association has a standing PCI Compliance committee and a Slack-based working group (free to join). Members include OTI Global,  Unattended Card Payments (UCP),  Datacap Systems,  Ingenico,  KioWare,  Olea Kiosks, Lilitab and  Self-Service Networks  who provide Cash2Card Giftwise.

“The pandemic is fundamentally altering the relationship that business and customer have had historically. Rather than the conventional ‘push’ from storefront to customer, the ratio of customers ‘pulling’ from business is rapidly increasing. Online mechanisms are no longer optional but instead, mandatory,” says association spokesman, Craig Keefner. “Contactless and touchless are the new cornerstones. Shortening those transaction timeframes whether Drive-Thru or Text-to-pay are the new base metrics.”

The pandemic impact on the currencies and payment methods involved in today’s secure transaction has also expanded. Cash2Card deployments are rising and instead of the old Redbox DVDs at McDonalds you may soon have a new Bitcoin ATM Kiosks.

Technologies emerging and in-use include conversational artificial intelligence (AI) and all types of visual recognition systems (automobile license and facial examples given).

To stay informed on customer self-order and employee terminals sign up for our monthly news update or you can visit our website.

Visit: https://kioskindustry.org/standards/pci-emv-kiosk/.

About Kiosk Manufacturer Association:

Kiosk Market Research Report – Feb 2021 Vertical Market Analysis

Self-Service Kiosk Market Research Report To Be Formally Released in Feb 2021 – Sign Up

KIosk Market Research Report and Analysis

KIosk Market Research Report and Analysis

The Kiosk Association has been working with a major research firm on putting together a comprehensive and vetted self-service kiosk market research report and the release of the report is due in February. We are in final review with the data firm providing our input. Over 50 companies participated.

There have been many good reports on the market over the years. Frost and Sullivan in 2018 released an updated market research report which was accurate. Generally though it difficult to wade thru the internet-scraped fabricated for sale reports that proliferate. They generally target potential report buyers and list companies that no longer exist in the market or are not primarily in the market.  Hybrid POS in grocery stores and ATMs, for example, raise the number artificially higher for companies such as Diebold and NCR, however, their participation in the true kiosk market is actually quite small. The self-service kiosk industry grows and thrives on fast market cycles requiring rapid engineering, design, and deployment. Characteristics not found in mega-complex companies.

The report goes thru regulatory considerations and also covers new emerging markets such as smart city, customer-facing POS, and intelligent interactive digital displays, and digital signage (though we resist usage of that phrase for interactive).  We advised the analysts to focus on the kiosk market and put to the side supplemental markets like conventional RMUs, ATMs, and grocery store check-out hubs.  Those “fuzzy” factors being put to the side make for a more relevant focus.

This report coincides with NRF 2021 Chapter One and we are offering a no-cost copy (MSRP $6000) to qualified retailers. State, local, Education and Federal agencies also qualify.

Kiosk Market Report Summary

 

More Data

Request Your Free Copy

[contact-form to=”craig@catareno.com” subject=”RA – Market Report Request”][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea”][/contact-form]

 

Review of Revised 508 Standards (Part II): Hardware & Software

Kiosk ADA and Section 508 Hardware Software

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM Eastern Time Zone

Section 508 Best Practices Webinar: Review of the Revised 508 Standards (Part II): Requirements for Hardware and Software (March 30)

Section 508 laptop iconThe next webinar in the Section 508 Best Practices Webinar Series will take place March 30 from 1:00 to 2:30 (ET) and will explain provisions in the standards for hardware and software. Requirements for hardware, such as computers, information kiosks, and multi-function copy machines, address privacy, operable parts, communication, and other features. Software requirements cover interoperability with assistive technology, applications, and authoring tools. Requirements for support documentation and services will also be covered. Presenters from the U.S. Access Board will answer questions submitted in advance and during the live session.

For more details or to register, visit www.accessibilityonline.org. Questions can be submitted in advance of the session or can be posed during the live webinar. Webinar attendees can receive a participation certificate.

Description

This session is the second in a two-part review of the revised Section 508 Standards which apply to information and communication technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by federal agencies. Presenters from the U.S. Access Board will explain provisions in the standards for hardware and software. Requirements for hardware, such as computers, information kiosks, and multi-function copy machines address privacy, operable parts, communication, and other features. Software requirements cover interoperability with assistive technology, applications, and authoring tools. Requirements for support documentation and services will also be covered.

Part I of this session (January 26, 2021) focused on requirements in the 508 Standards for federal websites and other electronic content.

 

Session Materials

Materials for this session not yet available please check back prior to the start of the session.

Speakers

Bruce Bailey , Accessibility Specialist/Information Technology SpecialistUS Access Board

Timothy Creagan , Senior Accessibility Specialist/Information TechnologyUS Access Board

Katherine Eng , Senior ICT Accessibility SpecialistUS Access Board

Interactive Kiosk Market Research Report by Kiosk Association

From PRNewswire March 2021 – new interactive kiosk market research report

Kiosk Association Interactive Kiosk Market Research Report


kiosk association round logoDENVERMarch 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Kiosk Association announces the release “U.S. Self-Service Kiosks” market research report. 134 pages and 34 graphics covering Market Drivers for the unattended self-service kiosk market. For purposes of kiosk and interactive signage markets, the ATM, Vending and hybrid POS self-checkouts such as Walmart are not prime weighted factors.

The report is available by contacting any of the Kiosk Association gold sponsors.

PCI Compliance and EMV Compliance

The Kiosk Association is conducting a poll on the direction of EMV deployments. We recommend all new deployments include EMV and Contactless. The target should be PCI-PTS v5 devices. Several RFPs have specified v3 which will only require replacing in a year. Worth noting a large segment is continuing with mag stripe only. Let us know what you think – take the poll.  30 seconds, one question and no registration required.

Questions – Contact Craig Keefner | craig@kma.global | 720.324.1837 m (text or call)

About the Kiosk Association:

Based in Colorado the Kiosk Association or KMA has served the unattended self-service kiosk market since 1995. We lead the effort to optimize self-service engagements and outcomes using technology such as kiosks, digital signage and displays, service, monitoring, and touchscreens.

ADA Accessibility and PCI EMV Compliance are the primary regulatory focus for the KMA.  KMA is a Participating Organization with the PCI SSC. For ADA, the KMA meets annually with U.S. Access Board on accessibility standards for unattended. Additional market coverage includes digital signage, interactive digital, retail automation, Point-of-Sale and smart city.

*LOGO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/20-0315s2p-kioskma-300dpi.jpg

This release was issued through Send2Press®, a unit of Neotrope®. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE Kiosk Manufacturer Association

KMA Panelist for US Access Board Meeting on SSTMs in POS & Ticketing

PRNewswire press release by the Kiosk Association on open video conference next week with U.S. Access Board

Public Welcome – U.S. Access Board Panel Discussion on SSTMs 

kiosk association round logoThe U.S. Access Board will host panel discussions on self-service transaction machines (SSTMs), including point-of-sales machines & ticket kiosks, at its next virtual Board meeting on May 19 from 1:00 – 3:15 (ET). The Association is participating as a panelist. One panel is representatives from advocacy organizations who will discuss usability issues and accessibility barriers. Another panel will address efforts by research and industry to improve access to SSTMs. The public is welcome to attend this event. Registration is not required.

Here is the agenda.

  • Welcome, Sachin Pavithran, Executive Director 
  • 1:00 – 2:00 Panel Discussion on Usability Issues
    • Mark Hill, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network
    • Donald D. Overton, Jr., Blinded Veterans Association
    • Clayton Lewis, Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities
    • Dave Pierson, United Spinal Association
  • 2:00 – 2:10 Overview of Existing ADA & Section 508 Standards, Bruce Bailey
  • 2:10 – 3:15 Panel Discussion on SSTM Accessibility

More Events

We are a sponsor for CREATE, hosted by Nations Restaurant News. Scott Deviney, CEO, Chicken Salad Chick is our session. Thanks to Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. and PanasonicThe CREATE event has a physical show in Denver October 4-6 at the Sheraton Downtown.  We have a free VIP pass to give away. Contact any of our Gold sponsors: Olea, KioWare, Pyramid Computer, Frank Mayer, Nanonation, KIOSK Information SystemsKioskGroupVispero, Zebra, AUO, 22Miles, Panasonic Restaurant Solutiions and  LG Electronics Business Solutions

Two more events for KMA – the National Restaurant Association Show-To-Go (see preview) and also the NRF Retail Converge event June 21-25

Additional Regulatory Focus  — New content on payment methods and biometric options emerging. TurnKey payment solutions for any Point of Sale (BNPL, txt, QR, Facial). Bonus content is PCI DSS training course 101 (31 pages) for workforce & IT

Notable News

CAKCEK makes note of our lineup of subverticals we cover:

For more information contact Craig Keefner, 720-324-1837 or craig@catareno.com

ADA Committee Co-Chairmen Announced

kiosk association round logoADA Kiosk News from KMA

From Businesswire August 2021

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KMA is pleased to confirm that Peter Jarvis has accepted a request to continue as Co-Chair of the Accessibility Committee. Working closely with Peter as Co-Chair will be Nicky Shaw of Storm Interface.

“Thank you to Randy Amundson of FMA who previously served as Co-Chair. I look forward to serving on the Committee and continuing to advocate for more accessible self-service technology”

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“Thank you to Randy Amundson of FMA who previously served as Co-Chair. I look forward to serving on the Committee and continuing to advocate for more accessible self-service technology,” said Nicky.

Nicky and Peter will be joined by James Kruper of KioWare as the committee’s Vice-Chair. James will serve to provide an essential insight into applicable requirements for accessible UX software applications and appropriate platform configuration.

Working with system designers, kiosk manufacturers, deployers and disability advocate groups the committee will address both opportunities and challenges relating to improved accessibility.

“The KMA Accessibility Committee must remain a credible source of advice and guidance, working independently and free from external interference. Committee members are appointed (and motivated) to act and serve in the best interests of KMA members, clients served by the kiosk industry and the disabled communities reliant upon accessible self-service technology,” said Peter Jarvis.

As Co-Chairs, Nicky and Peter will seek to recruit committee members from within the disabled communities and their representative organizations. They are seeking representation from both hardware and software manufacturers. Invitations will also be extended to legal practitioners working in disability rights. It is considered essential that the kiosk industry be recognized by legislators as an important part of the solution and not the cause of the problem. The KMA Accessibility Committee will propose that consultation with representatives from the kiosk and self-service sectors should be an essential part of any new mandating or legislative process.

Additional ADA and Accessibility Committee members include Olea KiosksPyramid ComputerVisperoKIOSK Information SystemsKioskGroupPeerless-AVDolphin Computer AccessMimo MonitorsDynaTouch, and Tech For All Consulting.

In addition to ADA and Accessibility conformance, the Kiosk Manufacturer Association is a Participating Organization with the PCI SSC and involved in CAT or Cardholder Activated Terminals in the unattended or attended self-service environment.

Contacts

Craig Keefner
craig@kma.global
(720) 324-1837

Companion post on APnews

Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Incorporates 508

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Updated to Incorporate Revised 508 Standards

September 13, 2021

US Access Board Logo Circle downloadOn August 11, 2021, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council issued a final rule updating the federal government’s procurement regulations to officially incorporate the U.S. Access Board’s revised Section 508 Standards. The FAR Council is comprised of the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy and representatives from the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The FAR Council supplemented provisions in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) supporting the requirements for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) procured by federal agencies to be accessible. This update to the FAR went into effect September 10, 2021.

This update to the FAR includes several key changes to ensure that federal agencies comply with Section 508 in their acquisitions of ICT. One change requires agencies to specifically identify which ICT accessibility standards are applicable to a procurement. Another change requires federal agencies to document in writing any exceptions or exemptions in their formal acquisiton plans. These include exceptions provided for national security systems, incidental contract items, and features of ICT used in maintenance or monitoring spaces, and exemptions based on undue burden, fundamental alternation, and nonavailability of conforming commercial items.

In addition, federal agencies also must identify the needs of current and future users with disabilities and proactively determine how ICT functionality will be available to these users. They also must specify the development, installation, configuration, and maintenance of ICT in support of users with disabilities.

For more details on the changes with the final rule, visit GSA’s Section 508 comparison table at section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies/far-update-comparison. The text of the amended FAR provisions was published in the Federal Register as “Federal Acquisition Regulation: Section 508-Based Standards in Information and Communication Technology” at www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-16363. For more information, contact the GSA Regulatory Secretariat Division at 1-202-501-4755 or GSARegSec@gsa.gov.

Training and assistance on the 508 Standards are available. GSA provides Section 508 accessibility training resources at https://section508.gov/training.

The Access Board provides technical assistance on the Section 508 Standards through its toll-free hotline at 1-800-872-2253 or by email at 508@access-board.gov. The Board also provides training on Section 508 Standards upon request and conducts a free webinar series to provide helpful information and best practices in meeting Section 508 Standards. To learn more or to register for a webinar in the Section 508 Best Practices Series, visit www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508. Past webinars are archived and available at www.accessibilityonline.org/cioc-508/archives.

Analysis – DOJ Accessibility Guidance on Web March 2022

website accessibility DOJ

DOJ Accessibility Guidance Analysis

From Understanding the ADA Blog by William Goren. Mr. Goren is a very highly respected authority on accessibility.  We also have the point of view from AccessDefense.  Additional viewpoints.

In Brief (by Bill Goren)

  • Document is too general in view of Goren
  • Maybe the FCC is watching in regard to mobile phones?
  • WCAG 2.1 recommended for now
  • Voice dictation mentioned which is great
  • The guidance seems to encourage overlays

Excerpt

  1. Common examples of website accessibility barriers include: poor color contrast; use of color alone to give information; lack of text alternatives on images; lack of captioning on video; inaccessible online forms; and mouse only navigation. This list is not exclusive.
  2. Many state and local governmental services, program, and activities are now being offered on the web. Since a website with inaccessible features limits the ability of people with disabilities to access a public entity’s program, services, and activities through that website, the DOJ has consistently taken the position that the ADA’s requirements apply to all the services, program, or activities of state and local governments, including those offered on the web.
  3. A website with inaccessible features can limit the ability of people with disabilities to access a public accommodation’s goods, services, and privileges available through that website. Accordingly, DOJ has consistently taken the position that the ADA’s requirements apply to all the goods, services, privileges, or activities offered by public accommodations, including those offered on the web.
  4. Automated accessibility checkers and overlays identifying or fixing problems with a website can be helpful tools, but they need to be used carefully.
  5. Businesses and state and local governments have flexibility in how they comply with the ADA’s general requirements of nondiscrimination and effective communication. But they must comply with the ADA’s requirements.
  6. The Department of Justice does not have a regulation setting out detailed standards for Internet accessibility, but the Department’s longstanding interpretation of the general nondiscrimination and effective communication provisions applies to web accessibility.
  7. Businesses and state and local governments can currently choose how they will ensure that the programs, services, and goods they provide online are accessible to people with disabilities. Even though businesses and state and local governments have flexibility in how they comply with the ADA’s general requirements of nondiscrimination and effective communication, they still must ensure that the programs, services, and goods that they provide to the public—including those provided online—are accessible to people with disabilities.
  8. Existing technical standards provide helpful guidance concerning how to ensure accessibility of website features. These include the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)and the Section 508 Standards, which the federal government uses for its own websites.

In the “Takeaways” section Bill lists nine different takeaways he sees. We liked the note on voice dictation which hasn’t been mentioned before.

Best to read the complete article From Understanding the ADA Blog by William Goren


For a most defense oriented point of view here is Access Defense

The Guidance starts with a broken promise:

This guidance describes how state and local governments and businesses open to the public can make sure that their websites are accessible to people with disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

It does no such thing. Instead it points out a few common problems and lists resources that might be helpful to experts in web development. Nowhere does it provide any set of actions or website features that are guaranteed to satisfy the ADA. In fact, it doesn’t even state clearly what DOJ has said in the past; that is, that every website is subject to the ADA even if not associated with a physical place of business. Here is how DOJ states its position:

Title III prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by businesses open to the public (also referred to as “public accommodations” under the ADA). The ADA requires that businesses open to the public provide full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations to people with disabilities.

DOJ apparently wants “businesses open to the public” to means the same thing as “public accommodation,” but the Ninth and other Circuits disagree that the phrases are equivalent. The same ambiguous use of “public accommodation” and “open to the public” occurs throughout the Guidance, although it isn’t clear why DOJ won’t just come out and say that it believes every website is a public accommodation no matter what any Circuit Court of Appeals might say.

The actual guidance about website accessibility is a mishmash of qualified statements that end up saying almost nothing. For example, DOJ asserts that:

Businesses and state and local governments can currently choose how they will ensure that the programs, services, and goods they provide online are accessible to people with disabilities.

This is true as a very broad statement of the law, but it doesn’t remind businesses that almost any means of providing online services other than an accessible website will be viewed by DOJ as insufficiently equal. Can DOJ just say what it means? There is a choice in theory, but in fact if services are provided online DOJ will insist that they be accessible online regardless of the other means by which the services are offered.

DOJ seems to be a little more specific when lists seven common problems with accessibility, but then it reminds us this is not a complete list: “This is not a complete list of things to consider.” Where can a business find a “complete list?” DOJ lists a bunch of resources, including the W3 consortium website for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, but all it says about these is “existing technical standards provide helpful guidance.” Businesses do not need helpful guidance; they need rules so they know they will not be subject to arbitrary prosecutions or private litigation. Those with disabilities need the same thing so they know what to expect with any given website. It’s nice to know that WCAG 2.1 AA is out there, and a look at other DOJ press releases indicates that WCAG 2.1 AA is the best guess for what DOJ wants today. However, there is no telling what DOJ will want tomorrow, and private plaintiffs’ firms and some courts don’t treat any version or success level of WCAG as sufficient.³

What if you want to know whether your website is accessible? DOJ points out what experts in the area know; that is,  automated solutions are unlikely to identify or solve all problems and do identify “errors” that don’t interfere with accessibility. You can’t rely on them, but DOJ’s suggestion about dealing with that unreliability isn’t very comforting: “Pairing a manual check of a website with the use of automated checkers can give you a better sense of the accessibility of your website” While it is certainly nice to have a “better sense” of the accessibility of a website businesses need something definite – yes it is or no it is not accessible. They need an exact definition of accessibility so they know what to do in order to be exempt from litigation by DOJ and private plaintiffs.¹

It’s worth something to know you’re going to be hit by a train even if no one will tell you how to get off the track² so this Guidance isn’t completely useless. Nonetheless, it fails to deliver what businesses need. They needs  fixed safe harbor definition of an accessible website, and they need relief from abusive website accessibility litigation. Moreover, by failing businesses the Guidance fails those with disabilities as well because businesses cannot be expected to invest in technology if they can’t be sure it will bring them into compliance with the law. DOJ needs to spend less time on press releases and more time on fulfilling its regulatory obligations under the ADA.

+++++++++++++++++++++

¹ Imagine if DOJ’s advice on the slopes of sidewalks was “using a high quality digital level will give you a better sense of the accessibility of your sidewalk.” As advice it is useless – businesses what to know what the maximum accessible slope is, not how you measure it.

² The resources offered in the Guidance are worthless to most small businesses because they are simply too technical. The first link offered, to the 18F Accessibility Guide, takes you to a cover page to a total of 26 other websites that have accessibility information, including another “tools” link that provides links to an additional 22 testing tools. None of the links go to material that anyone but an expert in website development could possibly understand. This is great for a business large enough to have an IT team and budget, but those businesses already know where to look for resources. This Guidance is useless for any business that doesn’t generate sufficient profits to pay for a dedicated IT staff.

³ I think it is interesting that the government has promulgated specific rules for accessibility of government websites, as DOJ admits, but DOJ won’t give businesses the benefit of the exact same rules. Is it bureaucratic arrogance? Some kind of power struggle between DOJ and the Access Board? Who knows. There are plenty of hardworking nice folks at DOJ, but as an institution it apparently doesn’t give a damn about the real problems of real businesses even though DOJ itself created those problems when it decreed, twenty years ago, that websites have to be accessible but then refused, and refuses even to this day, to say what “accessible” means.


DOJ Breaks Its Silence – Jackson Lewis

The most important takeaway from the Guidance is the fact that the DOJ has issued Guidance at all on this topic.  Indeed, on December 26, 2016, the DOJ Published a Notice of Withdrawal of Four Previously Announced Rulemaking Actions.  See 82 Fed. Reg. 60932 (December 26, 2017).  After years of silence on the issue of Title III of the ADA’s application to websites, the fact that the DOJ has turned its attention to this topic may indicate increased enforcement activity by the DOJ than in years past.


Open To Public Means Must Be Accessible – Ballard Spahr

The DOJ specifically noted that in recent years, “a multitude of services have moved online, and people rely on websites like never before for all aspects of living,” including accessing voting information, finding up-to-date health and safety resources, and looking up mass transit schedules and fare information. The DOJ’s Guidance clarified that the Department has “consistently taken the position that the ADA’s requirements apply to all the goods, services, privileges, or activities offered by public accommodations, including those offered on the web.”

 

Related Posts

U.S. Access Board News – Alison Levy New Director

US Access Board ADA voting

ADA Kiosk & U.S. Access Board News

Access Board Alison Levy” src=”https://kma.global/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alison-levy.png” alt=”U.S. Access Board Alison Levy” width=”153″ height=”201″ /> U.S. Access Board Alison Levy

Alison Levy has been named the new Director of the Office of Technical and Information Services (OTIS) at the U.S. Access Board. She succeeds Dave Yanchulis who retired in April after 36 years with the Board. In this role, Levy will manage and establish program goals and operations for OTIS, including those related to accessibility guidelines and standards, technical assistance and guidance, training, and research. OTIS is responsible for the development of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Guidelines for buildings, facilities, and transportation vehicles, Standards and Guidelines for Accessible Information and Communication Technology, and Standards for Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment.

“I am excited to have Alison join our team of dedicated experts in the accessibility space.” Board Executive Director Sachin Pavithran said. “She will be leading a team of experts that plays a vital role in advancing our accessibility standards and guidelines in advancing equal access for all.”

Full Text

Alison Levy has been named the new Director of the Office of Technical and Information Services (OTIS) at the U.S. Access Board. She succeeds Dave Yanchulis who retired in April after 36 years with the Board. In this role, Levy will manage and establish program goals and operations for OTIS, including those related to accessibility guidelines and standards, technical assistance and guidance, training, and research. OTIS is responsible for the development of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines and Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility Standards, standards and guidelines for accessible information and communication technology, and standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment.

“I am excited to have Alison join our team of dedicated experts in the accessibility space.” Board Executive Director Sachin Pavithran said. “She will be leading a team of experts that plays a vital role in advancing our accessibility standards and guidelines and advancing equal access for all.”

Levy most recently served as the Manager of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC is a centrally funded office that supports internal supervisors and employees in creating an accessible and inclusive workplace through recruitment, hiring, outreach, education, and reasonable accommodations.

“Accessibility is a human right that ensures we all thrive together in society,” Levy remarked. “I look forward to working at the Access Board in broadening its capacity to better educate and obtain greater access for all.”

Previously, Levy served at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), providing leadership over the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of individuals with disabilities, including reasonable accommodations. She developed and implemented policies, procedures, and strategic plans, and facilitated programs through a diverse team of more than 50 contacts across USDA’s 34 mission areas, agencies, and staff offices. Her efforts with a team of diversity and inclusion colleagues yielded USDA’s six-level rise in the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey to #2 for Large Federal Agencies in Diversity Support.

Levy was one of the founding leaders of the Federal Disability Workforce Consortium (FDWC), a volunteer, interagency organization that grew from 20 to more than 900 federal points of contact with monthly webinars, meetings, and collaborations with the Office of Personnel Management, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy.

As a person with disabilities, and with over 30 years of experience in the disability profession, Levy has worked toward improving workplace attitudes and accessibility, and in providing equal opportunity in the post-secondary, public, and private sectors. Levy earned her B.A. in Public Communication from The American University and her Master’s in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University. She is fluent in American Sign Language.

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