A. The General Assembly finds that (i) the advent of the information agethroughout the United States and around the world has resulted in lastingchanges in information technology; (ii) use of interactive visual displayterminals by state and state-assisted organizations is becoming a widespreadmeans of access for employees and the public to obtain information availableelectronically, but nonvisual access, whether by speech, Braille, or otherappropriate means has been overlooked in purchasing and deploying the latestinformation technology; (iii) presentation of electronic data solely in avisual format is a barrier to access by individuals who are blind or visuallyimpaired, preventing them from participating on equal terms in crucial areasof life, such as education and employment; (iv) alternatives, including bothsoftware and hardware adaptations, have been created so that interactivecontrol of computers and use of the information presented is possible by bothvisual and nonvisual means; and (v) the goals of the state in obtaining anddeploying the most advanced forms of information technology properly includeuniversal access so that the segments of society with particular needs(including individuals unable to use visual displays) will not be left out ofthe information age.
B. It is the policy of the Commonwealth that all covered entities shallconduct themselves in accordance with the following principles: (i)individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the right to fullparticipation in the life of the Commonwealth, including the use of advancedtechnology that is provided by such covered entities for use by employees,program participants, and members of the general public, and (ii) technologypurchased in whole or in part with funds provided by the Commonwealth to beused for the creation, storage, retrieval, or dissemination of informationand intended for use by employees, program participants, and members of thegeneral public shall be adaptable for access by individuals who are blind orvisually impaired. The implementation of nonvisual access technology underthis chapter shall be determined on a case-by-case basis as the need arises.
A. The General Assembly finds that (i) the advent of the information agethroughout the United States and around the world has resulted in lastingchanges in information technology; (ii) use of interactive visual displayterminals by state and state-assisted organizations is becoming a widespreadmeans of access for employees and the public to obtain information availableelectronically, but nonvisual access, whether by speech, Braille, or otherappropriate means has been overlooked in purchasing and deploying the latestinformation technology; (iii) presentation of electronic data solely in avisual format is a barrier to access by individuals who are blind or visuallyimpaired, preventing them from participating on equal terms in crucial areasof life, such as education and employment; (iv) alternatives, including bothsoftware and hardware adaptations, have been created so that interactivecontrol of computers and use of the information presented is possible by bothvisual and nonvisual means; and (v) the goals of the state in obtaining anddeploying the most advanced forms of information technology properly includeuniversal access so that the segments of society with particular needs(including individuals unable to use visual displays) will not be left out ofthe information age.
B. It is the policy of the Commonwealth that all covered entities shallconduct themselves in accordance with the following principles: (i)individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the right to fullparticipation in the life of the Commonwealth, including the use of advancedtechnology that is provided by such covered entities for use by employees,program participants, and members of the general public, and (ii) technologypurchased in whole or in part with funds provided by the Commonwealth to beused for the creation, storage, retrieval, or dissemination of informationand intended for use by employees, program participants, and members of thegeneral public shall be adaptable for access by individuals who are blind orvisually impaired. The implementation of nonvisual access technology underthis chapter shall be determined on a case-by-case basis as the need arises.
A. The General Assembly finds that (i) the advent of the information agethroughout the United States and around the world has resulted in lastingchanges in information technology; (ii) use of interactive visual displayterminals by state and state-assisted organizations is becoming a widespreadmeans of access for employees and the public to obtain information availableelectronically, but nonvisual access, whether by speech, Braille, or otherappropriate means has been overlooked in purchasing and deploying the latestinformation technology; (iii) presentation of electronic data solely in avisual format is a barrier to access by individuals who are blind or visuallyimpaired, preventing them from participating on equal terms in crucial areasof life, such as education and employment; (iv) alternatives, including bothsoftware and hardware adaptations, have been created so that interactivecontrol of computers and use of the information presented is possible by bothvisual and nonvisual means; and (v) the goals of the state in obtaining anddeploying the most advanced forms of information technology properly includeuniversal access so that the segments of society with particular needs(including individuals unable to use visual displays) will not be left out ofthe information age.
B. It is the policy of the Commonwealth that all covered entities shallconduct themselves in accordance with the following principles: (i)individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the right to fullparticipation in the life of the Commonwealth, including the use of advancedtechnology that is provided by such covered entities for use by employees,program participants, and members of the general public, and (ii) technologypurchased in whole or in part with funds provided by the Commonwealth to beused for the creation, storage, retrieval, or dissemination of informationand intended for use by employees, program participants, and members of thegeneral public shall be adaptable for access by individuals who are blind orvisually impaired. The implementation of nonvisual access technology underthis chapter shall be determined on a case-by-case basis as the need arises.
