On September 26, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a rule requiring modification of airline Web sites and automated kiosks at airports “to ensure that individuals with disabilities can readily use these technologies to obtain the same information and services as other members of the public.” Accessibility criteria apparently do not apply to the DOT, however.
The comment period for the DOT’s proposed rulemaking was extended on November 21, but the notice of rulemaking indicates that the agency’s online public comment form “is not easily accessed” by individuals with visual impairments. The DOT directs these individuals to use “alternative submission methods” to comment on the proposed rule.
Hopefully the disabled are not discouraged from commenting on this rule, despite their limited options to do so. This is just another unfortunate reminder that the government often insists we do as it says, not as it does.
John Russell is a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. Click here for more information on interning at Heritage.
DOT has partnered with a Cornell University project, Regulation Room, to give the general public a place to learn about and comment on these proposed accessibility rules. We've worked hard to make Regulation Room an accessible site, which makes it an accessible forum for individuals with visual impairments. DOT has a lot of unanswered questions such as: What should the standards for web and kiosk accessibility be? Which websites and how many kiosks should be covered? How long should companies have to make the changes? Go to regulationroom.org to learn more about the proposals and to have your voice heard.