GSA opens 508 IT center 
By: Dipka Bhambhani, GCN Staff

To encourage agencies to comply with Section 508, the General Services
Administration opened its Assistive Technology Showcase April 3, 2002 at its
Washington headquarters.  

Hundreds of federal officials flocked to the center, which displays some of
the latest technologies to improve accessibility for disabled users.  

GSA administrator Stephen Perry said the center's goal was to "help other
federal agencies serve the public" because agencies have not moved fast
enough in complying with Section 508. "It's an effort to quicken the pace of
change." 

Bruce McFarlane, acting director of the Agriculture Department's IT center,
Technology Accessible Resources Gives Empowerment Today, said agencies did
what they could with limited funds last year when the deadline for meeting
Section 508 mandates passed in June.  

In the future, agencies will invest more money in IT to improve
accessibility, he said. Agriculture plans to double its investment in
accessibility technology in fiscal 2004 and 2005, McFarlane added.  

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