Below is a copy of Executive Order Number 05-133 which address the
accessibility of electronic and information technology systems. As a
network it is important that our electronic information services be
accessible to students, parents, district staff, and members of the
community who have disabilities. To assist in network compliance the
following services will be provided:

1. Training on online accessibility during the August Regional Technology
meetings.
2. Training on Office accessibility during the August Regional Technology
meetings.
3. Training on Acrobat accessibility during the November Forum. Note here
that if you are planning on purchasing Acrobat version 7, get the
Professional version to get the full complement of accessibility tools.
4. Additional training and support as requested.

Our goal is to have all Network electronic information meet the W3C WCAG
Priority 1 standards by the June, 2006. This includes not only web pages
but also Office documents and PDF documents.

The following resources may be helpful:

1. WebXACT ( http://www.webxact.com/ ) is a free online service that
automatically checks web pages for accessibility issues. This will be
reviewed during the August Regional Technology meetings.
2. W3C Priorities ( http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/#priorities ).
3. Illinois Accessible Web Publishing Wizard for Office (
http://cita.disability.uiuc.edu/software/office/index.html ). This will be
reviewed during the August Regional Technology meetings.
4. WebAIM ( http://webaim.org/ ) provides training and resources on
accessible web development.

Let me know if you have any questions, and please share any additional
resources.

David Davis
www.fdlrstech.com




OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Executive Order Number 05-133
WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") provides a
comprehensive mandate to eliminate discrimination against qualified
individuals with disabilities in access to employment, public
accommodations, transportation, state and local governmental services, and
telecommunications; and
WHEREAS, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was amended in 1998 to create
Title 29 U.S.C. 794d, commonly referred to as "Section 508", which
requires that federal agencies make their electronic and information
technology accessible to persons with disabilities; and 
WHEREAS, these landmark laws have improved life in countless ways for
individuals with disabilities; and 
WHEREAS, we must continue to build upon these important legislative
foundations; and 
WHEREAS, as Governor, I am committed to ensuring that persons with
disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy full lives of independence,
productivity and self-determination; and 
WHEREAS, in order to do so, it is important that the state's electronic
and information technology systems are accessible to persons with
disabilities so that all Floridians can participate in and enjoy the
benefits of state services, programs and opportunities.
NOW THEREFORE, I, JEB BUSH, Governor of the State of Florida, by the
powers vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida
do hereby promulgate the following Executive Order, effective immediately:
Section 1. 
A. There is hereby created the Governor's Accessible Electronic and
Information Technology Task Force (hereinafter referred to as the "Task
Force") formed to provide guidance in improving the accessibility of the
state's electronic and information technology to persons with disabilities.
B. The Task Force shall be advisory in nature and shall review and make
recommendations regarding the accessibility of current state web-based
systems, as prioritized by the chairperson, by persons with disabilities. 
C. The Task Force shall adopt Section 508 standards for state electronic
information technology, including recognized exemptions and exceptions,
when reviewing and assessing these systems. The Task Force shall also
consider comparable access and equivalent facilitations when making its
recommendations. The Task Force is encouraged to offer innovative
solutions.
D. The Task Force shall recommend ways to eliminate barriers in the
state's information technology systems, including making available current
technologies and encouraging the development of new technologies, in order
to achieve the goal of providing reasonable access to persons with
disabilities.
E. All agencies under the authority of the Governor are directed, and all
other agencies are requested, to use reasonable efforts to comply with
Section 508 standards when purchasing, deploying or implementing
electronic and information technology.
Section 2. 
The Task Force shall consist of no more than fifteen (15) members
appointed by the Governor and serving at his pleasure. The Task Force
shall be headed by a chairperson appointed by the Governor. Any vacancy
occurring in the Task Force shall be filled by appointment by the
Governor. The Task Force shall include:
A. the Secretary of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities or her
designee; 
B. the Secretary of the Department of Management Services or his designee; 
C. a representative of the Department of Management Services with
web-based technological experience; 
D. the Commissioner of the Department of Education or his designee; 
E. the executive director of the Governor's ADA Working Group or her
designee; 
F. a private citizen with a disability; 
G. a public sector employee with a disability and experience with
electronic and information technology; 
H. a person with subject matter expertise in all of the major disability,
accessibility and information technology specialty areas;
I. a representative of the Florida Independent Living Council; 
J. a representative of the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind; 
K. a representative of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and
Technology; 
L. a representative of the Family Network on Disabilities of Florida,
Inc.; 
M. a representative of the Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities,
Inc.; 
N. a representative of the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council; and 
O. a representative of the Florida Association of the Deaf. 
Section 3. 
The Task Force shall meet at a time and place designated by the
chairperson. 
Section 4. 
The Task Force shall submit a report setting forth recommendations,
including any recommendations for legislative action, to the Governor by
January 31, 2006. 
Section 5. 
The Task Force members shall receive no compensation but may receive per
diem and travel expenses while attending meetings of the Task Force to the
extent allowed by Section 112.061, Florida Statutes. Per diem and travel
expenses shall be paid in accordance with Chapter 112, Florida Statutes.
The Department of Management Services, the Agency for Persons with
Disabilities, the Department of Education and the Agency for Health Care
Administration shall provide administrative support for the Task Force and
provide technical assistance as needed.
Section 6. 
In carrying out its responsibilities, the Task Force is authorized to call
upon any state agency, department, division or office to supply such data,
reports, or other information as it deems reasonably necessary to achieve
its objectives. All agencies under the authority of the Governor are
directed, and all other agencies are requested, to render full assistance
and cooperation to the Task Force so that the purpose of this Executive
Order may be accomplished. 
Section 7. 
The meetings of the Task Force shall be noticed and open to the public,
and shall be conducted pursuant to Chapters 119 and 286, Florida Statutes.
Section 8. 
The Task Force shall continue in existence only until its objectives are
achieved, but no later than January 31, 2006, unless extended by further
Executive Order.
Section 9. 
This Executive Order does not create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or equity by any party against the State of
Florida, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or
any other person. 
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the State of
Florida to be affixed at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 24th day of June,
2005.
_______________________ 
GOVERNOR 
ATTEST: 
____________________________________ 
SECRETARY OF STATE 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: JACOB DIPIETRE
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2005 (850) 488-5394 
PLEASE SEE ATTACHED EXECUTIVE ORDER 
GOVERNOR BUSH LAUNCHES EFFORT TO EXPAND ACCESSIBILITY OF ELECTRONIC AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
~Task Force Created to Increase Access to State Systems for Persons with
Disabilities~
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush today signed an executive order creating
the Accessible Electronic and Information Technology Task Force. The
group, chaired by Department of Management Services Secretary Tom Lewis,
Jr., will make recommendations on increasing accessibility to the state's
electronic and information technology systems for persons with
disabilities. 
"The buildings, facilities and structures in our state are required to
meet standards providing full access to persons with disabilities," said
Governor Bush. "As we go further into this electronic age, it is
imperative we apply similar types of standards to technology, ensuring all
Floridians have access to quality information on state services, programs
and opportunities."
The task force will review and assess the state's current web-based
systems, identify potential accessibility barriers and recommend changes
using existing and emerging technology.
"I applaud Governor Bush for his unwavering commitment to serving
Floridians with disabilities," said Secretary Lewis. "I am honored the
Governor has asked me to lead this task force and look forward to
increasing accessibility and moving state government into the future
through technology." 
The task force will submit a report outlining its recommendations,
including any proposed legislative actions, to the Governor by January 31,
2006.
Administrative support and technical assistance for the task force will be
provided by the Department of Management Services, Agency for Persons with
Disabilities, Department of Education and the Agency for Health Care
Administration. Appointed by the Governor, the 15-member task force
includes representatives from state agency leadership, disability advocacy
organizations and members of the disability community. All members will
serve terms starting June 24, 2005 and ending at the pleasure of the
Governor. Those serving are:
. Tom Lewis, Jr., 66, of Tallahassee, Secretary of the Department of
Management Services. Secretary Lewis will serve as chairman of this task
force. 
. Shelly Brantley, 36, of Tallahassee, Director of the Agency for Persons
with Disabilities. 
. John Winn, 56, of Tallahassee, Commissioner of the Department of
Education. 
. Julie Madden, 41, of Tallahassee, Deputy Secretary of the Department of
Management Services. 
. Thomas Ross, 63, of Windermere, attorney with Akerman Senterfitt. 
. S. Craig Kiser, 58, of Tallahassee, Director of the Florida Division of
Blind Services. 
. Thomas Nurse, 49, of Clearwater, associate specialist with New England
Financial. 
. Remer (Chip) Wilson, 55, of Jacksonville, President of ADA Consultants
of Northeast Florida, LLC. 
. Jesus Garcia, 41, of Hialeah, customer service manager with Logisticare,
LLC. 
. Jane E. Johnson, 46, of Tallahassee, Executive Director of the Florida
Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology. 
. Richard La Belle, 43, of Dunedin, attorney and President of the Law
Offices of Richard La Belle, P.A. 
. Steve Howells, 52, of Tallahassee, Deputy Director of the Advocacy
Center. 
. Karen Clay, 52, of Tampa, homemaker and caregiver of a disabled child. 
. Vincent E. McMullen, 40, of Clearwater, self employed. 
. Lloyd Tribley, 53, of Tallahassee, technology consultant and director of
the Real Choice Partnership Project Program.	
	
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