Page 27 - Desert Oracle January 2021

WASHINGTON UPDATE

December 23, 2020 Volume 26, Number 22
ACCESS BOARD ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR PUBLIC FORUM ON INCLUSIVE DESIGN OF
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

In the spring of 2021, the U.S. Access Board, in partnership with other federal agencies, will
host a series of virtual meetings on making autonomous vehicles (AVs) accessible to all
passengers, including those with disabilities. The four-part series will provide an open forum
where members of the public and stakeholders can discuss considerations, challenges, and
solutions in designing AVs that are inclusive of everyone. The sessions are free and open to the
public. Attendees will be able to share comments, suggestions, and information and pose
questions.

The Board is undertaking this initiative jointly with other agencies, including the Department of
Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Department of Health and Human
Service’s Administration for Community Living. The sessions will be conducted through a virtual
platform (Zoom) and will focus on different types of accessibility and user groups. The final
session will review findings and recommendations, identify areas for further study, and
recommend next steps.
The planned schedule is:

Accessibility for Passengers with Mobility Disabilities: Entering and Exiting Vehicles March 10,
2021, 2:00 – 3:30 (ET)

Accessibility for Passengers with Mobility Disabilities: Maneuvering and Securement in Vehicles
March 24, 2021, 2:00 – 3:30 (ET)

Communication Accessibility for Passengers with Sensory or Cognitive Disabilities April 7, 2021,
2:00 – 3:30 (ET)
Findings, Recommendations, Future Research, and Suggested Next Steps April 21, 2021, 2:00
– 3:30 (ET)

Further details will be posted on the Board’s AV webpage in coming weeks. Questions about
the sessions may be directed to Randall Duchesneau III at duchesneau@access-board.gov or
(202) 272-0044.

COMPACT ACT SIGNED INTO LAW

President Trump signed H.R. 8247, the Veterans Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care,
and Treatment Act of 2020 or the Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020, on December 5. This bill
combines language taken from nine separate measures aimed at reducing veteran suicide and
compliments the efforts of the John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement
Act which became law a couple months ago. Provisions in the Compact Act direct VA to:

• Carry out a pilot program on information sharing between VA and designated persons
regarding the assistance and benefits available to veterans;