Bill O’Boyle: Casey urges VA to make websites more accessible for people with disabilities

Oct. 16—WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Senate Aging Committee Chairman Bob Casey, D-Scranton, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-MT, and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-CA, this week sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, urging the VA to do more to make the agency's websites and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

The Members of Congress called on the VA to accelerate its efforts to remediate long-standing accessibility issues and provide consistent transparency into which of the VA's websites are not yet accessible.

In June 2022, Sen. Casey led a letter to the VA, urging them to improve their website accessibility in compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires government electronic and information technology to be accessible for people with disabilities.

The VA responded to Sen. Casey's June letter, providing more information about its remediation efforts. Casey and his colleagues wrote in response to the VA's letter, noting several points of concern, including the Department's current inability to conduct federally mandated accessibility data collection due to contract lapses.

In response to the VA's statement that the agency will change how it reports on its website accessibility based on which sites are most frequently used, Casey, Tester and Takano emphasized that Congress and taxpayers must be apprised of the full scope of VA's Section 508 compliance. They ask that "VA continue to report the total number of websites that are not compliant with Section 508 rather than self-selecting how compliance is measured."

The signers express concern at the length of the VA's current remediation timeline — for example, they note that while the National Cemetery Administration's updated remediation plan "is a significant improvement, it reported that fixing 950 un-accessible PDFs will not be completed until 2026 — roughly one per day." They are also concerned that VA staff training to ensure staff are prepared to "to assist individuals with disabilities" is optional rather than mandatory.

In their letter, Casey, Tester and Takano request that the VA:

—Report back to them how it will conduct outreach to a diverse array of disability groups beyond existing relationships with Veterans Service Organizations.

—Provide them with an updates on contracting a new vendor to scan websites for accessibility.

—Keep them apprised of progress and timeline of establishing an Accessibility Office within the agency.

Meuser co-sponsor of'Parents Bill of Rights Act'

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, is a co-sponsor of HR 6056, "The Parents' Bill of Rights Act," which will fully inform those raising children of what is happening in classrooms and make the education process more transparent.

The legislation includes provisions that will not only allow more of an examination of the school curriculum but will also protect parents from being labeled as threatening for expressing their concerns at school board meetings.

"It's upsetting that parents are somehow seen as adversaries simply for asking valid questions about what happens in the classrooms where their children spend a significant portion of their day," Meuser stressed. "This legislation's goal is to give them the opportunity to be fully informed of what children are being taught, the ability to have their opinions valued and better transparency regarding school contracts and funding."

The bill states:

Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught. School districts must post the curriculum publicly, states must provide copies of any revisions to their academic standards, parents must be given timely notice if there is an impending elimination to any gifted or talented program and schools must provide parents with a list of reading materials available in libraries.

Parents have the right to be heard. Teachers must offer at least two in-person meeting opportunities for parents each year, parents must be allowed to address school boards regarding matters that impact their children, educators and policymakers must respect their First Amendment rights and right to assemble, and school districts should consider community feedback when making important decisions.

Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending. There must be public disclosure of school budget, including revenues and expenditures.

Parents have the right to protect their children's privacy. Students must not share data with tech companies without the permission of parents, schools must not sell student data for commercial purposes, parents must have a say when schools develop or update their student privacy policies and procedures and parents must consent to any medical exams that take place at schools, including mental health or substance abuse disorder screenings.

Parents have the right to keep their children safe. Schools must notify parents of violent activity occurring on school grounds or at school-sponsored events while protecting the privacy of those involved in the incidents.

"I have heard from many parents who want to be involved in the education of their children, and they feel their voice is being muted," Meuser stated. "They want the opportunity to participate in these important decisions without fear of reprisal and with the confidence they are partners with schools."

State Fire Commissioner provides fire prevention tips as fire incidents spike

Acting State Fire Commissioner Charles McGarvey is urging Pennsylvanians to take part in this year's Fire Prevention Week and review important fire safety information.

Today's homes are filled with synthetic materials that burn hotter and faster than ever. In a typical fire, you may have as little as two minutes to safely exit the structure from the time you first hear a smoke alarm. Knowing how to use that time wisely is critical, and it takes both planning and practice.

This year's Fire Prevention Week theme — "fire won't wait, plan your escape" — works to educate everyone about the importance of fire escape planning. Knowing what to do, and where to go when a smoke alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe.

"Confusion and inaction can be fatal during the critical first few seconds after people hear a smoke alarm or smell smoke," McGarvey said. "Planning your escape and practicing that plan in advance are absolutely vital to protecting your safety."

A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place that's a safe distance from the home.

Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.

Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.

Teach children how to escape on their own in case adults are not able to help them.

Make sure your house number is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.

Close doors behind you as you leave — this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.

Never go back inside a burning building. Once outside, stay outside.

The latest fire loss report from the National Fire Protection Association shows the largest number of home fire deaths since 2007, a 14-year high. Additional data shows that 75% of all U.S. fire deaths occur in homes; Pennsylvania routinely ranks among the states with the highest number of fatalities.

State outlines winter preparations, guidance for public readiness

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey this week held a media briefing to outline plans for winter services, highlight job opportunities, and discuss how the public can prepare for the season.

Keiser also outlined a PennDOT signage pilot project that will be used on parts of Interstates 80 and 81 this winter.

"Safety is our top priority, and motorists are our partners in making this season a safe one," Keiser said.

Each year, the PTC readies itself to confront the winter elements by properly preparing its entire fleet of trucks, plows and salt spreaders and training more than 425 licensed equipment operators so they are ready to activate 24/7 staffing this fall.

With more than $212 million budgeted for this winter's statewide operations, PennDOT deploys about 4,700 on-the-road workers, has more than 636,000 tons of salt on hand across the state and will take salt deliveries throughout the winter.

PennDOT is actively seeking nearly 700 temporary equipment operators statewide for the winter season to supplement the department's full-time staff and job seekers can apply for over 100 other non-operator winter positions such as diesel and construction equipment mechanics, welders, clerks and more.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.