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Edited By Bob Monn and Shelagh Taylor
DSHS Creates Web Accessibility Testing Lab
Other News:
-- Three Washington projects among Civic.Com's Civic 50 awards announced last month
-- Gov. Locke profiled in July issue of Government Technology magazine
-- News from the annual ESRI user conference in early July
-- Fishing, hunting licenses for sale on-line
-- New Web-based child care information clearinghouse for employers
-- DSHS client services take a giant step into future with on-line Community Services Office
-- New DSHS Internet site allows citizens to report Welfare fraud
July 12, 2001 IPMA Board Meeting
--by David Brummel, e-Government Analyst, Department of Social and Health Services
Imagine you are a person who uses a computer with a screen reader or speaker to access DSHS Web sites. Imagine you own a computer with a 28.8K modem, Pentium I processor and 15" monitor and use Mozilla to access DSHS Web sites. Now try to imagine you are a DSHS Web developer trying to create Web sites that are accessible to these clients. How will the Web sites render and perform in the different computer environments of the public?
Well, DSHS Web developers don’t have to wonder any longer.
On July 23, DSHS opened a new Accessibility Testing Lab. Created from equipment donated by different administrations, the lab contains a variety of computers, operating systems, and browsers that mimic the environments of the public. The lab also contains the latest and most widely used screen readers, screen speakers and speaking browsers such as Jaws for Windows, IBM HomePage Reader, Outspoken, WeMedia and Dragon Naturally Speaking.
With this equipment, Web developers are able to test their Web sites to ensure they are accessible to their clients.
The idea for the lab came from the DSHS e-Government Team as one of a series of recommendations for making DSHS Web sites more accessible and user friendly. To leverage resources, it was recommended one lab be created that could be used by all administrations instead of each administration having to build individual labs of their own. The hardware and software that makes up the lab was recommended by a group of Web developers from different DSHS administrations.
The lab is located in OB-2 and is supported by Information System Services Division staff. A special feature of the lab is that the computers connect to the Internet via Earthlink accounts using analog telephone lines. The hardware, software, ISP and analog lines were configured to replicate how the public might access DSHS Internet sites.
The testing lab is expected to evolve over time as more hardware and software is acquired and new screen readers and speakers are introduced. If you have any surplus hardware or software you would like to donate to the lab, please contact the DSHS e-Center at 902-7610 or E-CENTER@dshs.wa.gov.
--Compiled by Bob Monn and Shelagh Taylor
The Access Washington customer support system, the DIS Digital Government Applications Academy, and the Diabetes Electronic Management System (DEMS) were recognized last month by Civic.Com magazine as 2001 Civic 50 award winners. These awards are intended to recognize innovative public information technology projects. See the complete story (Link no longer available) including the list of award winners and a synopsis of each project.
Editors' Note: If one of our readers knows which agency developed DEMS, please contact us so that we can give appropriate credit. The Civic.Com article omitted this information.
Governor Locke was interviewed by Government Technology magazine for its July 2001 cover story. See the complete story.
If you interested in GIS software developments, you should read this report on the annual ESRI user conference held last month in San Diego. The article was published in Directions Magazine which reports on GIS news. ESRI is a leading GIS software vendor.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) began offering Internet sales of various Washington state recreational licenses in early July. See July 2, 2001 WDFW news release (link removed 05/01/04).
In early July the Office of Trade and Economic Development (OTED) announced a new web site offering information on work-related child care programs for small and medium-sized businesses. See July 3, 2001 OTED news release (link removed 05/01/04).
In mid-July DSHS announced its on-line CSO including the nation's first statewide electronic application process for social services. See July 19, 2001 DSHS news release (link removed 05/01/04).
In late July DSHS announced the availability of an on-line complaint form that can be used by the public to file complaints about suspected fraud by DSHS vendors or recipients of public assistance programs. See July 27, 2001 DSHS news release (link removed 05/01/04).
Members Present: Jim Albert, Mary Ellen Bradley, Thomas Bynum, Phil Grigg, Sheryl Hall, Dennis Jones, Dennis Laine, Mike McVicker, Bob Monn, Darrel Riffe, Doug Tanabe and Shelagh Taylor
Mary Ellen Bradley, IPMA Chair, opened the July 12, 2001, meeting of the IPMA Board of Directors at 7:35 a.m.
REPORTS
Secretary/Treasurer: Dennis Laine identified a correction to the June Board meeting minutes in that the Forum Planning Committee had held the debriefing meeting. The minutes from the June 2001, Board meeting were approved as amended. Bob Monn will make the correction on the web site version.
Thomas Bynum presented the June financial status and activities reports. The Board approved the reports.
Business Planning: After weighing several alternatives proposed by IPMA’s Merrill Lynch broker, Keith Cameron, the Board voted to invest $10,000 in shares of EMC Corporation.
Phil Coates reported that he had met with a local GHB Insurance agent to review the IPMA’s coverage needs. IPMA’s liability insurance coverage has been upgraded to better reflect the current events produced by IPMA. Until mid June only the Forum was explicitly covered. Now, all events are covered.
Executive Seminar: Phil Grigg reported that preparations for the 2001 Executive Seminar at Skamania Lodge September 17 - 19, 2001, are proceeding on schedule with the exception of speakers. Phil reported a good deal of churn among the speakers. They need three more speakers to complete the agenda. Several board members had suggestions and volunteered to follow up on them and get back to Phil if something could be worked out.
Phil reported that registrations are coming in faster than in years’ past. Since there is a finite limit as to the number of registrants that can be accommodated, he alerted Board members who haven’t yet registered, that they should do so.
Forum: Dennis Laine reported that the format of the debriefing held at Anthony’s Restaurant worked well. It was noted at the meeting that there were not many sessions at the Forum that were directed to Programmers and Analysts. There will be an effort to remedy that in the plans for the 2002 Forum.
Professional Development: Sheryl Hall reported that the June Professional Development panel discussion at St. Martin’s went well with 41 attendees. She reported that the session received very good evaluations by those who attended.
The next event will also be held at St. Martin’s and the subject will be Software Development.
Communications: Bob Monn took input from the board on the addition to the IPMA web site of special areas for Board business, Corporate Sponsors, and Forum vendors. Bob asked for the Board’s direction on making e-mail addresses of Forum attendees available to Corporate Sponsors. The board directed Bob not to provide e-mail addresses of Forum attendees to the Corporate Sponsors. The e-mail addresses will remain under the IPMA control and use of these addresses will be considered on a case by case basis. The board approved the structural changes made to the web site.
NEW BUSINESS
There will not be a board meeting in the month of August.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 a.m.
IPMA, P.O. Box 1943, Olympia, WA 98507-1943