Workshop Synopsis

On June 12th, 2013, the NIST Cloud Computing Program hosted a 1-day workshop on “Cloud & Accessibility” to investigate and discuss the relevant issues in this paradigm. The NIST Cloud Computing Roadmap (NIST SP 500-293) identifies the high priority requirements for complete adoption of cloud computing. Addressing accessibility falls under the realm of Requirement #7 of the Roadmap:

 

Defined unique government regulatory requirements and solutions
 

Ensuring that all citizens have equal access to information is a unique government regulatory requirement and accessibility is considered to be fundamental to this solution. Cloud computing solutions that address and highlight accessibility offer a path forward for an agency to fulfill its mission and requirements by providing a larger number of potential solutions that USG IT managers can use to be creative in the development of new services and solve their unique accessibility requirements. As work progresses in cloud computing, it is important to promote, incorporate and discuss applicable standards in accessibility for cloud computing services as a discipline for investigation

The Workshop included topics on Accessibility in the fundamental cloud computing application categories that are of importance to the USG:

  • Enterprise collaboration Tools – email, calendaring, IM
  • Resource/budget planning/management tools
  • Customer relationship management (CRM)
  • Web server /Content Management
  • Identity Management
  • Document Retrieval/ Library Systems

The workshop hosted an “Industry Response” and “Path Forward” panels and scheduled breakouts in the afternoon.

In addition, the NIST Cloud Computing Program announces formation of new Public Working Group on “Cloud and Accessibility”. The first meeting will be held via telecon on June 4, 2013 from 11am-1pm EDT. This PWG will address the topics facing cloud computing with respect to accessibility, standards and usage of common application categories. The PWG will align into sub-teams dedicated to the application categories.

Presentations

  • Welcome & Opening Remarks
    • George Strawn, Director, NCO/NITRD
    • Clayton Lewis, Professor of Computer Science and Fellow of the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado

Accessibility Challenges for Cloud Services

  • Enterprise Collaboration Tools, Gregg C. Vanderheiden, Director of the Trace R&D Center, Professor in both the Industrial & Systems Engineering and Biomedical Engineering Departments at University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Customer relationship management (CRM), Jutta Treviranus, Director, Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), Professor, Faculty of Design at Ontario College of Art & Design
  • Inclusive and Accessible Workspace Technology, Mario Damiani, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)

Special Topics in Accessibility

  • Jamal Mazrui, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Moderated Panel: Industry Response to Current State

  • Moderator – Jim Tobias, Inclusive Technologies, video
  • Panelists
    • Susan Mazrui, AT&T
    • Alex Li, Microsoft
    • Steve Jacobs, IDEAL Group, Inc. and CEO, Apps4Android, slides
    • Q&A, video

Moderated Panel: Path Forward

  • Moderator – Clayton Lewis, Professor of Computer Science and Fellow of the Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado
  • Panelists
    • Jutta Treviranus, Director, Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC), Professor, Faculty of Design at Ontario College of Art & Design
    • Ken Klingenstein, Internet 2, slidesvideo
    • Marc Irlandez, United Cerebral Palsy, video
    • Ann Cameron Williams, The Arc of the United States
    • Q&A, video

Breakout Sessions