USACM Welcomes Claudia Gordon as White House Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community
The ACM U.S. Public Policy Council welcomes President Obama’s appointment of Claudia Gordon as the new White House Public Engagement Advisor for the Disability Community.
Ms. Gordon previously served as the Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, a Senior Policy Advisor within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and manager of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. She also previously worked as a consulting attorney with the National Council on Disability.
“Accessibility to cyberspace and its content and services is more important than ever. I look forward to finding opportunities for ACM to reinforce Claudia Gordon’s efforts to improve access to computer-based systems,” said Vint Cerf, ACM President.
“Ms. Gordon has a long-standing reputation for actively engaging in policy approaches that make tangible differences in the lives of people with disabilities. I am confident that she will drive forward initiatives that translate ideas into government action, improve public awareness, and increase public involvement in federal disability policies,” said Jonathan Lazar, a member of the USACM Accessibility Committee.
Her appointment comes as the federal government is in its final stages of a multiyear effort, known as the Section 508 Refresh, to revise the regulations governing accessibility requirements for government websites under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the guidelines governing equipment under Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. Later this year, the U.S. Department of Justice anticipates moving forward with its rulemaking to address web accessibility regulations for state and local governments under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
“Throughout her career, Ms. Gordon has taken the lead to ensure broader and more inclusive approaches. We look forward to working with her, her office, and the Administration to improve the lives of people with disabilities by advancing the accessibility of information and communication technologies,” said Harry Hochheiser, Chair of the USACM Accessibility Committee.