Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility (EITA) Advisory Council
History: HB 1342 created the Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Task Force in March 2003 to study and prepare recommendations concerning the accessibility of publicly produced and provided electronic and information technology for people with disabilities of Oklahoma's state agencies. The task force surveyed state agencies and submitted a report of its findings approximately January 1, 2004. The task force recommended new Oklahoma legislation that would require state agencies to procure, develop, and maintain electronic and information technology that is accessible and provides equal access to individuals with disabilities. Representative Abe Deutschendorf and Senator Gilmer Capps were the leading legislators for both pieces of legislation. They continued as co-chairs of the EITA Advisory Council for several years.
HB 2197 was drafted and signed into law April 2004. HB 2197 also transitioned the task force into an Advisory Council. For more information about the EITA Advisory Council please call Oklahoma ABLE Tech at (800) 257-1705. SB871 passed in April 13, 2009 updated the council membership.
Excerpt from HB 2197: “The Advisory Council shall study and make recommendations concerning the accessibility for the disabled to publicly produced and provided electronic and information technology and to provide advice and assistance to the Information Services Division of the Office of State Finance on the development of accessibility standards and complaint procedures.”
Oklahoma EITA Advisory Council Members
The Advisory Council shall be composed of the following members:
Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
1. Representative John Enns (Co-Chair), House of Representatives
2. Representative Lee Denney, House of Representatives
Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
3. Senator Jim Halligan (Co-chair), Oklahoma Senate
4. Senator Clark Jolley, Oklahoma Senate
5. The Chief Information Officer, or a designee; Alex Pettit, CIO, Office of Management and Enterprise Services or designee, Doug Doe, Director of Communications
6. The Director of the Department of Central Services, or a designee
7. The Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services, or a designee: Jonathan Woodward
8. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, or a designee: Derrel Fincher, Director of Learning Technologies
9. The State Director of the Oklahoma State Department of Career and Technology Education, or a designee: David Jinks
10. The Director of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped with the State Department of Rehabilitation, or a designee: Kevin Treese
11. The Director of the Office of Disability Concerns, or a designee: Dalene Barton
12. A representative of OneNet, the state telecommunications network within the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education: Ed Eckenstein
13. The Project Manager for Oklahoma ABLE Tech, the state assistive technology project located at Oklahoma State University; Linda Jaco; Brenda Dawes (Designee)
14. A representative of state agency web managers appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by a state agency web manager group: Rodney Davidson
15. A representative of an association representing education technology administrators appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Shawn Himes, Superintendent of Enid Public Schools
16. A representative of an association of distance learning education professionals appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; unfilled
Two representatives of corporations or vendors of information or electronic technology hardware or software who are knowledgeable or have experience in the field of assistive technology appointed by the Governor;
17. Mike Robichaux, DocSoft
18. Mark Mitchell, General Manager, www.OK.gov.
19. A representative of a corporation or vendor specializing in assistive technology appointed by the Governor; Vincent Cianfrone, NanoPac, Inc.
Four representatives who are individuals with a disability, one who is blind or visually impaired, one who is deaf or hard of hearing, one with a mobility disability, and one with a cognitive disability and all of whom are users of information or electronic technology appointed by the Governor.
20. Gary Bulmer
21. Jason Price, Department of Rehabilitation Services
22. Julie Brantley, Department of Rehabilitation Services
23. Larry Slaughter, Hearing Loss Association OKC Chapter