What's happening
This bill requires certain New York state agencies to create accessible, multi-formatted online service menus for people with cognitive impairments.
Why it matters
Improves accessibility for individuals with cognitive impairments by requiring state agency websites to present information in multiple formats. including charts, dynamic flowcharts, and videos with captions—recognizing that people process information differently and may need alternatives to traditional text.
Mandates interactive features such as dynamic flowcharts that guide users through agency services by asking tailored questions. , making it easier for those who may struggle with complex site navigation or information overload to find relevant services.
Requires collaboration between health-focused agencies and the state’s technology office. to ensure these accessibility changes are technically sound and user-centered, signaling a commitment to more inclusive digital government services.
Establishes a legal obligation for agencies to consider cognitive disabilities in their web design. , potentially setting a precedent for broader accessibility standards in other public digital resources.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Accessible Menus for Disabled
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Make State Websites Accessible
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Angelo Santabarbara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7136
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 3, 2018
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the state technology law, in relation to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 170-c to read as follows:
§ 170-c. Multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired. The department of health, the office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health shall develop, with the assistance of the office of information technology services, multi-formatted services menus for persons who suffer from a disability arising from a cognitive impairment, which shall be accessible from the home page of such website. Such services menus shall include a complete list of available services from each such agency in the following formats:
1. charts and graphs for visual learners;
2. dynamic flowcharts for visual thinkers. Such flowcharts shall:
(a) match the website visitor to the areas most closely related to such website visitor's inquiry by asking the website visitor individual questions and then producing responses in logical sequence; and
(b) allow website visitors to revise their answers at any point in order to be prompted to the next menu; and
3. videos for auditory learners. Such videos shall include closed captions and a full transcript of such videos for review of references or information mentioned in such videos.
§ 2. Subdivisions 20 and 21 of section 103 of the state technology law are renumbered subdivisions 21 and 22, and a new subdivision 20 is added to read as follows:
20. To advise and assist the department of health, the office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health in developing multi-formatted services menus for persons who suffer from
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05254-01-7
S. 7136 2
a disability arising from a cognitive impairment pursuant to section one hundred seventy-c of the executive law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law and the state technology law, in relation to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cogni- tively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill provides that the Department of Health, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and the Office of Mental Health will develop multi-formatted services menus accessible on their websites for persons with cognitive disabilities.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill would require DOH, OPWDD, and OMH to develop multi-formatted services menus accessible on their websites. Such menus would include charts and graphs, dynamic flowcharts, and videos to help visual and auditory learners.
Section 2 of the bill would require the Office of Information Technology Services to assist the aforementioned agencies in developing such menus.
Section 3 of the bill provides the effective date.
Justification
Twenty-eight million United States citizens have cognitive disabilities such as developmental disability; severe, persistent mental illness; brain injury; stroke; and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. The disruptive convergence of computing and commu- nication technologies has substantially altered how people acquire, utilize, and disseminate knowledge and information.
Access to comprehensible information and usable communication technolo- gies is necessary for all people in our society, particularly for people with cognitive disabilities, to promote self-determination and to engage meaningfully in major aspects of life such as education, health promotion, employment, recreation, and civic participation. Technology and information access by people with cognitive disabilities must be guided by standards and best-practices, such as personalization and compatibility across devices and platforms, and through the application of innovations including automated and predictive technologies, Ensuring access to technology and information for the 28 million people with cognitive disabilities in the United States will create new-markets and employment opportunities; decrease dependency on public services; reduce healthcare costs; and improve the independence, productivity, and quali- ty of life of people with cognitive disabilities.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.