BALTIMORE (December 9, 2002) - The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has recognized the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) as the first state agency in the nation to receive NFB's "Nonvisual Accessibility Web Certification".

     Dr. Marc Maurer, NFB President, praised DGS and Secretary Peta N. Richkus for "anticipating the accessibility needs of all blind people working in occupations where they will be doing business with the State." Maurer presented Secretary Richkus with the NFB's Accessibility Leadership Award in recognition of what he called "her exemplary commitment to information access for blind Marylanders."

     "DGS is proud to be the first State agency in the nation to win NFB certification," said Secretary Richkus. "This certification shows DGS stands behind blind Marylanders' - in fact, blind Americans' - right to full and active participation on the Internet. We will continue to use information technology to make government services available to all our citizens 24/7."

     The NFB certification program certifies Web sites and applications as accessible to blind people when using talking screen access technology. Certification indicates that the site meets technical specifications of accessibility and allows blind users to perform all functions on the site. More importantly, certifications means usability of the site by the blind is equivalent to usability by the sighted.

     The National Federation of the Blind, with more than 50,000 members and 700 local and state affiliates and chapters, is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. For more information about the certification program, visit the NFB Web site at www.nfb.org.

CONTACT:

Dave Humphrey, Director of External Affairs
DGS Office of External Affairs
410-767-4652
E-MAIL: Dave.Humphrey@dgs.state.md.us

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