WHEREAS, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 million, or one in five, individuals living in the United States have disabilities with the most common functional type of disability being mobility limitation followed by disability in thinking or memory, or both, independent living, vision, and self-care; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with disabilities are entitled to inclusion in our democratic society under federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and under state and locals laws; and

WHEREAS, The disruptive convergence of computing and communication technologies has substantially altered how people acquire, utilize, and disseminate knowledge and information; and

WHEREAS, Access to comprehensible information and usable communication technologies is necessary for all people in our society, particularly for individuals with disabilities, to promote self-determination and to engage meaningfully in major aspects of life, including education, health promotion, employment, recreation, and civic participation; and

WHEREAS, The vast majority of individuals with disabilities have limited or no access to comprehensible information and usable communication technologies; and

WHEREAS, Individuals with disabilities must have access to commercially available devices and software that incorporate principles of universal design, including flexibility and ease of use for all; and

WHEREAS, Technology and information access by individuals with disabilities must be guided by standards and best practices, including personalization and compatibility across devices and platforms, and through the application of innovations, including automated and predictive technologies; and

WHEREAS, Security and privacy must be assured and managed to protect civil rights and personal dignity of individuals with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Enhanced public and private funding is urgently required to allow individuals with disabilities to utilize technology and access information as a natural consequence of their rights to inclusion in our society; and

WHEREAS, Ensuring access to technology and information for the 53 million individuals with disabilities in the United States will create new markets and employment opportunities, decrease dependency on public services, reduce health care costs, and improve the independence, productivity, and quality of life of individuals with disabilities; now, therefore, be it