The Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence tasks the Access Board with several actions to help address equity and accessibility with respect to AI. To aid in these goals, the Access Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, with the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). This collaborative partnership seeks to help ensure that people with disabilities benefit from AI while being protected from its risks.
A key element of the MOU is launching an informative and collaborative AI series that will include information sessions, public hearings, and sharing best practices. The Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Equity, Access & Inclusion for All Series is the first step toward these goals. As part of this series, the Access Board is holding public hearings with members of the disability community, Federal Agency AI leaders, and AI practitioners. In total, three virtual hearing sessions will take place: two for the disability community (on August 8) and one for federal agency and AI industry practitioners (on August 22).
The hearings support the Access Board’s work in fulfilling the Executive Order on the Use of Artificial Intelligence to engage with disability community members and AI practitioners to learn about the risks and benefits of AI, and to issue recommendations and technical assistance to promote equity, accessibility, and inclusion for all.