Relates to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies; includes the department of health, office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health.
Summary
A02213 would require three New York state agencies—the Department of Health, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and the Office of Mental Health—to create “multi-formatted services menus” on their websites for people with cognitive impairments. These menus would be accessible from each agency’s home page and would present a complete list of available services in multiple ways, including charts and graphs for visual learners, dynamic flowcharts that guide users through questions to the most relevant services, and videos for auditory learners.
The bill also specifies accessibility features for the video format, requiring closed captions and full transcripts. The intent is to make state agency websites easier to navigate for individuals whose disabilities affect cognition, learning style, or information processing, while still providing a complete and organized presentation of agency services.
Impact
The bill would amend the Executive Law and the State Technology Law by adding a new requirement for the Department of Health, OPWDD, and OMH to develop accessible, multi-format service menus, with assistance from the Office of Information Technology Services. In practical terms, it would impose a new web-design and accessibility obligation on these agencies and create a state-level standard for presenting services to users with cognitive impairments. It would affect agency website operations, digital accessibility practices, and the way service information is organized and delivered to the public.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be a straightforward accessibility initiative with an overall supportive policy orientation. The bill’s framing suggests a positive sentiment toward improving government usability for people with cognitive disabilities and toward making state services easier to find and understand. No formal opposition, amendments, or recorded controversy are available in the provided materials.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available committee transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of debate, if the bill were discussed, could include implementation costs, technical feasibility, the administrative burden on agencies, and whether the proposed formats are sufficiently flexible or comprehensive for different types of cognitive impairments. However, none of these concerns are attributed to any identified legislator, agency, or stakeholder in the provided record.
Same As
Relates to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies; includes the department of health, office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health.
Relates to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies; includes the department of health, office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health.
Relates to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies; includes the department of health, office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health.
Relates to providing for multi-formatted services menus for the cognitively impaired on websites operated by certain state agencies; includes the department of health, office for people with developmental disabilities and the office of mental health.
Expands the use of body scanners to facilities operated by the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities; establishes alternative methods of screening.
Expands the use of body scanners to facilities operated by the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities; establishes alternative methods of screening.
Establishes a program of tiered eligibility for services offered by the office for people with developmental disabilities for persons with learning disabilities and other complex neurological impairments.
Establishes a program of tiered eligibility for services offered by the office for people with developmental disabilities for persons with learning disabilities and other complex neurological impairments.
Ensures that the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities provide materials to individuals in English and the top six languages spoken in the state.
Establishes mandatory supplemental therapeutic services reimbursement for certain individuals receiving services through the office for people with developmental disabilities.