FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Lance Danbe
MCS Education Services


MCS/ed Hires Cynthia Waddell, International Expert on Disability Access, To Launch New ADA/Section 508 Accessible Design Services

SACRAMENTO, CA - February 11, 2004 - Cynthia D. Waddell, an internationally recognized expert in accessible designs for facilities and information technology has been appointed executive director of a new division for MCS/ed.

The Rancho Cordova-based company, whose clients include most of the school districts in California, handles cost reimbursement claims for state-mandated programs as well as a variety of other compliance services.

“Companies, nonprofits and schools across the country are directly affected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and U.S. Section 508,” said Jeff Williams, the chief executive and finance officer of MCS/ed. “We have a great deal of respect for Cynthia’s expertise, energy and global reputation, and feel this initiative will expand our client base and fit extremely well within our core values.”

Waddell, a lawyer by training, most recently served as executive director of the International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet (ICDRI). She is the author of the first accessible web-design standard in the United States, which led to recognition as a Best Practice by the federal government — and contributed to the eventual passage of legislation for Election and Information Technology Accessibility Standards. Waddell is also co-author of the book Constructing Accessible Web Sites.

Waddell is the only American who will speak at a March 10 conference in Japan that will announce the inclusion of Web Accessibility Guidelines as part of the Japanese Industrial Standards. She will be introduced by (Ms.) Haruko Arimura, a member of the Diet (Japan’s Parliament) and Dr. Hiroshi Fujiwara, president of the Internet Research Institute and co-chair of the Internet Association.

“Japanese leaders are using accessible design as a key influence on the country’s new standards for building ‘barrier-free’ information services, and view US Section 508 activity as global leverage for their standards,” Waddell said.

The following week, Waddell will speak at an international conference on technology and people with disabilities in Los Angeles.

Waddell also has been a Lecturer in Law at Santa Clara University School of Law and was the ADA compliance officer for the City of San Jose.
 

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Editors: To interview Cynthia Waddell, please contact JT Long at or e-mail MCS/ed at access. The company’s website may be visited at www.mcsed.com.