May’s White House Disability Call occurred on May 26th, 2011 at 3pm EST and featured Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood; Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Russlyn Ali; and Director of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Department of Labor, Patricia Shiu.

Secretary LaHood spoke about access within airplanes and airports, such as providing areas for service animals. He also spoke about the enforcement of regulations dealing with accessibility. Assistant Secretary Ali spoke about the field offices for the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education that are available for citizens to file complaints, etc. She also spoke on how standards apply to all levels of education (whether elementary, secondary, or collegiate) when it comes to all emergent technology such as the e-book. The Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education wrote letters explaining the above standards to all local education districts and colleges. Director Shiu spoke about the Department of Labor’s commitment to full employment rights for people with disabilities within the federal government and those companies contracted to work with the federal government. She spoke about how her office makes sure that all contractors working with the federal government do not discriminate and that they provide equal opportunities to everyone. Her office is also working toward making Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and Affirmative Action are clearer to everyone and better enforced.