Clinton boosts agency accessibility

Administration officials expect President Clinton to release an executive

order today that will help federal agencies make their technologies and

policies accessible to people with disabilities.

The executive order, coming on the 10th anniversary of the Americans With

Disabilities Act, will require agencies during the next five years to hire

100,000 new employees that would qualify as disabled under the act.

The order will call for agency human resources managers to turn in plans

to the Office of Personnel Management on how they will hire the new employees.

It will also call for a study of how agencies are using technology and home-based

and off-site work environments to make work easier for employees with disabilities.

"It all connects up with the issue of digital divide and making sure that

America uses all of its resources," a Clinton administration official said.

"And it will push agencies to make sure that their technology is accessible

to anyone."