Coast Guard Working 508 Compliance Before Dittman Post

On December 27th 2008 Robert Dittman a blind Coast Guard Auxiliarist posted a comment on Admiral Allens Blog concerning Section 508 Compliance.  We posted Blind Coast Guard Auxiliarist Helps Coast Guard See:

Robert Dittman, a blind Coast Guard Auxiliarist contacted Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen on the issues he hand possibly others are having with direct access to iCommandant. Adm. Allen has provided an immediate fix by posting an e-mail address that can be used by those experiencing similar problems with access.

Just 4 days earlier on 23 December 2008, Rear Admiral Mary Landry signed out ALCAOST 623/08 on Coast Guard Public Affairs Pier Site 508 Compliance.  Landry says this in the message

NOT ONLY IS 508 COMPLIANCE THE LAW, IT ENSURES THOSE WHO USE COMPUTER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES CAN ACCESS PUBLIC INFORMATION. AS PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATORS, WE MUST ENSURE OUR SERVICES INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS. IN ADDITION, REPEATED 508 VIOLATIONS ON CG WEB SITES RESULT IN DHS ERROR REPORTS AND JEOPARDIZE OUR ABILITY TO USE THE PIER SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS WORK IN THE FUTURE.

It appears Coast Guard was working this issue well before Mr. Dittman left his comment on the Admirals Blog.

Navy Knowledge Online Available to Coasties

Coast Guard announced in ALCOAST 632/08 that the U.S. Navy education portal known as NKO (Navy Knowledge Online), is available to all active duty and reserve members, retired Coast Guard personnel, both non-appropriated and appropriated funded civilian employees and family members if enrolled in DEERS.

ALCOAST 632/08 says anyone experiencing difficulties in the registration process should contact Mr. Gary Scheer, CG MWR Director at gary.s.scheer@uscg.mil, or 757.420.2480, Ext 3035 or Ms. Nellie Moffitt at nellie.moffitt@navy.mil or 901-874-6711.

All eligible members can enroll at www.nko.navy.mil

Navy Knowledge Online

Pay and Benefits for Non-Career Appointees Who Resign on January 20, 2009

You may find it interesting to know that the federal government protects your tax dollars down to the last penny when it comes to paying political appointees who will be out of work at noon on inauguration day. Just a thought, but wouldn’t it be nice if that same standard was applied to all areas of the federal budget.

This memorandum is a special reminder to agencies of the pay policies in effect that will apply to non-career appointees (e.g., Executive Schedule, non-career Senior Executive Service, Schedule C) who resign effective at noon, eastern standard time (EST), on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009. Since holiday pay is contingent upon the number of hours scheduled for work, affected employees are entitled to compensation (including holiday pay or any applicable holiday premium pay) only for periods of time during which their Federal appointments are in effect. Accordingly, each agency is responsible for determining the number of hours of pay for each non-career appointee based on the employee’s work schedule for that day, prior to the termination of his or her appointment at noon (EST).