AccessibilityAccessibility

US Accessible Web Design US Accessible Web Design Requirements: Section 508Requirements: Section 508

Cynthia D. Waddell, JDCynthia D. Waddell, JDExecutive Director, ICDRIExecutive Director, ICDRI

Technology OverviewTechnology Overview

Technology CrossroadTechnology Crossroad

Section 508 Impact & ChallengesSection 508 Impact & Challenges

Section 508 Accessibility ForumSection 508 Accessibility Forum

Accessibility Wins AwardsAccessibility Wins Awards

Technology CrossroadTechnology Crossroad

Explosive Growth of Electronic Explosive Growth of Electronic CommerceCommerce

Shift from Web Content Shift from Web Content

Publishing to Web ApplicationsPublishing to Web Applications

IT Evolution to Multi-Modality IT Evolution to Multi-Modality

ArchitectureArchitecture

Civil Rights AlignmentCivil Rights Alignment

White House Digital Economy White House Digital Economy ConferenceConference

The Growing Digital Divide in Access The Growing Digital Divide in Access for People with Disabilities: for People with Disabilities: Overcoming Barriers to Participation Overcoming Barriers to Participation

by Cynthia D. Waddellby Cynthia D. Waddell

Commissioned by US Dept of Commerce Commissioned by US Dept of Commerce and the National Science Foundationand the National Science Foundation

www.icdri.org/the_digital_divide.htmwww.icdri.org/the_digital_divide.htm

Section 508Section 508

Rehabilitation Act Amendments of Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 Strengthened Section 5081998 Strengthened Section 508

Electronic & Information Electronic & Information

Technology Accessibility StandardsTechnology Accessibility Standards

Expanded Definition of Expanded Definition of

Accessibility in the Design of EIT Accessibility in the Design of EIT

Procured by the Federal GovtProcured by the Federal Govt

Section 508- ScopeSection 508- Scope

Hardware/Software

Any IT used Any IT used in creation, in creation, conversion conversion

or or duplication duplication

of data or of data or informationinformation

Web Pages

Databases

Fax Machines/Copiers

ITMs, Kiosks

Telephones

Multimedia

Section 508- ImpactSection 508- Impact

Accessibility in Mainstream EITAccessibility in Mainstream EIT

Accessibility in Both Products & Accessibility in Both Products &

Support – Help Desk, Support – Help Desk,

Documentation & Training Documentation & Training Interoperability for Assistive Interoperability for Assistive

Computer TechnologyComputer Technology

Section 508- ImpactSection 508- Impact

Provides a Private Right of Action Provides a Private Right of Action Against Federal Agencies Against Federal Agencies

Provides a Marketplace Incentive Provides a Marketplace Incentive

for Designing Accessibly for Designing Accessibly Informs Entities Covered under Informs Entities Covered under

ADA and Section 504ADA and Section 504

Section 508-ImpactSection 508-Impact

Requires an Accessible IT & Web Requires an Accessible IT & Web Design Plan - Cannot Handle IT Design Plan - Cannot Handle IT Accessibility Issues Exclusively Accessibility Issues Exclusively on an “Ad Hoc” or “As Needed on an “Ad Hoc” or “As Needed Basis”Basis”

Ripple Effect is Underway – Ripple Effect is Underway – States and Local Governments States and Local Governments are Adopting Section 508are Adopting Section 508

Section 508- ChallengesSection 508- Challenges

Danger of Fracturing Standards at Danger of Fracturing Standards at State & Local Gov’t Level by NOT State & Local Gov’t Level by NOT Recognizing Cross-Disability Tech Recognizing Cross-Disability Tech IssuesIssues

Danger of Undermining 508 Danger of Undermining 508

Effort in Litigation by Resolving Effort in Litigation by Resolving

Cases Through “Wrong” Tech Cases Through “Wrong” Tech

SolutionsSolutions

Federal Accessibility ForumFederal Accessibility Forum

Industry, Consumer, Industry, Consumer, Academia & Academia & Government Government Stakeholders in Stakeholders in Section 508 Effort Section 508 Effort

Next Meeting- SeptemberNext Meeting- September

2002 Location to be 2002 Location to be

DeterminedDetermined

CALIFORNIA PORTAL- my.ca.govCALIFORNIA PORTAL- my.ca.gov

Accessibility Brings Multiple AwardsAccessibility Brings Multiple Awards

New Book – New Book – Released April 2002Released April 2002

Includes Global Includes Global Survey of Survey of Accessible Web Law Accessible Web Law and Policies as well and Policies as well as In Depth Look at as In Depth Look at Section 508Section 508

Order at www.ICDRI.org for DiscountOrder at www.ICDRI.org for Discount