Slide1: Section 508 Accessible Web: US & International Impact Cynthia D. Waddell, JD Executive Director, International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COLLOQUIUM 8 October 2003 Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland


Slide2: Published with permission from USGSA


Slide3: Technology Overview Technology Crossroad Complaints Filed Due to Inaccessible Web Design Development of Accessible Web Laws & Policies Impact in US and Abroad


Slide4: Technology Crossroad Explosive Growth Contributing to User Interface Requirements Shift to Web Applications & Enterprise Portals IT Evolution to Multi-Modality Architecture Civil Rights Alignment


Slide5: White House Digital Economy Conference The Growing Digital Divide in Access for People with Disabilities: Overcoming Barriers to Participation by Cynthia D. Waddell Commissioned by US Dept of Commerce & the National Science Foundation www.icdri.org/the_digital_divide.htm


Slide6: Web Complaints 1995 Americans with Disabilities Act Complaint against the City of San Jose, CA USA 1995 Led to first Accessible Web Design Standard for Local Government and Federal recognition as a Best Practice


Slide7: Web Complaints Australian Disability Discrimination Act Complaint (DDA) against Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) 1999 Court Found SOCOG in Breach of the DDA and Ordered that the Web Site be made Accessible


Slide8: Development of Internet Standards World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative-1997 US– Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards (1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act strengthening Section 508)


Slide9: W3C Web Accessibility Initiative Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG)- 1999 Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (ATAG)-2000 User Agent Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (UAAG)-2002


Slide10: Section 508- US Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 Strengthened Section 508 Electronic & Information Technology Accessibility Standards Expanded Definition of Accessibility in the Design of EIT Procured by the Federal Govt


Slide11: Section 508- Scope Hardware/Software Any IT used in creation, conversion or duplication of data or information Web Pages Databases Fax Machines/Copiers ITMs, Kiosks Telephones Multimedia


Slide12: Section 508- Web §1194.22 Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications §1194.41 Information, Documentation and Support www.access-board.gov/508.htm


Slide13: Section 508- Web A Web Site satisfies Section 508 if it meets § 1194.22 (a) – (p) OR A Web Site satisfies Section 508 if it meets W3C WCAG 1.0, Priority One checkpoints AND §1194.22 (l), (m), (n), (o), and (p)


Slide14: Section 508- Impact Accessibility in Mainstream EIT Accessibility in Both Products & Support – Help Desk, Documentation & Training Interoperability for Mainstream EIT & Assistive Computer Technology


Slide15: Section 508- Impact Provides a Private Right of Action Against Federal Agencies Provides a Marketplace Incentive for Designing Accessibly Informs Entities Covered under ADA and Section 504


Slide16: Section 508-Impact Requires an Accessible IT & Web Design Plan - Cannot Handle IT Accessibility Issues Exclusively on an “Ad Hoc” or “As Needed Basis” Ripple Effect is Underway – States and Local Governments are Adopting Section 508


Slide17: State Laws States are Subject to Federal Laws Prohibiting Discrimination Against People with Disabilities Every State Also Has State Statutes Prohibiting Discrimination Every State is Unique in Structure and System


Slide18: State Accessibility Drivers eCommerce Govt Initiatives Require Every Citizen Access Workforce Investment Act Requires Accessible Information Technology at One-Stop Centers Help America Vote Act Requires Accessible Voting Machines


Slide19: California Amended CA Government Code §11135 Prohibiting Discrimination Against Disability Requires All Recipients of State Funding to Develop, Procure, Maintain or Use EIT Complying with Section 508 Existing Private Right of Action; Now Also Requires Contractor Resolution of E&IT Complaints


Slide20: State Observations Trend for States To Have Web Accessibility Policies based on W3C WCAG or Section 508 or a Hybrid Non-Web Section 508 Technical Standards for Accessibility Have Not Appeared to Advance as Quickly in Application Development & IT Procurement


Slide21: State Observations Some States Have Administrative Complaint Procedures and Authorize Civil Action (Missouri, Kentucky, N. Carolina, Arkansas) One State Requires Vendor to Take a State Web Accessibility Course Based on State Standards for Entry into RFP Process (Connecticut)


Slide22: ITTATC State Initiative Reports Information Technology Technical Assistance & Training Center 2002 Needs & Barriers to Achieving IT Accessibility 2002 State IT Accessibility Standards, Laws/Policies & Resources 2002 State Web Site IT Accessibility Standards www.ittatc.org/stateDocs/state.cfm


Slide23: Federal Accessibility Forum Industry, Consumer, Academia & Government Stakeholders in Section 508 Effort www.accessibilityforum.org


Slide24: Global Impact Growing Number of Governments Around the World are Adopting Accessible Web Design Standards Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, UK, US Constructing Accessible Web Sites


Slide25: European Union e-Accessibility Priorities Policies to Avoid ‘Info-Exclusion’ Adoption of W3C Web Accessibility Initiative Guidelines for Public Web Sites Publication of ‘Design for All’ Standards Review of Relevant Legislation to Conform to Accessibility Principles


Slide26: European Union e-Accessibility Priorities Establish National Centers of Excellence & Create European Curriculum- April 2002 European ICT Standards Groups (CEN & ETSI)Guidelines for ICT Products & Services: Design for All -2002 EuroAccessibility Consortium- April 2003


Slide27: United Nations Activity Proposed International Treaty or Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Seeks Full Participation in Society Including Barrier Removal and Reasonable Accommodation Accessible ICT with Reasonable Accommodation


Slide28: Call for Accessible ICT March 2003 Manila Declaration on Accessible Information and Communications Technology (ICT) April 2003 Quito Declaration June 2003 Bangkok Declaration September 2003 UN Economic & Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific- Emerging Social Issues


Slide29: Accessible Web Resource Includes Global Survey of Accessible Web Law and Policies as well as In Depth Look at Section 508


Slide30: Accessible Web Resources Cynthia Says™ Portal www.cynthiasays.com Online Web Accessibility Validator for Section 508 and W3C WCAG Help Resources and Tutorials www.access-board.gov/508.htm


Slide31: IT Changes - Civil Rights Do Not Perform Self-Evaluations of Electronic & Information Technology Adopt Accessible Web Policies & Implementation Procedures


Slide32: IT Changes - Civil Rights Do Not Provide Web Developers and Managers Accessibility Training, Design Tools and Resources Build Accessibility into Web- Based Applications and System Design


Slide33: IT Changes - Civil Rights Do Not Consult the Community of People with Disabilities as We Address Challenges Ahead


Slide34: Contact Information: Cynthia D. Waddell ICDRI Executive Director Telephone: (408) 266-3822 Email: Cynthia.Waddell@icdri.org Mailing Address: 1677 Fairwood Avenue San Jose, California USA 95125-4939