The National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education
Funded by:
(grant #H133D010306)
Is instructional software typically accessible to students with disabilities?
No. In a study conducted by Diane Cordry Golden of Missouri Assistive Technology in 2001, twenty-five "award winning" companies who produce instructional software for K-12 students (preschool through high school) were surveyed regarding the accessibility of their software to students with disabilities. Nineteen companies responded. Two reported that they were aware of accessibility issues and specifically Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. One of these two was beginning work on accessibility issues; the other had developed a planning committee. Of the seventeen other respondents, 65% were not aware of accessibility as an issue, none were currently addressing accessibility issues in their product development, and 88% had no future plans related to accessibility of their products.
The full report, available online, is Instructional Software Accessibility: A Status Report.
Last update or review: May 12, 2008
Copyright © 2002 - 2010 by University of Washington. Permission is granted to copy these materials for educational, noncommercial purposes provided the source is acknowledged. For more information see the larger AccessIT Copyright Statement. AccessIT was funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education (grant #H133D010306) through September 30, 2006; it is now maintained with funding from the National Science Foundation (grant #CNS-0540615). The contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the U.S. federal government, and you should not assume their endorsement.