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The Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards, developed by the federal Access Board as required by 1998 amendments to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, includes standards for software accessibility.
There are twelve standards covering software applications and operating systems. The standards essentially address the need for products to be operable with multiple input devices (keyboards, mice, etc.) and perceivable with multiple output devices (monitor, audible screen reader, tactile Braille display, etc.). They also address the need for applications to support users' settings preferences (for font sizes, color contrast, etc.) and compatibility with operating systems' accessibility features and assistive technologies.
Educational entities can ensure that their purchases are accessible by building accessibility considerations into their purchasing guidelines or requirements and/or implementing policies that require such considerations.
The following AccessIT Knowledge Base articles may also be of interest:
For additional information, contact your region's ADA & IT Center at 1-800-949-4232.