Laws Relating to Web Site Accessibility

The University of Washington has a long-standing commitment to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities.

This commitment to accessibility is based in part on several Federal laws:

Rehabilitation Act, Section 503 and 504 (1973)

Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 793) prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in employment by employers receiving federal contracts. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in federally assisted programs and activities. To the UW this law means that all aspects of the educational program must be accessible to students with disabilities.

Americans With Disabilities Act (1990)

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, by governmental agencies, and in public accommodations. The University of Washington is requried as an employer to provide accomodations to its employees and as a state institution to provide accomodations to its students, patients, and members of the public.

Other Accessibility-Related Federal Law

The Federal government recently committed itself to making its Web sites accessible.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of, 1973

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires Federal departments and agencies to take into consideration accessibility when developing, procuring, or using electronic and information technology. Section 508 also mandated the Access Board to develop standards for compliance. The standards were published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2000 and Federal agencies were expected to be in compliance by June 21, 2001.

Implications of Section 508 for the UW

Section 508 applies directly to Federal agencies. It offers a framework for measuring accessibility and has had an important impact of encouraging all companies which wish to contract with the Federal government to build accessibility into their products.

• Many state and local government entities and other institutions have voluntarily adopted the Section 508 standards. Examples of states include Texas and Arizona. Universities that have adopted the standards include University of Hawaii and the University of Georgia.
• Since Section 508 was passed a large effort has been underway throughout the Federal government to make Web sites accessible. Books, Web tutorials, and classes on accessible Web design have been created.
• Web publishing programs such as Macromedia DreamWeaver, Microsoft Frontpage, and Adobe GoLive now include features to help design accessible Web sites.

These extensive activities and resources are available to us to support our efforts to make UW sites accessible.

More

• State disability law broader than federal rules - Seattle Times, January 22, 2002
• Overview of State Accessibility Laws, Policies, Standards and Other Resources Available On-line - Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center
• Section 508 - Main Federal Web site supporting Section 508
• The Access Board - An independent Federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities