When making software procurement decisions, educational entities need to look critically at which products in a given software category will best serve the needs of all students, without excluding some on the basis of disability. To determine whether a software application is accessible, the application should be evaluated according to a set of guidelines or standards that defines software accessibility.
The only legal standard is Section 1194.21 ("Software applications and operating systems") of Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards [1]. These standards were developed by the Access Board as required by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. There are twelve standards, and the Access Board provides a detailed explanation of each in its Guide to the Standards [2].
Additional guidelines and resources are provided in the AccessIT Knowledge Base article How can I tell whether a software application is accessible? [3]
References
- [1] Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm - [2] Guide to the Standards
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.21.htm - [3] How can I tell whether a software application is accessible?
http://www.washington.edu/doit/Stem/articles?1001