ADA Compliance & Laws
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design in September 2010. These standards state that electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities.
For more information on DOJ’s proposed rulemaking, see the ANPRM notice posted on July 26, 2010.
How to comply with the ADA
The ADA encourages self-regulation of accessibility standards, and the DOJ continues to develop regulations that provide guidance to covered entities. Until regulations are finalized, organizations are encouraged to use the WCAG 2.0 Level AA guidelines to improve accessibility.
United States laws: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed in 1990, is civil rights legislation governed by the DOJ. The goal is to ensure people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in programs, services, and activities. Two major sections of the ADA commonly apply to web accessibility:
- Title II, which states that communications with people with disabilities must be “as effective as communications with others” (28 C.F.R. § 35.160(a)).
- Title III, which addresses public accommodations for people with disabilities.
United States laws: Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (sections 504 and 508)
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first major legislative effort to secure an equal playing field for individuals with disabilities. Two sections within the Act, as amended, impact accessible web design: sections 504 and 508.
Section 504
Section 504 is a civil rights law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination by employers and organizations that receive federal financial assistance, including government agencies, federally funded projects, K–12 schools, and postsecondary institutions.
Section 508
The 1998 reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act amended Section 508 to bar the federal government from procuring electronic and information technology (E&IT) goods and services that are not fully accessible, including web design and related services.
The U.S. Access Board
The U.S. Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards.