THE ULTIMATE
The 1973 Rehabilitation Act, amended in 1998, to enforce Federal organizations to provide electronic information and technology that is accessible to individuals with impairments. While it is only required for Federal agencies, Section 508 accessibility should be significant to any company, as services and information that are inaccessible prevent persons with disabilities from using technology proficiently. The standards were established to break down barriers, offer freedoms for people with disabilities, and boost production of innovations which will support these goals.
General public locations must be accessible to all persons, for the same reason, so too should the internet. US DOJ (Department of Justice) identified the world wide web as a location of public accommodation. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a person must not discriminate towards individuals with impairments. ADA demands every destinations of public accommodations be accessible to all individuals. Even though, there is nothing within Section 508 which demands private internet sites to follow these standards, unless they are receiving federal money, or under contract with a federal organization. Yet, choosing not to comply with Section 508, and not possessing handicap accessible services, can be considered discrimination against people with disabilities. As the internet evolves, so too will the accessibility standards and consequences for not implementing 508 compliance. If you are interested in testing your site there are 508 compliance, ada compliance checker testing tools available. There are even compliance tools that have the ability to scan an entire website. You can also manually test your site by only using your keyboard, as some internet users are unable to operate a mouse. Downloading a screen reader and navigating your site as a visually impaired user would. Unfortunately, there are many businesses with an online presence that have yet to comply with Section 508 standards. While they are not currently at risk for compliance lawsuits, they are at risk for other issues related to discrimination. Federal Organizations, held to accessibility standards, are paving the way for other companies and organizations to follow suit. These standards are critical to the welfare of individuals with disabilities. Start testing your website by following website accessibility checklist and comply to accessibility standards, it is the right thing for every organization to do.
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