Maximum Accessibility: Making Your Web Site More Usable for Everyone

Accessibility: It’s the Law!

This chapter presents an overview of the public policy and legal issues that contribute to the development of Web accessibility standards. You will find pertinent information about:

• The disability rights movement in the United States.

• The Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

• Educational mandates.

• The evolution of laws related to disability rights.

• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

• The Telecommunications Act of 1996.

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, amended 1998.

• The U.S. Access Board.

• The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0.

• The development of policies in Australia, the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

• Legal challenges over access to Internet resources.

• Other methods for ensuring access to information ...