It is estimated that 43,000,000 Americans have disabilities, with the number growing significantly as the population ages.  The movement to assure accessibility to the Internet as a civil right gained momentum with the 1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act.  These amendments are called Section 508, The Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards.  Section 508 requires most Federal Internet resources to become accessible according to Section 508 specifications.  Additionally, Section 508 provides an enforcement mechanism designed to inspire both states and private industry; a procurement law that requires all vendors supplying services to the Federal government to comply with Section 508.

Cynthia D. Waddell, an expert on accessibility issues has called section 508, the ADA of CyberSpace.   Section 508 seeks to create a market-place incentive to design for accessibility.  In fact, a vendor may protest the award of a contract to another vendor if they believe their product or service is more accessible.  In addition, an agency can terminate a vendors contract for non-compliance or require the vendor to provide a compliant version of the product or service.

A growing number of State governments are adopting Section 508 polices or legislation, since they also want their products and services to reach the widest possible audience.  Illinois has adopted and extended Section 508 standards by establishing the Illinois Web Accessibility Standards (IWAS). http://www.illinois.gov/iwas

Increasingly, web publishing materials are seen as the most cost effective, timely, and appropriate way to deliver information and insure effective communications for everyone, including individuals with disabilities.  The civil rights of persons with disabilities to be included in all aspects of electronic communication places the burden on individual institutions to provide accessible web based information. 

Clearly, Section 508 and the emergence of recognized international standards for accessibility are encouraging institutions to see pro-active change as a necessary survival tactic in a time of funding uncertainty.

Authored by Dennis O'Connor 2003-2007