Websites, Electronic Documents, and Assistive Technology

Accessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT) makes accessing electronic communications and equipment available to individuals with disabilities. Federal agencies are obligated under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to design websites and develop electronic documents so they meet minimum standards to ensure they are accessible to and useable by individuals with disabilities. Section 508 is enforced by the US Access Board. Currently Section 508 requirements only apply to Federal agencies unless they are adopted by a state or local government. (State and local governments are covered under Title II of the ADA.)

Title III of the ADA prevents discrimination on the basis of disability by places of public accommodation (businesses that are open to the public). Currently WCAG 2.0 guidelines are not a requirement of DOJ for Title III entities using the web. Title III entities are, however, obligated to provide access to their goods and services by individuals with disabilities. That includes access to Title III entity websites which must be accessible.

Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.

Below are links to materials and information on accessible websites, electronic document accessibility and assistive technology.

Accessible Document Reference Guide - Rocky Mountain ADA Center

Accessible Media Services - National Center for Accessible Media

Accessibility of COVID-19 Vaccine Websites and the Americans with Disabilities Act 2022 - U.S. Department of Justice

Assistive Technology, Accommodations and the ADA 2011 - Cornell University

Five Simple Ways to Create More Accessible Social Media Content 2021 - Center on Knowledge Translation for Employment Research

Hosting Accessible Virtual Meetings, Events, and Conferences- Mid-Atlantic ADA Center

Improving the Accessibility of Social Media in Government 2017- U.S. Department of Labor

National Assistive Technology Act Technical Assistance and Training (AT3) Centers listed by state

Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology (PEAT)

Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

Seven Steps to Creating an Accessible Microsoft Word Document - Ca. Department of Rehabilitation