- From: Judy Brewer <JBrewer@w3.org>
- Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 11:55:34 -0500
- To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
For you U.S. folks, and others interested in policy issues related to Web accessibility, here is an interesting opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice. The opinion was written a year ago and just published recently in the (U.S.) National Disability Law Reporter, Volume 10 Issue 6. - Judy Brewer jbrewer@w3.org ---- Posted in the National Disability Law Reporter, Vol. 10, Iss. 6, par. 240 September 11, 1997 1053-1084/97 The Honorable Tom Harkin United States Senate Washington, DC 20510-1502 Digest of Inquiry (July 31, 1996) To what extent does the ADA require that Internet web pages be accessible to people with visual disabilities? Digest of Response (September 9, 1996) ADA Accessibility Requirements Apply to Internet Web Pages Entities to Title II or III of the ADA must provide effective communication to individuals with disabilities, and covered entities that use the Internet to provide information regarding their programs, goods or services must be prepared to offer those communications through accessible means. Such entities may provide web page information in text format that is accessible to screen reading devices that are used by people with visual impairments, and they may also offer alternative accessible formats that are identified in a screen-readable format on a web page. ----- Text of Inquiry I have recently been contacted by one of my constituents who has a concern over the administration's policy on making Web pages compatible for the disabled. I respectfully ask you to review the administration's policy on this issue and send me a clarification so that I might be able to respond to my constituent's questions. It would be helpful if you could mark your correspondence with my office to the attention of Laura Stuber. Thank you in advance for your assistance on this matter. Text of Response I am responding to your letter on behalf of your constituent, [], regarding accessibility of "web pages" on the Internet to people with visual disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires State and local governments and places of public accommodation to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effect communication with individuals with disabilities, unless doing so would result in a fundamental alteration to the program or service or in an undue burden. 28 C.F.R. Sec. 36.303; 28 C.F.R. Sec. 35.160. Auxiliary aids include taped texts, Brailled materials, large print materials, and other methods of making visually delivered material available to people with visual impairments. Covered entities under the ADA are required to provide effective communication, regardless of whether they generally communicate through print media, audio media, or computerized media such as the Internet. Covered entities that use the Internet for communications regarding their programs, goods, or services must be prepared to offer those communications through accessible means as well. Mr. [] suggests compatibility with the Lynx browser as a means of assuring accessibility of the Internet. Lynx is, however, only one of many available options. Other examples include providing the web page information in text format, rather then exclusively in graphic format. Such text is accessible to screen reading devices used by people with visual impairments. Instead of providing full accessibility through the Internet directly, covered entities may also offer other alternate accessible formats, such as Braille, large print, and/or audio materials, to communicate the information contained in web pages to people with visual impairments. The availability of such materials should be noted in a text (i.e., screen-readable) format on the web page, along with instructions for obtaining the materials, so that people with disabilities using the Internet will know how to obtain the accessible formats. cc: Records, Chrono, Wodtach, McDowdeny, Hill, FOIA n: udd hille policylt harkin.ltr sc. young-parran The Internet is an excellent source of information and, of course, people with disabilities should have access to it as effectively as people without disabilities. A number of web sites provide information about accessibility of web pages, including information about new developments and guidelines for development of accessible web pages. Examples include: http://www.gsa.gov/coca/wwwcode.htm Center for Information Technology Accommodation General Services Administration http://www.trace.wisc.edu/text/guidelns Trace Center, University of Wisconsin http://www.webable.com/index.html http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/dmd/access/welcomi.htm These sites may be useful to you or your constituent in exploring the accessibility options on the Internet. In addition, the Department of Justice has established an ADA home page to educate people about their rights and responsibilities under the ADA and about the Department's efforts to implement the ADA. The address of the ADA home page is http://www/usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahomi.htm. I hope this information is helpful to you in responding to your constituent. Deval L. Patrick Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division
Received on Monday, 3 November 1997 11:55:09 UTC