- From: Mike Burks <mburks952@worldnet.att.net>
- Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 11:40:54 -0500
- To: <Lovey@aol.com>, <lisbk@ukoln.ac.uk>
- Cc: <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Well said! It states the reason for this group in the first place. To each of you with or without a disability I will add "There but for the grace of God go I" Sincerely, Mike Burks -----Original Message----- From: Lovey@aol.com <Lovey@aol.com> To: lisbk@ukoln.ac.uk <lisbk@ukoln.ac.uk> Cc: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> Date: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 11:35 AM Subject: Re: Can ADA be counterproductive (was Re: Legal leg to stand on?) >In a message dated 3/23/99 7:38:06, lisbk@ukoln.ac.uk writes: ><< when threatened with the ADA >> > >Why is the ADA threatening? There seems to be a HUGE misconception that the >ADA is some monster "out to get you" when in fact it is no such thing. Here >are the facts: > >-What is the ADA? It is a law to eliminate discrimination of PWD's > >in housing, education, the workplace, rehabilitation, etc. This law affects > >millions of US citizens - PWD's and their families. This law is about > >improving quality of life. "The pursuit of happiness" as put down in the Bill > >of Rights by our Founding Fathers. > >-The ADA is not new, it has been in effect for 9 years. > >-It does not *only* apply to the internet. > >-There are government programs to assist businesses in modifying for access >and generous tax credit and deductions for complying with ADA requirements. > >-ADA requirements apply to businesses with *more* than 15 employees. Less than >15 employees = exempt. > >-There are provisions for businesses that if modifications cause undue >financial or administrative burden they may be exempt - no one is forced to >close or loose their business. > > >-The Department of Justice handles ADA cases and under general rules governing > >lawsuits brought by the Federal government, the Department of Justice may not > >sue a party unless negotiations to settle the dispute have failed. > > >-The ADA has resulted in only about 650 cases nationwide in five years >compared > >to the 6 million businesses; 666,000 public and private employers; and 80,000 > >units of state and local government that must comply. > >So what is "threatening" about the ADA? - Ignorance!!! > >One person out every 5 has a disAbility or handicap - >How will you be able to determine which visitors to your websites have a >handicap or disAbility and what kind? >Will you arbitrarily deny your clients business from PWD's because you do not >want to design accessibe websites? >What reasons do you give your clients against accessible web design? > >For those of us with disAbilites and handicaps who are homebound the Internet >has proved a to be a wonderful tool. It has empowered us and we are able to >interact in real time with other people - the entire world in fact - whereas >before, >our contact with others was limited to those at home and in the doctors >office. >It has opened a world of information and opened interaction between >other PWD's. A Handicapped/disAbled Community has grown from the Internet. A >community that never existed before. And I believe the Handicapped/disAbled >Community will become a powerful voice in the Internet. > >Just think, hundreds of thousands of people eager to interact. Our money is >the same color as those who are "Not Yet Disabled". > >But I constantly hear the word "threatened" and worse remarks about >accessibility and PWD's by people who do not have a clue what the ADA is. > >In January, during his visit to St Louis, Pope John Paul II referred to the >infamous 1857 Dred Scott case affirming slavery, which was heard in St. Louis, >and called it a "time of testing," which the United States failed. > >"America faces a similar time of trial today," the pope said. "Today the > >conflict is between a culture that affirms, cherishes and celebrates the gift > >of life and a culture that seeks to declare entire groups of human beings -- > >the unborn, the terminally ill, the handicapped, and others considered > >'unuseful' -- to be outside the boundaries of legal protection." > > > >A pretty raw statement about this country and it's people. > >IMO, closing a website using the reason "threatened by the ADA" is a prime >example of ignorance and blatant discrimination against PWD's. > >Regards, >L.K. >ps: If you think the US ADA law is a threat - check out Australia's Disability >Act and guidelines regarding websites. >For NSW government websites the guidelines include not only PWD's but >accessibility for: >* People lacking multi-media computer functions >* People using non-current web browsers >* People from non-English speaking backgrounds >http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink.nsf/pages/aus_standards >
Received on Tuesday, 23 March 1999 11:45:29 UTC