Re: The two models of accessibility

Hi,

In the text of the bill reauthorizing 508 the section addressing accessibility
says:

    SEC. 508. ELECTRONIC AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

    (a) REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.--

    (1) ACCESSIBILITY.--

    (A) DEVELOPMENT, PROCUREMENT, MAINTENANCE, OR USE OF ELECTRONIC AND
    INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.--When developing, procuring, maintaining, or
    using electronic and information technology, each Federal department
    or agency, including the United States Postal Service, shall ensure,
    unless an undue burden would be imposed on the department or agency,
    that the electronic and information technology allows, regardless of
    the type of medium of the technology--

    (i) individuals with disabilities who are Federal employees to have
    access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the
    access to and use of the information and data by Federal employees
    who are not individuals with disabilities; and

    (ii) individuals with disabilities who are members of the public
    seeking information or services from a Federal department or agency
    to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable
    to the access to and use of the information and data by such members
    of the public who are not individuals with disabilities.

the use of the word comparable would seem to indicate, at least for 508,
that there isn't a concern about distinguishing between 'accessibility'
and 'usable accessibility'.  If a visually impaired person is 5 times
longer in using some information/data than a sighted person, is that
comparable?

Scott

Received on Thursday, 3 April 2003 00:23:53 UTC