504/508 Compliance
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was a benchmark disability civil rights series of legislation enacted in the United States.
This law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program receiving federal funds. Section 504 works together with the ADA and IDEA to protect children and adults with disabilities from exclusion, and unequal treatment in schools, jobs and the community.
Section 504 states that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States Postal Service.
In 1998 the US Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 was enacted to remove barriers in information technology and encourage innovation for equitable access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities in a technology society.
In an electronic era of communication, federal guidelines have also indicated that all electronic web media be held to specific guidelines that allow vision and hearing impaired users to access and use these online resources. WCAG 2.0 and an updated 2.1 are these lists of guidelines. The standard, acceptable distinction of accessibility is currently WCAG 2.0 AA.
Section 508 “establishes requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government. Section 508 requires Federal electronic and information technology to be accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and members of the public”.
In an electronic era of communication, federal guidelines have also indicated that all electronic web media be held to specific guidelines that allow vision and hearing impaired users to access and use these online resources. WCAG 2.0 and an updated 2.1 are these lists of guidelines. The standard, acceptable distinction of accessibility is currently WCAG 2.0 AA.
508 Refresh
In March of 2017, the United States Access Board published its most recent final rule updating requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) covered by Section 508. A resurgence in litigation from students, federal employees and others in the workplace with registered disabilities prompted the need for the more defined access guidelines in information and communication technology (ICT). Because these guidelines refer to any agency receiving federal funds, public education must be at the forefront of information compliance to ensure that students have equal access to course content.
