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Policy Statement on Internet Accessibility
 ACM U.S. Public Policy Committee (USACM) Universal Internet Accessibility Policy Recommendations BACKGROUND
As access to the Internet and WWW (World Wide Web) becomes more critical – in work, in leisure activities, in accessing government services, and in matters of health – it is imperative that such access is made broadly equitable and inclusive for everyone, including people with disabilities. Today, many private sector Web sites and Internet services limit the access of millions of users with disabilities, including those who use screen reader tools, need magnified text, cannot use normal keyboard input devices, cannot hear the audio content associated with online videos, or have other disabilities. Design for accessibility has benefits well beyond better support for people with disabilities. A commitment to making the Web more accessible will pay dividends in evolving technology that can be more easily accessed – and more easily understood – by everyone. These advances will result in better access to important information, and broader participation in commercial and educational activities by all citizens. In the United States, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that United States Federal department and agency Web sites be accessible to users with certain disabilities. The information technology and disability communities have developed accessibility standards and tools that Federal agencies use to comply with those requirements, and which do not cause undue burden on the development and enhancement of covered sites. However, Section 508 does not cover commercial or private websites, and the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities – does not mention the WWW. RECOMMENDATIONS
We make the following list of recommendations to address these accessibility concerns. We additionally recommend that a combination of incentives and requirements be designed and considered to accomplish these goals expeditiously. Increase Awareness. The Federal government should undertake a range of activities, including public-private partnerships, to increase awareness of the value of building accessibility into systems. These efforts should include building awareness of these issues internationally as well as domestically. Develop Tools. Resources (such as software tools and guidelines) already exist to help make commercial websites more accessible. The information technology community should continue to develop additional low-cost web-development tools and promote their adoption. Further, the Federal government should continue to promote and fund research and development of more accessible information technology systems. Extend Accessibility Standards While Minimizing Regulatory Burden. Free participation and innovation by individuals and organizations contributing to the Internet and to its growth are important. Minimal regulation has helped foster the development and spread of Internet technologies. We recommend that requirements be crafted that balance the values of accessible participation and innovation, and that those requirements are extended to public, commercial websites. In addition, we recommend that well-known and well-vetted standards be used as the starting point for enhancing and extending accessibility requirements for all people to public, commercial websites. The ACM U.S. Public Policy Committee and the members of ACM's Special Interest Groups on Accessible Computing (SIGACCESS), on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI), and on Hypertext, Hypermedia and the Web (SIGWEB), stand ready to help in this effort. About the ACM U.S. Public Policy CommitteeThe ACM U.S. Public Policy Committee (USACM) serves as the focal point for ACM's involvement with U.S. government organizations, the computing community and the U.S. public in all matters of U.S. public policy related to information technology. Supported by ACM's Washington, D.C., Office of Public Policy, USACM responds to requests for information and technical expertise from U.S. government agencies and departments, seeks to influence relevant U.S. government policies on behalf of the computing community and the public, and provides information to ACM on relevant U.S. government activities. USACM also identifies potentially significant technical and public policy issues and brings them to the attention of ACM and the community. USACM publishes a monthly newsletter, the ACM Washington Update, which reports on activities in Washington that may be of interest to those in the computing and information policy communities, and highlights USACM's involvement in many of these issues. USACM is actively engaged in number of public policy issues of critical importance to the computing community. About SIGACCESS The ACM Special Interest Group on Accessible Computing - www.sigaccess.org - promotes the interests of professionals who research and develop computing adn information technology to help persons with disabilities. SIGACCEESS also strives to educate the public to support careers for disabled persons. Members from academia and industry focus on applying technologies to assist people with vision, motor, hearing, and speech impairments as well as cognitive limitations like learning disabilities and aging issues. Advanced technologies, assistive technologies, and design from the core of research efforts. About SIGWEB The ACM Special Interest Group on Hypertext, Hypermedia and the web - www.sigweb.org - supports the multi-disciplinary field of hypertext and hypermedia, facilitating its application both on the World-Wide Web and in independent, distributed and stand-alone environments. SIGWEB provides a forum for the promotion, dissemination, and exchange of ideas concerning research and applications among scientists, systems designers and end-users. About SIGCHI The ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction - www.sigchi.org - is the world's largest association of professionals in the research and practice of computer-human interaction. SIGCHI serves as a forum for ideas on how people communicate and interact with computer systems. This interdisciplinary group of computer scientists, software engineers, psychologists, interaction designers, graphic designers, sociologists, and anthropologists is committed to designing useful, usable technology which has the potential to transform individual lives. SIGCHI has over 60 local chapters for HCI professionals across five continents, publishes the SIGCHI Bulletin quarterly, and co-sponsors conferences and workshops to advance the field of computer-human interaction. About CSTA The Computer Science Teachers Association - www.csta.acm.org - is a membership organization that supports and promotes the teaching of computer science and the other computing disciplines. CSTA provides opportunities for K-12 teachers and students to better understand the computing disciplines and to more successfully prepare themselves to teach and to learn. CSTA provides its over 400 members with resources, research, and professional development opportunities. CSTA was launched by ACM in 2005. |
Relevant Federal Regulations and Legislation:
Programs to analyze websites for accessibility obstacles:
Selected accessibility materials from the ACM Digital Library |