Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act addresses electronic and information technology accessibility issues. Section 508 requires all Federal agencies to provide comparable access to information for federal employees and private citizens
The portion of Section 508 that pertains to web sites and online information falls under Subpart B - Technical Standards, and provides a fairly short list of guidelines. Compliance with the Section 508 standards is commonly thought of as meeting the minimum level of accessibility.
NC Senate Bill 866 mandates that we must provide &reasonable aids and adaptations necessary for a known qualified person with a disability to use or benefit from existing public services&.
"168A-7. Discrimination in public service. (a) It is a discriminatory practice for a State department, institution, or agency, or any political subdivision of the State or any person that contracts with the above for the delivery of public services including but not limited to education, health, social services, recreation, and rehabilitation, to refuse to provide reasonable aids and adaptations necessary for a known qualified person with a disability to use or benefit from existing public services operated by such entity; provided that the aids and adaptations do not impose an undue hardship on the entity involved. This subsection includes equivalent services provided via information technology."
By adhering to Section 508 - Subpart B, the principles of universal design will benefit not only individuals with disabilities, but also individuals using non-standard devices such as PDAs, cell phones, etc. The Universal Design Education Online Web Site (Center for Universal Design, N.C. State University; IDEA Center, University at Buffalo; Global Universal Design Educator's Network) defines universal design:
"Universal design is an approach to the design of all products and environments to be usable by everyone, to the greatest extent possible, regardless of age, ability, or situation. It serves people who are young or old, with excellent or limited abilities, in ideal or difficult circumstances. Universal design benefits everyone by accommodating limitations." http://www.udeducation.org/
Section 508 Subpart B - Technical Standards
Informational Links for Accessibility
