E-mail List Archives
Thread: seeking info: ADA vs wcag 1.0/2.0
Number of posts in this thread: 3 (In chronological order)
From: Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe
Date: Wed, Feb 27 2008 3:30AM
Subject: seeking info: ADA vs wcag 1.0/2.0
No previous message | Next message →
Hi,
Can anyone point me to the latest ADA documents stating web accessibility guidelines/ checkpoints?
I want to know
1. Is ADA document finer than wcag1.0 document?
2. Is section 508 is a more comprehensive list of accessibility guidelines than those in ADA?
3. What is the relation between ADA and section 508?
Thanks.
Shrirang Prakash Sahasrabudhe
Accessibility specialist- Web 2.0 Research Lab
Infosys Technologies Ltd- Bangalore
Powered by Intellect, Driven by Values
**************** CAUTION - Disclaimer *****************
This e-mail contains PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION intended solely for the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by e-mail and delete the original message. Further, you are not to copy, disclose, or distribute this e-mail or its contents to any other person and any such actions are unlawful. This e-mail may contain viruses. Infosys has taken every reasonable precaution to minimize this risk, but is not liable for any damage you may sustain as a result of any virus in this e-mail. You should carry out your own virus checks before opening the e-mail or attachment. Infosys reserves the right to monitor and review the content of all messages sent to or from this e-mail address. Messages sent to or from this e-mail address may be stored on the Infosys e-mail system.
***INFOSYS******** End of Disclaimer ********INFOSYS***
From: Tom Babinszki
Date: Wed, Feb 27 2008 7:40AM
Subject: Re: seeking info: ADA vs wcag 1.0/2.0
← Previous message | Next message →
ADA does not have accessibility requirements similar to Section 508 or WCAG.
It is the Rehabilitation Act which includes Section 508.
You can find the standards at:
http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&;ID=12
>From your e-mail I assume you are familiar with WCAG.
For a comparison of WCAG and Section 508, see Jim Thatcher's page, it is an
excellent resource:
http://www.jimthatcher.com/sidebyside.htm
Hope this helps.
Tom
Tom Babinszki, PMP
Even Grounds
Accessibility Consulting
E-mail: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Phone: +1 (703) 853-2990
http://www.evengrounds.com
From: Moore, Michael
Date: Wed, Feb 27 2008 8:10AM
Subject: Re: seeking info: ADA vs wcag 1.0/2.0
← Previous message | No next message
Shrirang,
1. Is ADA document finer than wcag1.0 document?
The Americans with Disabilities Act does not specifically address Web
Accessibility issues. However, several lawsuits, including the current
suit against Target, have argued that the concept of equivalent access,
which is embodied in the ADA, should be applied to the WEB. Final legal
interpretation is still out. So in answer to your question the ADA is
not "finer" than WCAG 1.0, however it may turn out to impose a higher
"standard" for accessibility than WCAG or 508, if the courts rule that
the web is a place of public accommodation. If this occurs, then in my
opinion, web developers will need to design their sites and applications
in such a way that people with disabilities have full access to all of
the functionality and information on the site. A very good comparison of
508 and WCAG 1.0 is available on Jim Thatcher's site
http://www.jimthatcher.com/sidebyside.htm
2. Is section 508 is a more comprehensive list of accessibility
guidelines than those in ADA?
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, spherically addresses
accessibility on the Web in 1194.22, and in our opinion at the state
agency where I work, 1194.31 Function Performance Criteria also applies
to web applications and sites. These criteria are certainly more
specific than any criteria that could be interpreted from the ADA.
Although I am not a lawyer, I would expect that compliance with section
508 would at a minimum demonstrate a good faith effort in providing
equivalent access, and thus complying with any web accessibility
requirement that "may" be required by the ADA.
3. What is the relation between ADA and section 508?
They are each Civil Rights legislation passed by the US Congress
intended to address the rights of people with disabilities and provide
them with opportunities to fully participate in American society.
Mike Moore