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Re: Judge: Disabilities Act doesn't cover Web

for

From: Terry Brainerd Chadwick
Date: Oct 23, 2002 11:03AM

When I sent the notice of the ruling to a colleague of mine who works for
the local regional disabilities agency, she replied:

>>>Clearly she did not understand the concept of "public
accommodation." In explanatory language by DREDF (Disability Rights
Education and Defense Fund) when it published its Implementation Guide to
use as text for original ADA training when the Act was passed, a public
accommodation can be a single person.

"It is the public accommodation (that is, private entity which owns,
operates, leases or leases to), rather than the place of public
accommodation, that is subject to the non-discrimination requirements. A
private entity may be an individual person as well as a company, business,
or other entity." [emphasis added]

There is no question that a covered entity would have to make its site
accessible, in fact, in a US Dept. of Justice "core letter" to Senator Tom
Harkin, Deval Patrick, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division,
specifically stated, "Covered entities that use the Internet for
communications regarding their programs, goods, or services must be
prepared to offer those communications through accessible means as
well." And that was in 1996!! [text at www.usdoj.gov/crt/foia/cltr204.txt
] <<<

Terry
Terry Brainerd Chadwick, InfoQuest! Information Services
mailto: <EMAIL REMOVED> http://www.tbchad.com
Making existing websites more productive.
Website Optimization for Accessibility, Content, Search & Usability


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