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Re: [FWD] Universities Legal Web Accessibility Update

for

From: Jeff Finlay
Date: Nov 20, 2003 11:48AM

"Does anyone have any citations (from either DOJ or Access Board)
demonstrating how Section 508 applies to the states via the
Tech Act?"

The simple answer is, no-one has. The reality of the current situation
is that while there is nothing in law to indicate that universities are
not bound by 508, there's nothing to indicate they are bound by it
either. It's a matter of legal perspective at present, and you know how
that works.

It may be that 508 will be invoked at some point in a case involving an
accommodation suit under 504. But right now 508 is something a lot of
parties, including govt agencies, are steering clear of.

But any talk about 508 and universities misses the point anyway, to my
way of thinking. Universities are very explicitly bound by 504, and
there is a long trail of legal precedents that support this. I guess
it's just that 504 is not as 'sexy' as 508, so Usablenet would not think
to use it in its advertising materials.

Jeff


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