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From: Karmon Runquist
Date: Thu, Nov 09 2006 2:20PM
Subject: Accessibility + applications with web interfaces
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In the course of a recent web accessibility committee meeting today,
one of our members asked about how 504/508/and other accessibility
standards apply when our institution is looking to purchase an e-mail
and/or calendaring system. I'm hoping you can provide advice or point
me in the correct direction. I'm going to include the text of my co-
member's email for better clarification. (Note: IBHE refers to the
Illinois Board of Higher Education and IWAS refers to the Illinois
Web Accessibility Standards).

-----
I know we have discussed including PDF formatting as part of our
areas of improvement in so much as the PDF documents are available
through the web. How does e-mail fit into what we are doing? Is it
governed by the same requirements as web pages? Or only if being
viewed on the web? So if it is being viewed by separate software on
our desktop are we not concerned about it in our charge as Web
Accessibility?

Several of you who know of the e-mail and calendaring committee
probably know where I am coming from. We have taken ADA into account
in that matter but I am wondering whether that fell under the IBHE
mandate or if it falls under some other area. I found it hard to
find the specific reference to why we would look for ADA requirements
in software being purchased. Between IWAS, section 504, section 508,
ADA and all the other legalese being battered about I am having
trouble pin-pointing the requirement. The work we are doing
indicates that what would be delivered over the web should be ADA
compliant but I would like the details on the non-web requirements.



Thanks,
Karmon
________________________________________
Karmon Runquist * ITS Manager
Web Support Services * Western Illinois University
1 University Circle * Sherman Hall 302
Macomb, IL 61455 * Phone: 309/298-1993

From: John E. Brandt
Date: Thu, Nov 09 2006 3:20PM
Subject: Re: Accessibility + applications with web interfaces
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I'll take a crack at this one...probably more than you bargained for.

Currently Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act covers both web
accessibility and accessible IT and communications. But as far as I know, it
is only being "enforced" at the federal level. Vendors who wish to do
business with the US Government need to make sure their equipment and
services meeting Section 508 requirements. All federal websites must meet
Section 508 web accessibility standards (Quick aside: whether they do or not
is another question!)

Many states, Maine included, have created their own accessibility policies,
in many cases mirroring the federal rules. Indeed, the state purchasing
system has added the requirement that all new purchases of technology and
services be accessible.

The implications as far as state-run universities, or public K-12 schools is
not clear. In Maine the state university system has established its own
policy which again mirrors the federal and state rules. The Maine state
university system has a similar purchasing requirement.

Right now we are encouraging K-12 schools to think about this. This is that
old "local control" issue.

So you are going to have to find out what Illinois has for rules and
specifically what rules apply for state universities.

That said, the ADA and for that matter Section 508, will likely eventually
apply to everyone. The case of Target.com lawsuit for its lack of
accessibility is being watched carefully for this reason. Should a ruling
come down that the company is at fault, it will likely mean that ALL public
websites need to be accessible (as is now the case in the United Kingdom).

BTW, there have been several Civil Rights cases brought up regarding
universities and accessibility, but the rulings have been rather neutral.
The cases involved the use of on-line courses and student access.

What I have been telling clients and workshop attendees in my trainings is
that they should try to get ahead of the curve and make sure all of their
technology is accessible to everyone. When acquiring new equipment it is
much easier to require this of the vendor at the front end than to retrofit
after the fact.

So the simple answer to your question....you probably need to make sure ALL
of your technology is accessible to everyone. Yes e-mail and calendaring
included. And if you cannot make it accessible, there has to be a reasonable
alternative.

~j


John E. Brandt
Augusta, Maine USA
www.jebswebs.com