ADA Compliance
Section 508 Compliance and ADA Compliance
Here is some introductory information on IDEA, ADA compliance and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Use the links below to explore these important laws and regulations.
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to all activities of state and local governments, regardless of entity's size or receipt of federal funding. It requires that all state and local governments give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all programs, services and activities, such as public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, town meetings, etc. They are required to be able to communicate effectively with people who have hearing, vision or speech disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794:
"No otherwise qualified handicapped individual... shall, solely by the reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
There are an estimated 800,000 visually impaired persons currently using the Web. It is projected that there are 6.5 million Americans age 55 or older that experience severe vision loss; by 2030 this number will double.
On August 7, 1998, the President signed into law the Workforce Investment Act of
1998, Public Law 105-220. Title IV of the Act is the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of
1998. Subsection 408(b) amended section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794d).
Subsection 508(a)(1) requires that when Federal departments and agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use Electronic and Information Technology (EIT), they shall ensure that the EIT allows Federal employees with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by other Federal employees.
Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal department or agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public without disabilities.