News from Northwest ADA Center – Idaho
Web accessibility and the ADA
The U.S. Department of Justice is proposing first-ever rules to ensure that websites and mobile apps are accessible to people with disabilities. Officials with the federal agency said last month that they sent a notice of proposed rulemaking under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act to the Federal Register.
The regulations are designed to improve accessibility of web and mobile applications run by state and local governments and other public entities, the Justice Department said.
Even as American life has increasingly shifted online, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, many websites remain inaccessible to people with disabilities. The Justice Department has been under pressure for years to adopt regulations clarifying how the ADA applies to the internet, but so far the agency has only issued guidance.
The proposed rule would affect public programs and services relating to employment, education, voting, health, transit schedules and much more, officials said.
“This proposed rule, which is the culmination of years of work and collaboration, is a historic moment for the Justice Department,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “It will help enshrine the right of Americans with disabilities to access critical information needed to lead safe, productive and prosperous lives.”
Web accessibility can mean accommodating screen readers, allowing text to be resized and offering captions, among other things, and the proposal includes a “specific technical standard” for web and mobile app accessibility.
The Justice Department, which timed the announcement to coincide with the anniversary of the ADA, did not release a copy of the proposed rule, but indicated that it will be published soon in the Federal Register.
For more information about the ADA contact:
Dana Gover, MPA, and ACTCP Certification, ADA Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator
For more information about ADA Technical Assistance visit the NW ADA Center Idaho website: nwadacenter.org/idaho
Email:dananwadacenteridaho@gmail.com
Phone: Voice and Text 208-841-9422
Idaho Relay Service: 7