In case anyone is interested:


On April 22 Samuel R. Bagenstos, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice,
testified before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties on Achieving the Promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the Digital Age - Current Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.

In his written testimony <http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Bagenstos100422.pdf >  Bagenstos said:

As more and more of our social infrastructure is made available on the internet - in some cases, exclusively online - access to information and electronic technologies is increasingly becoming the gateway civil rights issue for individuals with disabilities.

"When Congress enacted the ADA and Section 504, the internet as we know it today - the ubiquitous venue for information, commerce, services, and activities B did not exist. For that reason, although the ADA and Section 504 guarantee the protection of the rights of individuals with disabilities in a broad array of activities, neither law expressly mentions the internet or contains requirements regarding developing technologies. When Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act in 1998, it added section 508. That provision specifically requires Federal government agencies to ensure that their electronic and information technologies, including their websites, are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 29 U.S.C. 794(d). Within the Civil Rights Division the Disability Rights Section is responsible for enforcement of the civil rights statutes relating to the accessibility of information technologies to individuals with disabilities.
...
There is no doubt that the internet sites of State and local government entities are covered by Title II of the ADA. Similarly, there is no doubt that the websites of recipients of Federal financial assistance are covered by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act." 

Given this statement and the recent settlements on the Kindle, it seems likely that the DOJ will will increase its enforcement in the areas of the Internet and Emerging Technologies (at long last!). This is the first time in almost a decade that the Federal government has made an explicit statement about web and technology accessibility related to the ADA.



Best,
Alan

PS: Coincidentally, there happens to be a course on this topic this summer at SU!
DSP 600
Accessible & Usable Web Design
Online
July 6 - August 13

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