Hi Jennison, 

Let me respond to your first two questions:

In 1998, the US Department of Education issued a statement according to
which "states which receive Federal funds under the Technology Related
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988, are required
by that Act to comply with Section 508under the Assistive Technology
Act" (see Question & Answer, No. 3 at
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/508/archive/deptofed.html). In light of this
statement, some universities take the position that they are required to
comply with the Section 508 Access Board Standard (see e.g. California
Community Colleges at
http://library.uwsp.edu/aschmetz/Accessible/UWSP_UTC/sec508_applicabilit
y_yes_CCC.htm). Others don't interpret the law this way (see for example
California State University at
http://www.csus.edu/web/accessibility/CSU_508_memo.htm). I'm not a
lawyer, but it is my understanding that, for the time being, this issue
is in legal limbo.

Section 504 and ADA (Title II ad III) are the two laws that apply to
institutions of higher learning. However, none of these two laws mandate
any standard for web accessibility. Nor do they actually require web
accessibility. They merely mandate, in general language, that programs,
services and activities must be accessible. This means, with regard to
web pages, that their content must be made accessible, in an equitable
manner, by some means. The law does not stipulate how this is to be
accomplished (braille, audiotapes, reader, accessible web-page design
etc.). Of course, the easiest way (and the most prudent way, in my view)
is to design web pages according to principles of universal design.

I hope this helps,

Axel Schmetzke
Library
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point


-----Original Message-----
From: Jennison Asuncion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 7:45 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: can someone clarify US laws relating to access to IT in higher
ed??

Hello,

I know this question has been answered here before, so I apologize in
advance. Does Section 508 only apply to government agencies, or does it
extend to publically funded higher educational institutions?

Also, which federal/state laws (if any) speak explicitly to higher
education needing to make their campus computing/internet/eLearning
accessible? Here in Canada, folks often throw ADA and 508 around as
covering campuses in this regard, but as I understand it, it is still up
to individual schools to what extent to which aspects of their IT they
will make accessible.

I have also heard that individual states have passed specific laws that
speak to access to eLearning. Can someone clarify whether this is true,
and if so, which states have done this?

Thanks,
Jennison