Laws on Accessibility

Federal

Introduction to US Laws

WebAim has a fairly easy to read introduction to the US laws pertaining to disabilities. The focus of the document is on the laws as they apply to web accessibility but it contains useful information for other areas as well. http://www.webaim.org/articles/laws/usa/

Section 508 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act

Section 508 contains the technical specifications and performance-based requirements for various technologies. There are six sections:

Software Applications and Operating Systems
Web-based Intranet and Internet Information and Applications
Telecommunications Products
Video and Multimedia Products
Self Contained, Closed Products
Desktop and Portable Computers

http://www.access-board.gov/508.htm

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act

WebAim states that Section 504 is the context of the law while section 508 provides the direction.

http://www.dol.gov/oasam/regs/statutes/sec504.htm

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

This act was written before the emergence of the web and tends to deal more with physical accessibility.

State

Government Code Section 11135

This code was the adoption of the the federal Section 508 above, and requires the CSU to comply with Section 508 as well as the US Access Board accessibility standards. The link is for a pdf file.

http://www.spb.ca.gov/civilrights/documents/CALIFORNIA_CODES_11.pdf