Universal usability for web sites: current trends in the U.S. Law

摘要

Federal legislation in the United States mandates that accommodations be made to provide physical access to buildings and facilities for individuals with disabilities. A new issue is the accessibility of web sites for people with disabilities. Many people with disabilities access content on the web, using adaptive technology such as screen readers. Universal usability is the practice of designing information systems that are accessible by different populations with different needs. Web sites need to be designed so that they are universally usable by all users, including users with disabilities. The law is currently not clear about whether private companies must make their web sites accessible, however, U.S. Federal Government web sites will soon be required to be accessible. This pager will discuss the concept of universal usability for web sites, how to design for universal usability, how users with disabilities access the web, and will then examine the current legal status of web site accessibility for both private companies and the federal government.