Category: Civil Rights

DOJ Expected to Issue Public Entity Web Accessibility Regulations

4 Apr 2023

The U.S. Department of Justice is set to begin drafting web accessibility regulations for public entities this May, 2023. The United States currently lacks clear legal guidelines around web accessibility standards and enforcement, for public and private entities alike. The absence of clear regulation has led to confusion and the continued proliferation of accessibility barriers […]

The Curb Cut Effect: 7 Ways the ADA is for Everyone

25 Jul 2022

Laws, programs, and accommodations designed to help people with disabilities often end up benefiting all of society. This is called the Curb-Cut Effect.  The ADA was the first piece of legislation to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all places open to the general […]

A Fun Look into Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

9 Nov 2021

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was monumental in advancing the accessibility rights movement. It protected against federal institutions discriminating against people with disabilities and gave way to the Americans with Disabilities Act. This Drunk History video provides a fun yet digestible look at the protests which allowed for change to happen. We recognize this […]

31 Years of the ADA – A Look Back at the Groundbreaking Law

14 Jul 2021

Accessible Web is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 31st Anniversary.  It was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and serves as a landmark event in the movement for accessibility. On July 26th we celebrate this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and […]

Covid-19 Vaccine Website Accessibility

11 Mar 2021

As state Covid-19 Vaccine websites go live, there is a clear lack of accessible framework. When providing a product as crucial as a life-saving vaccine, there is little room for inaccessibility. Facebook groups have popped up helping connect volunteers with those who are unable to sign up for vaccines. Many of the barriers faced in […]

Disability Drives Innovation: A11y Spotlight

16 Nov 2020

Haben Girma, the first person who is deaf-blind to graduate from Harvard Law School, believes that disability drives innovation. She uses the example of two Italian friends whose desire to correspond through letters sparked the invention of the typewriter. One was blind and the other sighted, so the latter created a machine where his friend […]

Why Voting Must Be Accessible to All & How It Isn’t

27 Oct 2020

If voting is a civic duty, shouldn’t all voters have access to all steps of the process? As state and federal elections draw near this question is urgent and, because of Covid-19 in-person options for voting are more risky or, just plan unavailable. Unfortunately when it comes to digital access, voting is not an easy […]

Deadline approaching for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

16 Sep 2020

In 2005 Ontario became the first Canadian Province to pass accessibility laws and has one of the most comprehensive policies created to date: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Many countries, like the US, have laws that require government organizations or organizations that use government funds to have and procure accessible technology, websites […]

Disability Rights Are Not Optional: How Proposed GOP Legislation Will Hurt the ADA

19 Aug 2020

“Disability rights are human rights, and these civil rights must never become optional benefits that can be taken away whenever it’s convenient or cheaper for employers and those in power.” -Senator Tammy Duckworth The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  just celebrated its 30th anniversary, but even with this legislation in place, there are still lots […]