Finally, printers, fax machines and copiers may have liquid crystal display screens that are tilted for the convenience of the average height standing person, but someone who uses a wheelchair may not be able to read those displays. Over the past 15 years, many have realized that making technology accessible does not have to be expensive. It does not have to be difficult, and it is very much the right thing to do. But technology has changed so rapidly that accessibility has oftentimes been an afterthought, if a thought at all. Modifying existing technology to be accessible is much, much more difficult, much more expensive than designing technology right in the first place.
Accessible design is good design.
Government leaders such as the General Services Administration and the Department of Education have started working with industry. Leaders within the private sector emerged, too. For instance, the Web Accessibility Initiative is an international consortium of experts working to improve the accessibility of the Internet, and it has been instrumental in developing easy to use standards for web page design. Recognizing that people with disabilities would continue to be an afterthought unless something was done, Congress wanted to provide incentives for the IT industry, so in 1998, President Clinton signed into law an amendment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 provides opportunities to IT manufacturers and designers who market more accessible products to federal agencies.