The recommendations were presented to the U.S. Access Board, a Federal agency that will be issuing proposed standards for such technology in coming months under the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. Section 508 of the act, which President Clinton signed into law last August, requires access to the Federal government's electronic and information technology. The Electronic and Information Technology Access Advisory Committee contained 27 members representing industry, various disability organizations, and other groups with an interest in the issues to be addressed. The committee, established by the Access Board last September, provided its recommendations in the form of a report.
Access is addressed for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities.
The recommendations establish criteria that would allow people with disabilities to locate, identify, and operate all of the input, control and mechanical functions, and to access available information. The report also addresses compatibility with adaptive equipment people with disabilities commonly use for access. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Section 508 speaks to various means for disseminating information, including computers, software, and electronic office equipment. It applies to, but is not solely focused on, Federal pages on the Internet or the World Wide Web.