The FCC is authorized to exempt programming for which closed captioning would be economically too burdensome. In 1998, two major Acts were passed to help disabled individuals enter the workforce and to provide universal means for those individuals to receive public information. The two acts are the Assistive Technology Act and Section 508 an amendment to the Workforce Investment Act. The Assistive Technology Act of 1998 provided a means for State and local agencies to apply for federal grants to fund initiatives to develop assistive technology devices and to provide training and education about such devices. Assistive technologies include software and hardware that has been specifically designed to assist people with disabilities in carrying out daily activities.
Assistive technology includes wheelchairs, reading machines, devices for grasping, etc.
In the area of web accessibility, common software-based assistive technology include screen readers, screen magnifiers and speech synthesizers. Prior to the Assistive Technology Act, few assistive devices were developed because there were insufficient incentives for federal contractors or other manufacturers of technology to address the needs of the disabled. With the ATA, it is hoped federal grants will allow State agencies will take the initiative and provide funding to private sector companies in implementing universal design principles. This will not only facilitate the development of assistive technology devices, but will help increase the likelihood that such products will be compatible and reduce the need for continual retraining as devices are developed. The ATA also requires the development of interstate cooperation and a National Public Internet site that will serve as a repository of information about the nature of assistive technology devices, the appropriateness and benefits of such products, and the development of procedures for providing direct communication between providers and individuals.