According to Section 508, these Internet sites must provide access for people with disabilities equal to the access enjoyed by non disabled citizens. The first access act of this type was passed in 1986 as an amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. At that time, the issue was access to office equipment. Guidelines offer guidance. They are not standards and they are not enforceable.
Standards are enforceable and can set a framework for redress, if the standards are violated.
The legislation charged the Access Board with the development of these standards. To accomplish this task, the Board appointed an advisory committee. On October 15, the First meeting of the Electronic and Information Technology Access Advisory Committee was held. That committee was charged with the development of functional and performance standards for electronic and information technology necessary to assure accessibility to that technology. The Access Board anticipates that the standards, developed by the committee and reviewed by Federal Agencies, will be posted for public comment in the spring of 1999.