A11y Laws

Question 1

List the three categories where Accessibility laws tend to fall

Answer 1

1. Civil rights laws
2. Procurement laws
3. Industry-specific laws

Question 2

Give an example of a civil rights law that applies to accessibility

Answer 2

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Question 3

Give an example of a US procurement law that applies accessibility

Answer 3

Section 508 of the rehabilitation act

Question 4

Give an example of an industry-specific accessibility law

Answer 4

The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA)

Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA)

Question 5

When and by whom was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights issued?

Answer 5

1948, by the Commission on Human Rights, led by committee chair Eleanor Roosevelt

Question 6

What is the UN CRPD?

Answer 6

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - an international ratified treaty that can help push and monitor national legislation related to accessibility, assistive technology and universal design

Question 7

Which theoretical model of disability was the UN CRPD intended to address?

Answer 7

The medical model

Question 8

What is the status of the UN CRPD in the United States?

Answer 8

The US signed but did not ratify the UN CRPD. It failed to get a two thirds majority in the senate in 2012.

Question 9

Describe the purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Answer 9

The ADA is a broad civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the following areas:

Employment
Architectural Design
Transportation
Exams and Courses
Other services offering "public accommodation"

Question 10

How can the ADA potentially apply to or relate to web accessibility

Answer 10

While the ADA does not explicitly cover web accessibility, many web accessibility lawsuits do invoke the ADA as the basis for the complaint, because of the language around “public accommodation”

Question 11

The ADA applies to which type of businesses or entities?

Answer 11

Private entities that own, operate, lease, or lease to places of public accommodation. This refers to businesses and other organizations open to the public, with the exception of religious entities and private clubs.

It also applies to federal and state government entities

Question 12

How is the ADA enforced?

Answer 12

Consumers (people with disabilities) can file formal complaints or lawsuits

Question 13

What is the law in Canada that covers Accessibility?

Answer 13

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)

Question 14

What is the law in the United Kingdom that covers Accessibility?

Answer 14

The Equality Act of 2010

In addition to disability, this law also covers race and ethnic identity, sex, pregnancy or parenthood status, sexual orientation or identity, and religion/belief or lack of religion/belief

Question 15

The “Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities” was passed in June 2013 in which country?

Answer 15

Japan

Question 16

Who does Section 508 apply to?

Answer 16

The US Federal government, as well as any businesses. non-profits, or local/state governments that do business with the federal government

Question 17

How is Section 508 enforced?

Answer 17

Consumers (people with disabilities) filing formal complaints

Question 18

What is EN 301 549?

Answer 18

A set of standards created by the European Union regarding Information and Communication Technology (ICT), similar to section 508.

It is unique in that no government in Europe has required adherence to these standards as of 2014. Also, it only initially covers the public sector; private sector is not included

Question 19

What does the CVAA require?

Answer 19

The CVAA requires advanced communications services and products to be accessible to people with disabilities.

This includes:

Video communications
Text messaging
Web browsers on mobile devices

It also says that all video programs presented with closed captioning on TV must also be presented with closed captioning on the Internet.

Question 20

Who does the CVAA apply to?

Answer 20

All entities that are covered by FCC regulations, including telecommunication software and hardware providers, television broadcasters, and television software/hardware providers

Question 21

How is the CVAA enforced?

Answer 21

Consumers (people with disabilities) filing formal complaints

Question 22

Describe the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) of 1986

Answer 22

The ACAA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel, and requires air carriers to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities

Question 23

In 2013, how did the Department of Transportation (DoT) extend the ACAA?

Answer 23

To require airline kiosks and websites to be accessible

Question 24

What are the seven core air travel services that are required to be WCAG compliant according to the ACAA

Answer 24

1. Booking or changing a reservation, including all flight amenities
2. Checking in for a flight
3. Accessing a personal travel itinerary
4. Accessing flight status
5. Accessing a personal frequent flier account
6. Accessing flight schedules
7. Accessing carrier contact information

Question 25

Who does the ACAA apply to?

Answer 25

US air carriers, as well as foreign air carriers that operate flights within or to the US, or sell tickets to the US public

Question 26

How is the ACAA enforced?

Answer 26

Consumers (people with disabilities) filing formal complaints

Question 27

What entities are typically covered in state accessibility laws?

Answer 27

State and local governments, including K-12 schools and universities