United States

Last Updated: 16 February 2017 – Updated U.S. laws and policies. Added reference to the Revised 508 Standards.

Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended

Official law/policy page

English: Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended

Details

Date enacted: 1998
Responsible Entities (Agencies, Ministries, etc.):
Type: Procurement law, Accessibility law
Scope: Government
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: WCAG 2.0
Relevant Standard:
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines
  Revised Section 508 Standards, 18 Jan. 2017. Enforced on U.S. Agencies as of 18 Jan. 2018. Procurement regulations have not been completed yet by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council. Given the impending updates to the FAR by the FAR Council and the current applicability of the Revised 508 Standards to all other 508-covered applications (i.e., development, maintenance, and use of ICT by Federal agencies), Federal agencies are encouraged to start proactively incorporating the Revised 508 Standards now into their procurement planning and execution.
Relevant Documents:
- About the Update of the Section 508 Standards and Section 255 Guidelines for Information and Communication Technology
- GSA Section 508 website
  General Services Administration's website on Section 508
- Section 508 Standards for Electronic and Information Technology
  Original section 508 standards, published in the U.S. Federal Register 21 Dec. 2000. Web requirements are a derivative of WCAG 1.0. Standards add other requirements for software, hardware, communications, multimedia and documentation. Government agencies encouraged to use the Revised 508 Standards published January 2017 in procurement of accessible technology, though the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council has not yet updated the procurement language to incorporate the Revised 508 Standards.
- GSA Quick Reference Guide to Section 508 Requirements and Standards
  This quick reference provides further information on the original Section 508 Standards, published 21 Dec. 2000.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended

Official law/policy page

English: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended

Details

Date enacted: 2009
Responsible Entities (Agencies, Ministries, etc.):
Type: Non-discrimination law
Scope: Public sector, Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: None
Relevant Documents:
- DOL Laws & Regulations
  Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996

Official law/policy page

English: Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996

Details

Date enacted: 1996
Responsible Entities (Agencies, Ministries, etc.):
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- U.S. Access Board
Type: Accessibility law
Scope: Public sector, Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: None
Relevant Standard:
- Telecommunications Act Section 255 Guidelines
  FCC requirements for accessible telecommunications products.
Relevant Documents:
- Telecommunications Access for People with Disabilities
- Guidance on the Telecommunications Act Section 255 Guidelines
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines
  Revised Section Section 255 Guidelines, 18 Jan. 2017. Not yet enforced by an FCC rule.

Air Carrier Access Act of 1986

Official law/policy page

English: Air Carrier Access Act of 1986

Details

Date enacted: 2013
Responsible Entity (Agency, Ministry, etc.):
- Department of Transportation (DoT)
Type: Non-discrimination law
Scope: Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: WCAG 2.0
Relevant Standard:
- WCAG 2.0 Level AA
  W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA
Relevant Documents:
- Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel - Accessibility of Web Sites and Automated Kiosks at U.S. Airports
  Final rule for website and kiosk accessibility published in the U.S. Federal Register on 12 Nov. 2013
- Fact Sheet on Airline Web Site and Kiosk Accessibility (.pdf)

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

Official law/policy page

English: 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA)

Details

Date enacted: 2010
Responsible Entity (Agency, Ministry, etc.):
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Type: Accessibility law
Scope: Private sector
Web only: no
WCAG Version Used: None
Relevant Standards:
- WCAG 2.0 Level AA
  W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines
  Revised Section 508 standards published in the U.S. Federal Register 21 Jan. 2017. Incorporates WCAG 2.0 Level AA by reference without modifications for Web content as well as WCAG 2.0 Level AA for non-Web documentation and software with the exception of 2.4.1 Bypass Blocks, 2.4.5 Multiple Ways, 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation, and 3.2.4 Consistent Identification.
Relevant Documents:
- FCC page on the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
  Provides an overall view of the Act with links to pages that contain the technical requirements for the various technologies covered by the Act.