Attending "IITAA Web Accessibility Requirements and Certification Program" presented by Mike Scott of the Illinois Department of Human Services at the 2009 UIUC Web Accessibility Conference. About 60 people in attendance.

• Accessibility laws:
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act--targets education
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act--adds details and technical standards
  • Americans with Disabilities Act--lays out the requirement, but not the specifics
  • State Lawsuit Immunity Act amendments--gives constituents the right to sue for accessibility issues
• The Lawsuits
  • America Online
  • IBM (Olympics.com for Sydney Olympics)
  • Priceline & Ramada.com
  • State of Arkansas (sued by employees of inaccessible IT project -- $19 million became $52 million project), State of Pennsylvania
  • Target.com
• Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act
  • Brought-up by the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
  • Public Act 095-0307
  • Signed August 20, 2007
  • Effective August 20, 2008
  • Covers
    • Agencies, Departments, Divisions, etc.
    • Constitutional Offices
    • Public Universities
    • Does not specifically cover community colleges but Illinois Community College Board and IBHE are applying pressure
  • Based largely upon Section 508, though significant updates made to area of Web standards.
• Thought-process for considering accessibility of an element
  • What experience is that element attempting to convey (purely sensory, informative, guiding navigation, etc.)?
  • What alternative can we provide to persons with disabilities?
• Considerations
  • The "undue burden" excuse often does not justify the lack of accessibility because the burden is considered in relation to overall budget of the entire entity (in the case of a public university, of the entire state).
  • IITAA only applies moving forward to new development, new purchases, and (admittedly gray area of) substantial modifications
• IITAA Certification
  • Steps
    • Pass FAE without "Fail"
    • Self-review using Web Accessibility Testing Checklist
    • Submit an IITAA Certification Request