The Accessibility Services Department is committed to helping students with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations during their college experience at UVU. We provide a variety of services, software and equipment for students with a wide range of disabilities. Come in and see how we can help you achieve your best!
To learn more about accessibility services visit https://www.uvu.edu/accessibility/
In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508 (29 U.S.C. ‘794d), agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.
As the law states, “Section 508 requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency” (Section 508).
Signed into law in 1990:
The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, State and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. It also applies to the United States Congress.
To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. The ADA does not specifically name all of the impairments that are covered” (U.S. Department of Justice, 2009).
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules requiring telecommunications manufacturers and service providers to make their products and services accessible to people with disabilities, if readily achievable.
Section 255 and Section 251(a)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, require manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and providers of telecommunications services to ensure that such equipment and services are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily achievable. These amendments ensure that people with disabilities will have access to a broad range of products and services such as telephones, cell phones, pagers, call-waiting, and operator services, that were often inaccessible to many users with disabilities” (U.S. Department of Justice, 2009).
Risks associated with inaccessible content:
JISC Legal (2008b, Sept 18). Web 2.0 and the law for information services. Retrieved from http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/Portals/12/Documents/PDFs/Web2_Information_Services.pdf
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. (2009, October 28). A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. Retrieved October 31, 2009 from http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm#anchor62335
