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According to the Access Board's Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Standards, written in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998:
"Electronic and information technology [includes] information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment, that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information. The term electronic and information technology includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications products (such as telephones), information kiosks and transaction machines, World Wide Web sites, multimedia, and office equipment such as copiers and fax machines."
Accessible means that design features have been considered to maximize use by people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. With information technology, it means that each user is able to interact with the technology in ways that work best for him or her. Accessible technology is either directly accessible without assistive technology or it is compatible with standard assistive technology (e.g., voice output, alternative mouse or keyboard input).
Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act, which took effect in 1996, requires telecommunications products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities to the extent access is "readily achievable," meaning easily accomplishable, without much difficulty or expense. If manufacturers cannot make their products accessible then they must design them to be compatible with adaptive equipment used by people with disabilities, where readily achievable. Examples of products Section 255 covers include telephones, pagers, fax machines, modems, and telephone company switching equipment. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces Section 255.
More information about Section 255 can be found at
http://www.access-board.gov/telecomm/bulletin.htm,
http://www.access-board.gov/telecomm/about telecomm.htm, and
http://www.fcc.gov/cib/consumerfacts/section255.html. |
