US government looks at updating disabilities act

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Thursday, 18 November 2010 16:11pm

The US Department of Justice intends to update the 20-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to incorporate cyberspace.

Beginning Thursday 18 November in Chicago, the department will hold a number of hearings to gain a real understanding of how the changes will affect not only Americans with disabilities but also the industries that may be involved.

The Department of Justice has, until now, interpreted the existing ADA to encompass websites that offer goods and services. The changes could clarify how this should be done,  and set schedules for rollout.

According to a report by Carla K Johnson from the Associated Press, “A 2003 study commissioned by Microsoft found that 1 in 4 working-age adults has eyesight trouble, 1 in 4 has a dexterity impairment and 1 in 5 has difficulty hearing.”

American Disability Attorney Lainey Feingold expressed a hope that these changes won’t be fought, telling Johnson, "Web accessibility should not be a new concept to any company with a website."


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