Web Accessibility -- Quiz 1

Section 508

• accessibility standards for fed govt websites and tech

ADA

• Americans with Disabilities Act

• covers public services (Title II) and public accommodations (Title III)

IDEA

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

• Special education rights for children with disabilities

Rehabilitation Act Section 504

• prohibits discrimination based on disablility in programs receiving fed financial assistance

Telecommunications Act Section 255

• Requires telecommunications services and products to be accessible.

How are design decisions impacted by accessibility laws?

Scenario: A local government agency launches a new online public service portal. However, users with visual impairments report that the site is not compatible with screen reader software.

Question: Which law protects the users' rights to access the portal, and what are the agency's legal obligations?

Scenario 2: An online shopping platform requires complex swiping gestures to navigate product pages, making it difficult for users with motor impairments to complete a purchase.

Question: Which law applies to this situation, and what should the platform do to address accessibility concerns?

Scenario 3: A healthcare provider releases a new patient portal, but users with hearing impairments report that none of the tutorial videos include captions.

Question: Which law has been violated, and what is the provider’s obligation to fix the issue?

Scenario 4: A library system introduces a new e-book borrowing service, but it lacks text-to-speech functionality, making it inaccessible to users with reading disabilities.

Question: What law applies, and what should the library do to address the situation?

Sensory disabilities

• Affects sight, hearing, etc.

• Example: A website lacking captions for videos or proper contrast for color blindness

Cognitive disabilities

• Impacts memory, attention, etc.

• Example: A website with overly complex navigation or poorly organized content

Physical disabilities

• Affects mobility

• Example: A website requiring precise mouse movements or difficult-to-reach interactive elements

Neurological disabilities

• Affects brain function

• Example: Flashing animations on a site triggering seizures or disorientation

Medical Model of Disability

• Focuses on the individual's impairment as the problem

Social Model of Disability

• Focuses on how society and environments create barriers for people with disabilities