Global Accessibility Laws Flashcards

A software development company based in the United States sells its project management application to customers globally, including in several European Union countries. Which of the following laws would MOST likely apply to this company, requiring their application to be accessible?

Answer: The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) applies to companies that sell specific products and services, including many types of software and websites, within the EU, regardless of where the company itself is located. Section 508 applies to US federal agencies, AODA applies to organizations in Ontario, Canada, and the Marrakesh Treaty deals with copyright exceptions for accessible format books.

What is the primary scope of Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act?

Answer: U.S. Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology.

Section 508 specifically mandates that U.S. Federal agencies must ensure their electronic and information technology (ICT) is accessible to people with disabilities, including employees and the public. It does not directly apply to state/local governments (which are covered under ADA Title II) or private businesses (which are covered under ADA Title III).

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) sets out a path for accessibility in a specific Canadian province. A key part of its requirements for information and communications is alignment with which technical standard?

Answer: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

The AODA's Information and Communications Standard requires organizations to make their websites and web content conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 Level AA. EN 301 549 is a European standard, the Section 508 standards apply to the US Federal government, and the Biopsychosocial Model is a theoretical framework, not a technical standard.

An international library consortium is looking to share accessible digital copies of books with partner libraries in other countries to benefit patrons who are blind or have other print disabilities. Which international treaty specifically facilitates this activity by creating exceptions to traditional copyright law?

Answer: The Marrakesh Treaty

The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted to address the 'book famine' by allowing authorized entities to reproduce and distribute published works in accessible formats (like braille or audio) and share them across borders without infringing on copyright. The ADA and EAA are civil rights laws, and WCAG is a set of technical guidelines.

A public university in the United States is redesigning its website and online course portal. Under which law are they primarily obligated to ensure these digital platforms are accessible to students with disabilities?

Answer: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II

Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all services, programs, and activities of public entities, which includes state and local governments and their instrumentalities, such as public universities. Recent rulemaking has clarified that this applies to their websites and digital resources. Section 508 applies to federal agencies, CVAA to specific communication technologies, and the EAA to the EU market.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the European standard EN 301 549 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?

Answer: EN 301 549 incorporates and expands upon WCAG, applying accessibility requirements to a broader range of ICT.

EN 301 549 is a European standard for digital accessibility that uses WCAG as its foundation for web and mobile content. However, its scope is broader, covering other Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) like hardware and non-web software. It is the harmonized standard used to show conformance with laws like the European Accessibility Act, but it is a standard itself, not the law.