Web Accessibility in Europe and the United States: What We Are Doing to Increase Inclusion

Accessibility is hardly a new problem and certainly did not originate with the Web. Lack of access to buildings long preceded the call for accessible Web content. Although it is unlikely that rehabilitation educators look at Web page accessibility with indifference, many may also find it difficult to implement. The authors posit three reasons why rehabilitation educators should be concerned: (a) the transition from an industrial to an information society; (b) increasing use of the Web for course material dissemination; and (c) modeling accessibility for other faculty and advocating for their students. These reasons stem from changes in society, the economy, and their teaching methods. Moreover, these changes create an ethical problem related to equity and inclusion for students. This paper reviews the accessibility laws and regulations in the United States and selected European countries to provide information on Web accessibility to rehabilitation educators. Readers can use this information to gain an understanding of what is being done to make websites accessible in order to better advocate for persons with disabilities.