Different countries have adopted differing approaches to the legislative issues arising from disability in society.
In the UK we have the
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA), also known as Part 4 of the DDA.
In the USA the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990. This was followed by legislation on telecommunications accessibility (
Section 255) and Federal procurement of electronic and information technology (
Section 508).
The European Union (EU) holds the view that "All citizens have the right to benefit from new opportunities that the Information Society offers." There are a number of linked initiatives in Europe around trying to make this happen through an initiative called
i2010 - A European Information Society for growth and employment.
UK Law
The DDA and SENDA impose various requirements upon employers, educators and service providers which have an impact on the use of technology.
Software accessibility standards
Effective inclusive design depends upon the use of suitable guidelines and standards, and there are quite a few to choose from when it comes to software.
E-Accessibility in Europe
European Directives are the main legislative instruments of the European Union that have an impact on software accessibility in the UK, but they are not the only tool that the EU uses to achieve progress.