Designing Effective Speech Interfaces

Justification for Universal Design

There are many reasons why it's important to include universal design concepts and accessibility in your design program and development effort.

• It allows you to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This legislation requires that employers provide reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities.

  “The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect.”

  Tim Berners-Lee, credited as the inventor of the World Wide Web

• It may also allow you to comply with sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• It allows you to comply with the United Kingdom's Disability Discrimination Act, which is similar to the ADA in the U.S. The Disability Discrimination Act legislation may soon be effective for the rest of Europe, as well.
• It allows you to prepare for compliance with pending changes to the Telecommunications Act, which may mandate specific levels of accessibility for applications on or distributed via the Internet.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

“No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States…shall, solely by reason of…handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

“Accessibility Requirements for Federal Departments and Agencies: Development, procurement, maintenance, or ...