7 ms·

I think some are overstating the potential difficulties of making the ADA apply to American websites. A large part of compliance is just utilizing the accessibi

I think some are overstating the potential difficulties of making the ADA apply to American websites. A large part of compliance is just utilizing the accessibility tools built into HTML: semantic markup, proper use of alt and title tags, etc. I do still see the possibility of predatory litigation. To protect small businesses, maybe the burden should shift to the web developers that they hire. Much like we expect contractors to know the ins-and-outs of building codes, we should come to expect web development agencies to understand their clients' legal obligations.

obviouslygreen 14y ago
Absolutely not. There is a huge difference between something like plumbing where you do one or a few sets of well regulated activities and building infrastructure for businesses across many industries. Web programmers have a lot to be aware of just to do their own work, suggesting they should be responsible for their employers' or clients' legal obligations is completely unreasonable.
- rpedroso 14y ago
  Who should be responsible then? If you shift the burden onto small business owners, that seems pretty unreasonable to me. Imagine a small business owner asking their web developers if they used alt or title attributes properly? Absurd, right? I can't name a single plumbing instrument other than a plunger, and I don't have to because there is a division of labor. If my toilet gets backed up and it's not as simple as making sure the ball in the tank didn't get jammed, I call a plumber.
- scarmig 14y ago
  And that's why businesses don't have to comply with any security or privacy laws on the Internets. Innovation! Disruption!
- Sanddancer 14y ago
  If I hire a general contractor, I expect them to be abreast of the law enough as to when to bring in the specialists. Shifting the responsibility onto the person contracting to manage all of this is both unreasonable and unacceptable.
- SolidT 14y ago
  http://webaim.org/standards/508/checklist http://webaim.org/standards/508/checklist Look at this list, most of it you should be doing as a developer anyways. Edit: I fail to see how this is any different than making sure your webpages are not vulnerable to SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF...etc. Surely you protect your websites against those, and write code accordingly, right?
jt2190 14y ago
> A large part of compliance is just utilizing the > accessibility tools built into HTML: semantic markup, > proper use of alt and title tags, etc. This "just" is actually quite a large and expensive: Developers and their management need additional tools and training, and extra hours must be spent every release cycle ensuring that compliance is maintained.
rayiner 14y ago
Also remember this doesn't apply to every website. Just ones engaged in commerce.
- bdcravens 14y ago
  AirBNB, Teespring, Uber, Kickstarter, Dropbox, Twitter, App.net ....
  - rayiner 14y ago
    Dropbox probably doesn't fall into it nor twitter nor kick starter. AirBnB, Über, etc, should fall under the ADA because their meat space counterparts do.
    - bdcravens 14y ago
      My understanding was that anyone who conducts commerce could be held accountable.
      - rayiner 14y ago
        It's not "commerce" broadly defined, but "public accommodation" which is substantially narrower: "Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation. 'Public accommodations' include most places of lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores, care providers, and places of public displays, among other things." See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990#Title_III.E2.80.94Public_accommodations_.28and_commercial_facilities.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act...

obviouslygreen 14y ago

Absolutely not. There is a huge difference between something like plumbing where you do one or a few sets of well regulated activities and building infrastructure for businesses across many industries. Web programmers have a lot to be aware of just to do their own work, suggesting they should be responsible for their employers' or clients' legal obligations is completely unreasonable.

rpedroso 14y ago
Who should be responsible then? If you shift the burden onto small business owners, that seems pretty unreasonable to me. Imagine a small business owner asking their web developers if they used alt or title attributes properly? Absurd, right? I can't name a single plumbing instrument other than a plunger, and I don't have to because there is a division of labor. If my toilet gets backed up and it's not as simple as making sure the ball in the tank didn't get jammed, I call a plumber.
scarmig 14y ago
And that's why businesses don't have to comply with any security or privacy laws on the Internets. Innovation! Disruption!
Sanddancer 14y ago
If I hire a general contractor, I expect them to be abreast of the law enough as to when to bring in the specialists. Shifting the responsibility onto the person contracting to manage all of this is both unreasonable and unacceptable.
SolidT 14y ago
http://webaim.org/standards/508/checklist http://webaim.org/standards/508/checklist Look at this list, most of it you should be doing as a developer anyways. Edit: I fail to see how this is any different than making sure your webpages are not vulnerable to SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF...etc. Surely you protect your websites against those, and write code accordingly, right?

jt2190 14y ago

> A large part of compliance is just utilizing the > accessibility tools built into HTML: semantic markup, > proper use of alt and title tags, etc. This "just" is actually quite a large and expensive: Developers and their management need additional tools and training, and extra hours must be spent every release cycle ensuring that compliance is maintained.

rayiner 14y ago

Also remember this doesn't apply to every website. Just ones engaged in commerce.

bdcravens 14y ago
AirBNB, Teespring, Uber, Kickstarter, Dropbox, Twitter, App.net ....
- rayiner 14y ago
  Dropbox probably doesn't fall into it nor twitter nor kick starter. AirBnB, Über, etc, should fall under the ADA because their meat space counterparts do.
  - bdcravens 14y ago
    My understanding was that anyone who conducts commerce could be held accountable.
    - rayiner 14y ago
      It's not "commerce" broadly defined, but "public accommodation" which is substantially narrower: "Under Title III, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of disability with regards to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation. 'Public accommodations' include most places of lodging (such as inns and hotels), recreation, transportation, education, and dining, along with stores, care providers, and places of public displays, among other things." See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990#Title_III.E2.80.94Public_accommodations_.28and_commercial_facilities.29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act...