[blindLaw] Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities - U.S. DOJ - April 8, 2024

Tue Apr 9 12:48:22 UTC 2024

All public colleges and universities are "public entities" covered by ADA Title II and will have to comply with the new web accessibility rules, regardless if they receive federal money.  They all do receive federal funding so, in one sense, it does not matter but just know that the scope of Title II is not tied to the federal funding stream.  Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sanho Steele-Louchart via BlindLaw
Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2024 8:36 AM
To: Blind Law Mailing List <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sanho Steele-Louchart <sanho817 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [blindLaw] Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities - U.S. DOJ - April 8, 2024

Thomas: 

The rules only apply to entities covered by Title II of the ADA. That is, only entities receiving federal funds. Most private universities are solely Title III covered entities and are not beholden to these rules. The rumor is that we should be seeing the Title III NPRM in the not too distant future, though what that means is anyone's guess. 

Sanho 

> On Apr 9, 2024, at 6:50 AM, Thomas Dukeman via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> 
> I was wondering if the rule also extends to private entities because I noticed the information in the original message suggested that universities were impacted now by the ADA regulations regarding accessibility (if I understood the message right). so now my question is that also private universities as well or is this strictly applying ADA to public universities?
> 
> Thank you for the update,
> 
> Thomas Dukeman,
> Board Member #1, Florida Association of Blind Students 
> ________________________________
> From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> on behalf of Nightingale, 
> Noel via BlindLaw <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 8, 2024 6:57 PM
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Nightingale, Noel <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> Subject: [blindLaw] Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to 
> Strengthen Web and Mobile App Access for People with Disabilities - 
> U.S. DOJ - April 8, 2024
> 
> 
> https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-publish-final-rule-s
> trengthen-web-and-mobile-app-access-people
> Justice Department to Publish Final Rule to Strengthen Web and Mobile 
> App Access for People with Disabilities Press Release U.S. DOJ April 
> 8, 2024
> 
> Note: Please note that this link leads to an advance copy of a rule that has been approved by the Attorney General.<https://www.ada.gov/assets/pdfs/web-rule.pdf> The official version of the rule will be published in the Federal Register.
> Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today signed a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile applications (apps) for people with disabilities. This final rule clarifies the obligations of state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible. Every day, people across the country use the web and mobile apps to access public programs and services, including emergency information, courts, healthcare providers, schools, voting information, parking, permit applications, tax payments, and transit updates. If these technologies are not accessible, it can be difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to access critical services. Consequently, individuals with disabilities may be excluded from accessing public services that other people routinely use.
> "This final rule marks the Justice Department's latest effort to ensure that no person is denied access to government services, programs, or activities because of a disability," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "By issuing clear and consistent accessibility standards for state and local governments' digital content, this rule advances the ADA's promise of equal participation in society for people with disabilities. I want to thank the many public servants across the Department, led by the Civil Rights Division, for their tremendous work on this rule."
> "This rule affirms the Justice Department's unwavering commitment to achieving the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act - ensuring that people with disabilities can fully and equally participate in our society," said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. "The rule, which clarifies the standards for making mobile apps and websites accessible, is vital to people's ability to use and benefit from public programs and services."
> "This rule is truly historic and long overdue as it will help break down barriers that have kept people with disabilities from fully participating in American life," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. "The rule will help ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to a full range of government services including critical activities like voting, taking online courses, applying for public benefits, filing taxes and more. For far too long, people with disabilities have been left behind as we've witnessed more services and government activity increasingly move online. This rule is helping to usher us into a new era by bringing an end to the discrimination faced by millions of Americans with vision, hearing, cognitive and manual dexterity disabilities across our country."
> The rule will provide much-needed standards for addressing a wide variety of barriers. For example, the rule will help ensure blind individuals can access information about public transportation on a city's mobile app or website, enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate in university lectures online and allow individuals with manual disabilities affecting their ability to use a mouse to access web information about voter registration. Ensuring that people with disabilities can access web content and mobile apps and fully participate in public programs and services will improve the day-to-day lives of individuals with disabilities in communities throughout the country.
> The final rule mandates technical standards for state and local governments to help ensure the accessibility of their programs and services provided through the web and mobile apps. By providing clarity on how to make sure these platforms are accessible for people with disabilities, this final rule advances the ADA's promise of a more inclusive society. The final rule will soon be available for review on the Federal Register's website at www.federalregister.gov<http://www.federalregister.gov><http://www.federalregister.gov<http://www.federalregister.gov>>. A fact sheet detailing information about the final rule is available here.
> For further information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the department's website at www.justice.gov/crt<http://www.justice.gov/crt>. For inquiries regarding the ADA, please contact the department's toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or visit the ADA website at www.ada.gov<http://www.ada.gov>.
> 
> 
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