Understanding Section 508 and Its Implications for Distance Education

Abstract

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates that federal agencies must ensure the provision of accessible electronic and information technology. Although this legislation has not formally been applied to higher education, it will inevitably have an impact on all academic institutions, particularly in the area of distance education. This analysis examines how the legislation applies to distance education technologies and technical requirements and provisions of the law. An overview of Section 508 standards and its application is distance education is discussed.