One person's succinct perspective on what Section 504 and the ADA require for access to Technology

1. It's about equal access to information or equally effective "communication."

2. Every program and activity is covered: Web-sites, distance learning programs, listservs, research tools, libraries, math-business-science labs, on-line services such as ticketing-registration-enrollment etc

3. They been covered for a long time; all actions taken are now analogous to "new construction."

4. The priority, in providing "auxiliary aids and services--reasonable modifications," to make these programs and activities accessible to persons with disability, must be toward those formats and devices that permit the greatest flexibility, independence, and integration by the user in substantive learning environments.

5. Under Title II, the consumer's perspective must be taken in account, in choosing among options for choosing adaptive technology to create access to "communication"

6. In OCR's experience, meeting this responsibility will require adopting and implementing methods of administration that entail foresight, planning, and making access a central part of the technology planning, acquisition, distribution, and maintenance

7. Authoring tools, web-site "look and feel," and content that adhere to principles of "universal design" are most likely to meet compliance expectations.