FodnessMemo26

Architecture

> As Lessig has said, in cyberspace, "Code is law." The code of web browsers governs what content is able to be displayed in the browser, and what elements are required in order for the content to be displayed properly. This paper details the ways in which the architecture of web browsers requires or does not require accessibility information to be included in website code, and ways in which browsers could be easily modified to enforce accessibility at the architecture level. Various proposals from web accessibility and standards compliance groups are evaluated for strengths and weaknesses in this regard. The paper argues that by making accessibility features required for websites to display in modern browsers, web developers will be forced to include accessibility features in order for their websites to continue working with new technology.

Laws

> Currently, the only regulatory framework that governs accessibility on the world wide web is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which only addresses accessibility guidelines for U.S. federal government websites. Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act require private buildings to have accessibility features built in to accommodate individuals with physical disabilities, such as ramps for people in wheelchairs, and braille for the visually impaired. There are no laws that govern accessibility of private websites, and voluntary compliance is virtually nonexistent. This paper argues that the current scope of regulation regarding individuals with disabilities being able to access websites operated by private corporations is insufficient, and significant changes need to be made to current laws in order to force a needed change.

Market Forces & Norms

> Individuals with disabilities are an underserved community in cyberspace. Website developers are constantly under a crunch for time and money to produce websites that are on time and under budget, which usually results in cutting "extras" like accessibility. Therefore, the norms of the web development industry have deprioritized accessibility and standards compliance in favor of producing a website that "works" quickly and cheaply. This paper argues that market forces and norms have failed to solve for incorporating accessibility into the design of websites. It advances solutions that make use of market forces and norms to solve the problem, such as laws that could be passed to introduce tax incentives or monetary fines for noncompliance, and modifications to the post-secondary education system to instill the values of standards compliance and accessibility into new software engineers to change the norms of software development down the line.