FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 19, 2004
Landmark New York settlement pushes Web site accessibility standards to private Web sites
In a landmark announcement, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has
reached a settlement with two private Web sites requiring them to
implement accessibility standards from the American with Disabilities
Act. These standards have been typically applied only to public sector
Web sites.
"Accessible web sites are the wave of the future and the right thing to do. We applaud these companies for taking responsible and proper steps to make their web sites accessible to the blind and visually impaired," Spitzer said. "We urge all companies who have not done so to follow their lead."
The Attorney General opined that the Americans With Disabilities Act requires that private web sites be accessible to blind and visually impaired Internet users. The ADA generally dictates that all "places of public accommodation" and all "goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations" of places of public accommodation, must be made accessible to disabled citizens, absent undue hardship. New York law provides similar civil rights protections.
All Imaginary Landscape-designed Web sites comply with international Web design and accessibility standards as outlined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as well as the American with Disabilities Act.
The complete press release is available on the New York Attorney General Web site at http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/aug/aug19a_04.html.
"Accessible web sites are the wave of the future and the right thing to do. We applaud these companies for taking responsible and proper steps to make their web sites accessible to the blind and visually impaired," Spitzer said. "We urge all companies who have not done so to follow their lead."
The Attorney General opined that the Americans With Disabilities Act requires that private web sites be accessible to blind and visually impaired Internet users. The ADA generally dictates that all "places of public accommodation" and all "goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations" of places of public accommodation, must be made accessible to disabled citizens, absent undue hardship. New York law provides similar civil rights protections.
All Imaginary Landscape-designed Web sites comply with international Web design and accessibility standards as outlined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) as well as the American with Disabilities Act.
The complete press release is available on the New York Attorney General Web site at http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2004/aug/aug19a_04.html.
