K-12

Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and its amendments prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and mandate that public programs and services be accessible to people with disabilities. Both the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights have issued rulings and statements that support the position that web content is covered by this legislation.

Precollege and college students come from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds. For some, English is not their first language. Also represented in most classes are students with a diversity of ages and learning preferences, including visual and auditory. In addition, increasing numbers of students with disabilities are included in regular precollege and postsecondary courses. Their disabilities include those that are related to sight, hearing, mobility, learning, social interactions, and health. Students are in school to learn and instructors share this goal.