Website Accessibility Training

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Introduction

Transit agencies interact with and serve the public on a daily basis. A significant portion of the public has disabilities, and technology has allowed for new ways of communicating with those individuals.

Major studies find that about 20% of people using the Internet have some form of disability. There are 4 major categories of disabilities: Visual, Hearing, Motor Skills, and Cognitive. The Internet is a useful tool for persons with disabilities, but only if the websites and web content are accessible.

It is important that individuals with disabilities can access the information posted on your transit website, including schedules, routes, fares, service updates, agency policies, passenger information, and how to file a complaint.

Some of the reasons why you should work towards making your transit agency website accessible include:

1. To improve the lives of persons with disabilities by enabling them to access the information and resources on your website, and thus better utilize your transit services,
2. To reach a wider audience, leading to more awareness of your system within your community and thus increased ridership,
3. And to comply with regulations that apply to transit agencies receiving federal funding, including the American’s with Disabilities Act (or ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and any relevant state or local laws.

“The entity shall make available to individuals with disabilities adequate information concerning transportation services. This obligation includes making adequate communications capacity available, through accessible formats and technology, to enable users to obtain information and schedule service (§ 37.167(f)).” 

"Section 504 requires agencies to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in their programs and benefit from their services, including the provision of information to employees and members of the public. Agencies must provide appropriate auxiliary aids where necessary to ensure an equal opportunity. Types of auxiliary aids may include brailled or large print versions of materials, electronic diskettes, audiotapes, qualified interpreters or readers, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TDDs), captioning of video, and other methods of making information available and accessible to persons with disabilities. In considering what type of auxiliary aid to provide, agencies must give primary consideration to the request of the individual with a disability and shall honor that request, unless it can demonstrate that another effective means of communication exists."