Bill Overview
Title: Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act
Description: This bill requires employers, public entities, and public accommodations that provide goods or services through a website or online application to make those websites and applications accessible to individuals with disabilities. The requirement applies even if the good or service is offered only digitally. The Department of Justice (DOJ) must issue standards of accessibility for applicable entities to meet this requirement. The bill provides for enforcement by DOJ, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and individual civil action. It also establishes various review and reporting requirements.
Sponsors: Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with disabilities requiring accessible websites or online applications
Estimated Size: 40000000
- The bill affects individuals with disabilities who require accessible websites and online applications to interact with digital services.
- According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1 billion people globally have some form of disability, though not all may be affected directly by online accessibility issues.
- The population affected may include individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities who rely on accessibility features like screen readers, voice recognition, or keyboard navigation.
- The bill impacts entities like businesses, employers, and service providers that operate online platforms, increasing their responsibility to ensure accessibility compliance.
Reasoning
- The population of approximately 40 million Americans with disabilities includes individuals who rely on online accessibility to navigate and access digital services efficiently. These include individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.
- The federal budget allocated to enforcing the accessibility standards will support necessary adjustments to digital platforms but also must account for enforcement and oversight costs.
- This policy is likely to significantly impact individuals who currently struggle with inaccessible online services by improving their quality of life and ability to participate in digital activities.
- Entities such as businesses and public services will need to bear the initial cost of making their digital services accessible, which may influence their business operations but is justified by the improved accessibility for millions of potential customers.
- The simulated interviews will reflect the diversity of challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the varying levels of impact based on current web accessibility conditions and personal reliance on digital platforms.
Simulated Interviews
Marketing Professional (New York City, NY)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Currently, navigating many websites is a challenge due to poor screen reader compatibility.
- This policy would significantly enhance my ability to perform work tasks and access services independently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Software Engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Most e-learning and online content providers neglect to provide adequate captions, which affects my professional development.
- Implementation of this act will greatly enhance accessibility and is likely to broaden my learning resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With current software, many educational websites do not support voice navigation effectively.
- The new policy could vastly improve my educational experience and access to resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (Birmingham, AL)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessibility in websites is very limited when it comes to contrast and size customizations.
- I'm hopeful this new mandate will simplify accessing information online.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My concern is that the added costs to small businesses might be overwhelming, although it's crucial for inclusive access.
- Long-term, this policy will open up opportunities to engage more fully with the digital market.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graphic Designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The biggest issue is navigating websites that are not keyboard-friendly.
- Improving accessibility could ease my daily tasks, especially on complex platforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Technical Support Specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Some customer support websites lack adequate text-based support systems.
- With proper changes, this bill can ensure more effective and inclusive communication.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retail Worker (Portland, OR)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My primary struggle is following complex instructions on websites which aren't simplified or clear.
- This policy likely makes digital interactions smoother and less frustrating.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Freelance Writer (Miami, FL)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Many websites do not consider color contrast which makes readability difficult.
- Clearer standards would substantially ease my online reading and research processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Online services rarely cater to users who need magnified views.
- The policy should improve my access and reduce the effort required to maintain independence online.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $550000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $660000000)
Year 3: $575000000 (Low: $460000000, High: $690000000)
Year 5: $600000000 (Low: $480000000, High: $720000000)
Year 10: $700000000 (Low: $560000000, High: $840000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Key Considerations
- This bill imposes clear financial burdens on businesses and public entities to comply with accessibility requirements, potentially straining smaller operators.
- The rollout of standardized accessibility guidelines will require detailed oversight and phased implementation to allow entities to adapt and ensure compliance.
- Enforcement mechanisms, including potential penalties or legal actions, need to be clearly defined and balanced to encourage compliance without undue hardship.
- The long-term economic benefits of increased digital inclusivity need to be effectively communicated to justify initial costs.