A starting point for some of the standards, legal context, organizations, and people I come back to in accessibility work.
Still growing…
This page is still under construction. I’m building it into a thoughtful collection of standards, legal references, organizations, and people doing work worth knowing about in accessibility and disability communities. There’s plenty here to get started.
Digital accessibility is global. WCAG gives much of the field a shared technical foundation, and many laws, policies, and standards reference or build on WCAG 2.x, though requirements still vary across countries and jurisdictions.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the best-known international technical standard for making web content more accessible to people with disabilities. WCAG also serves as a foundation for accessibility standards and policies in many parts of the world.
WebAIM reference infographic.
Digital accessibility requirements vary by jurisdiction. These resources are a starting point for understanding the legal and policy landscape, not a comprehensive list or legal advice.
Accessibility attorney Lainey Feingold has been writing about disability rights and digital accessibility law for years. Her legal updates cover settlements, policy, court cases, and other developments in the U.S. and around the world, usually in language that doesn’t require a law degree to follow.
Title II prohibits disability discrimination by state and local governments. The Department of Justice has also established specific accessibility requirements for covered web content and mobile apps.
Title III applies to private businesses and other places of public accommodation. Digital accessibility under Title III has developed through the ADA itself, enforcement, lawsuits, settlements, and guidance rather than through the same web-specific technical rule that now exists under Title II.
Section 508 covers the accessibility of information and communication technology developed, purchased, maintained, or used by U.S. federal agencies.
The European Accessibility Act sets accessibility requirements for a range of products and services across the European Union, including e-commerce, banking, transportation services, e-books, and consumer technology.
The Web Accessibility Directive focuses on the accessibility of websites and mobile apps provided by public-sector organizations across the European Union.
EN 301 549 is the European accessibility standard for information and communication technology. Its web requirements draw heavily from WCAG, but its scope is broader and also includes areas such as software, documents, hardware, and other ICT.
The American Foundation for the Blind works to expand opportunity for people who are blind or have low vision through research, advocacy, inclusive technology, thought leadership, and collaboration across sectors.
Teach Access works to make accessibility and disability inclusion a more routine part of education and professional practice. Its Fundamental Concepts & Skills Framework lays out core accessibility knowledge, skills, and learning goals that can be incorporated across disciplines.
BuildABLE Academy creates hands-on skilled-trades education and employment pathways for neurodivergent learners. Their work is built around recognizing individual strengths, developing practical skills, and creating meaningful paths into employment.
IAAP is a global professional association for people working in accessibility. It supports the field through community, education, professional development, and certification.
Autism Tennessee supports Autistic people, families, and allies through education, advocacy, resources, community programs, and connection across Middle Tennessee.
