Section 508 applies to the Federal government but there may be implications for employees and others at the State level. Many states have also passed legislation requiring Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility. Here are a number of resources and links that may help you to see which states have published laws and or policies on developing, procuring, maintaining, or using electronic and information technology.
If your state is not listed, please contact us and share you your policy and website information and we’ll display it here. Also, if you are a State, Local, Territorial, or Tribal government employee, you are also welcome to join the Section 508/IT Accessibility Community.
Go to States Beginning With: A | C | I | K | L | M | N | O | V | W
Alabama
Alabama.gov Accessibility Policy In response to the need to ensure equal access to electronic and information technologies, the state of Alabama has developed a set of standards for Web page design. Just as environmental obstacles have inhibited individuals with disabilities, the Web poses an entirely new set of obstacles. In recognition of those individuals with visual, physical or developmental disabilities alabama.gov has adopted a policy to make government information accessible to all.
Arizona
AZ.gov Accessibility Policy To provide an accessibility model in which web content authors, format designers, and software developers within State agencies understand their roles in providing persons with disabilities, access to existing and developing State web sites. The following web page designs and features for completing the accessibility model are to be addressed for all State web sites.
California
CA.gov State Digital Accessibility Laws Government Code Section 7405 directs that state governmental entities follow Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act requiring accessibility of electronic and information technology.
Government Code Section 11135 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or sexual orientation, be unlawfully denied full and equal access to the benefits of, or be unlawfully subjected to discrimination under, any program or activity that is conducted, operated, or administered by the state or by any state agency, is funded directly by the state, or receives any financial assistance from the state.
Colorado
Colorado Laws For Persons With Disabilities The act (HB21-1110) adds language to strengthen current Colorado law related to protections against discrimination on the basis of disability for persons with disabilities, specifically as those laws relate to accessibility to government information technology.
Connecticut
State of Connecticut Universal Web Site Accessibility Policy for State Web Sites This policy provides a set of established guidelines adopted by the the State of Connecticut and a checklist of design requirements which provides a quick reference for numerous design issues.
Illinois
The Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA) requires Illinois agencies and universities to ensure that their web sites, systems, and other information technologies are accessible to people with disabilities. While the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require the State to address accessibility in general, the IITAA requires the State to establish and follow specific, functional accessibility standards and to address accessibility proactively.
Indiana
IN.gov Accessibility Policy Indiana is committed to inclusion and universal access in all of its services and programs. We pledge to develop and maintain accessIndiana Web pages and services so that they are accessible to persons with all types of abilities. Each visitor using this Web site has the right to obtain information and services independently and conveniently.
Kansas
State of Kansas Information and Communication Technology Accessibility Standards This policy contains scoping and technical requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) to ensure accessibility and usability by individuals with disabilities.
Louisiana
Louisiana.gov Accessibility Statement It’s really about doing the right thing. It’s about helping 65 million Americans with disabilities achieve transparent access to information. Aging baby boomers now in the workforce will need some of the technology solutions emerging from Section 508 efforts.
Massachusetts
Mass.gov Policy Advisory Enterprise Information Technology Accessibility Policy The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Massachusetts information technology (IT) solutions are usable by people with disabilities, as required by state and federal law. This includes both Commonwealth employees and members of the general public. Agencies are responsible for ensuring that all IT solutions and content are in full compliance with accessibility standards, whether developed in-house or acquired from a third-party.
Minnesota
MN.gov Office of Accessibility Minnesota IT Services’ Office of Accessibility oversees the implementation of accessibility standards for Minnesota’s executive branch to provide resources that ensure applications, websites, and documents are accessible for everyone.
Missouri
Missouri Assistive Technology Missouri state law (RSMo. 191.863) requires state agencies to develop and procure accessible information technology unless an undue burden would be imposed. The statute defines state agencies as “each department, office, board, bureau, commission or other unit of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government, including public four-year and two-year colleges and universities.” Missouri’s law defines information technology the same as Section 508. The statute also charges the Missouri assistive technology council (MoAT) and the office of information technology (OIT) with responsibility for adopting standards to be used by state agencies in the procurement or development of accessible information technology.
New York
New York Office of Technology Services New York State has had a web accessibility policy since September of 1999. That first policy was aligned with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility Initiative’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, current version (WCAG). When the guidelines were reformulated, and the “last call” draft was published in 2004, the IT Accessibility Committee advised that the successor WCAG guidelines were practically speaking, unimplementable. In reaction to this, OFT (with advice from the Committee) developed a set of hybrid standards that melded the WCAG and U. S. Section 508, which covered all federal agencies and contractors doing business with the federal government.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma In 2004, the Oklahoma Legislature passed Oklahoma law, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Law (EITA), modeling Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Governor Brad Henry signed HB 2197 into law April 2004 thus improving the accessibility of electronic and information technology (EIT). The law pertains to state agencies, post-secondary institutions, and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. House Bill 2015 (7.1.09) created the position of Chief Information Officer and reflects new section numbers for Oklahoma’s 508 law. Oklahoma Statute: Title 62: Section 34.28 (was 41.5t), Section 34.29 (was 41.5t.1) and Section 34.30 (was 41.5t.2).
Virginia
Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) Realizing in 2004 that accessible technologies serve all users regardless of their ability, the Virginia General Assembly and the Governor of Virginia enacted supporting state legislation. By state Code, all Virginia state executive branch agencies and institutions of higher education now are required to comply with the regulations that implement the electronic and information technology accessibility standards of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and any regulations as may be prescribed by Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). In support of the legislation VITA implemented the Virginia Information Technology Accessibility Standard. The standard is incorporated in Virginia’s Enterprise Architecture and designated as Information Technology Resource Management (ITRM) Standard GOV103-00.
Washington
Washington State’s Policy 188 requires state agencies to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to and can use information and data, allowing them the same services and content available to those without disabilities, unless there are technical or legal limitations. The policy shows the state’s dedication to making information technology accessible to both the public and state employees, including those with disabilities, as long as it does not create an undue burden. It covers websites, web-based applications, software systems, and electronic documents, with the aim of providing the same functionality to all users. This policy ensures that the state complies with state and federal laws, such as Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, guaranteeing reasonable accommodation and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities.
Reviewed/Updated: June 2024
