36 CFR Part 1194 - Proposed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines NPRM - Preamble

502.2.1 User Control of Accessibility Features (Section-by-Section Analysis)

This section proposes that platforms must provide user control over platform features when such features are defined in platform documentation as serving an accessibility purpose. This provision would be new to the 508 Standards and 255 Guidelines, though it draws on the prohibition in § 1194.21(b) of the existing 508 Standards against disrupting or disabling accessibility features. The Advisory Committee recommended that the Board include an express provision ensuring that persons with disabilities are able to activate and use features or settings—such as font size, or color—that preclude network or system-wide configurations from “locking down” needed accessibility features. See TEITAC Report, Part 6, Subpt. C, Rec. 2-C. This proposal was included in the 2010 and 2011 ANPRMs, and the only comments received related to minor editorial changes.