Workbook final

400 / 454

282 – International standards cooperation: U.S-EC ICT Standards
Dialogue on e-accessibility (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and
European Commission Mandate M/376), since 2004, International USA-
EU
Responsible body: U.S. Access Board and European Commission
Country of implementation: United States of America and European Union
Beneficiaries targeted: Persons with disabilities in the EU (80m) and in the US(56m)
SUMMARY
In 2004, the international standards cooperation between the United States (US) and the European Commission (EC)
was initiated to avoid conflicts and to harmonize their ICT accessibility standards under development, in particular
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and European Commission Mandate M/376. Whilst the U.S. Access Board is still in
process of updating the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the
Telecommunication Act, the European Standards Organisation adopted the first European Standard on e-Accessibility in
2014 (EN 301 549), as a result of the European Commission Mandate 376. Both standards are closely harmonized (90%).
CONTEXT/P ROBLEMS TARGETED (WITH ADDITIONS FROM THE ZERO P ROJECT T EAM)
Whilst the U.S. Access Board is updating the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of
the Telecommunication Act, the European Standards Organisation adopted the first European Standard on e-
Accessibility in 2014 (EN 301 549) , as a result of the European Commission Mandate 376. Despite not having the status
and rights as other stakeholders during the development of Mandate 376 in the EU, the European Disability Forum (EDF)
- a leading European umbrella organization representing persons with disabilities - actively participated in the drafting
process of the EN 301549. As for the U.S. Access Board proposal, EDF as well as many other disabled people's
organisations contributed by sending comments of support to the proposal of the U.S. Access Board for the revision of
Section 508 during the public consultation launched in 2015.
OBJECTIVES/GOALS
To work with the European Commission to avoid technical specifications and regulations including conformity
assessment procedures that may stifle accessibility innovation and technology to the detriment of both suppliers and
end-users.
KEY F EATURES (W ITH ADDITIONS FROM THE ZERO P ROJECT TEAM)
The ICT Standards Dialogue between the US and the EC on e-accessibility launched in 2004 and intensified since then, is
to be classified as an international non-legally binding regulatory policy that has the ultimate goal to harmonize ICT
accessibility standards under development, in particular concerning Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and European
Commission Mandate M/376: