Peter Blanck, chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University and
University Professor; William N. Myhill, BBI senior research associate, adjunct professor of
law in the SU College of Law and faculty associate in the
SU Center for Digital Literacy;
Daniel F. Goldstein of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP; and Clara Van Gerven of the National
Federation of the Blind will co-present "Website Accessibility: Avoid Potential Liability
Under Disability Laws," a one-hour audio briefing hosted by the Practising Law Institute,
Thursday, Nov. 6, from 1-2 p.m. The briefing provides CLE credit for legal professionals.
The proliferation of online commerce, public programs and services, and distance learning
opportunities via the Internet is drawing regular attention to the issues of website
accessibility and federal disability law. High-profile settlements have been reached recently
with Apple, Target and Amazon, among other organizations. Implicating the delivery of e-
government services, federal agencies and contractors are subject to the Electronic and
Information Technology Accessibility Standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Similarly, state and local governments are subject to the effective communication and equal
access and benefit provisions of ADA Title II, and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for
receipt of federal funds. Public and private higher education institutions, as well as state and
local K-12 programs, have turned to online delivery of education as a means of reaching
non-traditional students at an incredible rate. These latter issues require consideration under
Titles II & III, Section 504, and the IDEA.
The presenters will review what one needs to know about federal agencies and ADA Title II
and III entities providing goods, programs and services alternatively or exclusively online.
Blanck, Myhill, Goldstein and Van Gerven will discuss topics and emerging issues on:
Practising Law Institute (PLI) is a nonprofit continuing legal education organization
headquartered in New York City with offices in California. PLI was founded in 1933 and is
chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. PLI is dedicated to
providing the legal community and allied professionals with the most up-to-date, relevant
information and techniques that are critical to the development of a professional, competitive
edge. PLI achieves these goals and objectives through annual seminars held in locations
across the United States. These seminars encompass audio, CD, DVD, MP3 and webcast
formats. For more information, visit http://www.pli.edu/public/about/default.asp.
BBI fosters public-private dialogue to advance the civic, economic and social participation of
persons with disabilities in a global society. BBI takes its name from Burton Blatt (1927-85),
a pioneer in humanizing services for people with disabilities. BBI has offices in Syracuse,
New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Tel Aviv.
For more information about PLI's audio briefing on Nov. 6, visit
http://www.pli.edu/product/webcast_detail.asp?id=51151. For more information on BBI, visit
http://bbi.syr.edu or contact Me'Shae Rolling, director of special events and public relations,
at (315) 443-8455 or mrolling@law.syr.edu.
