The American\u2019s with Disabilities Act (ADA) may have opened the doors a bit wider for those with disabilities creating opportunity and access by leveling the playing field. But with computer software making processes seamless and efficient for businesses the inaccessibility to operate the software keeps the blind from accessing the same opportunities given to those without disabilities
\nWhile travel for the blind may impress those ignorant to the abilities of the blind, more and more blind are using the public transportation systems every day. Getting to and from the work place is not a barrier as it may once have been; it is inside the workplace where navigating the programs and systems on the computer that keeps the blind from accessing the opportunities and could it be one of the biggest barriers facing the blind\u2019s marketability in today\u2019s workplace?
\nIn 1998,) An amendment to the Rehabilitation Act, referred to as Section 508 requires that when federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.
\nIt has been 14 years since the enactment of Section 508 and the hopes for new opportunities for the blind in the workplace. Are we still waiting or do you feel enough has been done to create opportunities and to initiate other entities to make accessibility a priority? <\/p>\n
Thank you for reading! The American\u2019s with Disabilities Act (ADA) may have opened the doors a bit wider for those with disabilities creating opportunity and access by leveling the playing field. But with computer software making processes seamless and efficient for businesses the inaccessibility to operate the software keeps the blind from accessing the same opportunities given to those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[239],"tags":[22,193,176,194],"class_list":["post-218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-accessibility","tag-ada","tag-jeff-thompson","tag-section-508"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-3w","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4068,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4068","url_meta":{"origin":218,"position":0},"title":"Self-Advocacy, Self-Awareness and the ADA – A Visit with PACER Center\u2019s Transition Coordinator Deborah Leuchovius (Transcript provided)","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"November 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Below Show Summary: In partnership with State Services for the Blind of Minnesota we are proud to present, PACER Center - Champions for Children with Disabilities: Self-Advocacy, Self-Awareness and the ADA - A Visit with PACER Center\u2019s Transition Coordinator Deborah Leuchovius Deborah sits down with Jeff Thompson of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9449,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9449","url_meta":{"origin":218,"position":1},"title":"Honor Judy, Protect 504: Why Awareness and Advocacy Matter Right Now","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 7, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Podcast summary: What happens when the foundation of disability rights is challenged? In this powerful conversation, Jeff Thompson welcomes back disability advocate and Villanova graduate Kaleigh Brendle to talk about the growing legal challenge to Section 504\u2014one of the most important civil rights protections for people with disabilities. Kaleigh explains\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3317,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=3317","url_meta":{"origin":218,"position":2},"title":"ADA Being Attacked!! 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In this interview,\u00a0Beau RaRa a staff attorney for the Youth Law Project and Minnesota Disability Law Center, sits down with\u00a0Japricia, a recent high school\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BlindAbilities Presents"","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9204,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9204","url_meta":{"origin":218,"position":4},"title":"The Blind Drive: Beyond Compliance: Why Accessibility Must Be Usable to Be Real – Compliance Is for Lawyers\u2014Usability Is for Humans","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"October 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: In this episode of The Blind Drive, Jeff Thompson and Tim Schwartz dig into the heart of something far bigger than a news headline\u2014it\u2019s about access, equity, and the right to fully participate in life. 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