How the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Resolves Web Accessibility Investigations

Presented at 10:00am in Virtual B on Tuesday, November 17, 2020.

Speaker(s)

• Mary Lou Mobley, National Disability Expert, U.S. Dept. of Education
• Judith Risch, Co-Lead, National Web Accessibility Team, U.S. Department of Education

Session Details

• Length of Session: 45 minutes
• Format: Lecture
• Expertise Level: Beginner
• Type of session: Pre-conference

Summary

The attorneys who lead OCR’s National Web Accessibility Team will discuss the types of allegations they handle under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, how they identify barriers to access for people with disabilities, resolution strategies, and how they work with vendors.

Abstract

This is your opportunity to hear directly from some of the nation’s top enforcement officials. Learn how they view and resolve hundreds of post-secondary technology accessibility allegations each year. Get tips on how to stay in compliance and learn promising practices.

Keypoints

1. Learning how OCR processes complaints can inform your decision-making if you are investigated.
2. Ask questions of some of the nation's top law enforcement officials in the web accessibility context.
3. Get tips for working with vendors and sharing information to enhance your compliance.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Legal, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Mary Lou Mobley

Mary Lou Mobley graduated from Duke University in 1990 with a law degree and a Master’s in Philosophy. After clerking for a Federal judge, she joined the Federal government in Washington, DC, as a Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, where she earned numerous awards including the John Marshall Award for Distinguished Service. In 2006, she moved to Denver and joined the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, where she currently serves as OCR’s National Disability Expert and Co-Lead of OCR's National Digital Access Team.

Judith Risch

Judy has been an attorney with the Office for Civil Rights for over 15 years. Currently she is the co-lead of OCR’s National Web Accessibility team. Before coming to OCR , she finished with a PhD in Educational Administration and her law degree. Part of her work experience also includes teaching in special education and development of on-line instruction. Her favorite part of her job is helping people serve students better and preventing problems before they happen.