Missouri State Web Accessibility Laws

Missouri observes a state-wide policy that mirrors Section 508 web accessibility standards. It joins several other states in enacting policies that are essentially “Little 508s.”

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Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law that requires government offices to make their public and internal communication, products, and services accessible to people with disabilities. While this law only specifically applies to the federal government, some proactive states have adopted similar standards for themselves.

What is the Missouri IT Accessibility Standard?

Missouri passed state law RSMo. 191.863 requiring accessible IT procurement and development from state agencies. This law refers to Section 508’s definition of digital products or services and what it means to make them accessible.

The groups responsible for designing and implementing a detailed IT standard were the Missouri Assistive Technology Council (MoAT) and the Office of Information Technology (OIT). In 2003, they crafted the Missouri IT Accessibility Standard as the official state policy.

Organizations that must follow this Missouri state accessibility law include:

• Offices and departments in the state executive branch
• Offices and departments in the state legislative branch
• Offices and departments in the state judicial branch
• State colleges and universities

Missouri’s state IT standard was last updated in 2008, when regulators added specifics on websites, apps, and online video.

Missouri IT Standards for Accessible Web Video

Missouri’s IT standards for accessible online video and multimedia are as follows:

1. A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via “alt”, “longdesc”, or in element content) except for captioning of audio information which shall comply with (2) of this section.
2. Captioning, video description or other equivalent alternatives for multimedia presentations, excluding live Webcasts and web transmission of television programming subject to (6) of Video and Multimedia Products, shall be provided in synchrony with the presentation, and in accordance with
   paragraph (2) and (3) of Video and Multimedia Products.
3. Web pages shall be designed so that all information conveyed with color is also available without color, for example from context or markup.
4. Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet.
5. Redundant text links shall be provided for each active region of a server-side image map.
6. Client-side image maps shall be provided instead of server-side image maps except where the regions cannot be defined with an available geometric shape.
7. Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables.
8. Markup shall be used to associate data cells and header cells for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers.
9. Frames shall be titled with text that facilitates frame identification and navigation.
10. Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz.
11. A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a Web site comply with the provisions of these standards, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes.
12. When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by assistive technology.
13. When a Web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with the standards set forth under “Software Applications and Operating Systems”, paragraphs (1) through (12) contained within this document.
14. When electronic forms are designed to be completed online, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.
15. A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links.
16. When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted and given sufficient time to indicate more time is required.
17. Contact information for issues related to accessibility shall be provided on each entry page.

Learn About Other U.S. State Accessibility Laws

Click on the map below to learn more about captioning and web accessibility laws in other states.
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