American Council of the Blind (ACB) Resolution 07-21 on CAPTCHA Accessibility

R07-21 Captcha

• WHEREAS, proprietors of websites have found it necessary to use graphical image verification (CAPTCHA) to enhance website security and to ensure consumer privacy; and
• Whereas, the use of CAPTCHA on websites has recently increased for purposes relating to identity verification; and
• Whereas the images and codes that are used for CAPTCHA are inaccessible to people  who are blind and visually impaired; and
• Whereas, title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which addresses the obligation of places of public accommodation to make their goods and services accessible to people with disabilities has not been consistently applied to websites;

Now therefore, be it resolved by the American Council of the Blind, in convention assembled, this 6th  day  of July, 2007, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota, that this organization strongly urges the United States Department of Justice to apply Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act   to website proprietors who deny access to their websites by users who are blind and visually impaired, through use of inaccessible CAPTCHA and to establish appropriate enforcement mechanisms that assure compliance with web access guidelines by website proprietors.

Be it further resolved that officers, directors and staff of ACB are directed to engage in consultation and to provide technical assistance to website designers, and standard-setting bodies to ameliorate the current egregious barriers to web access caused by current applications of CAPTCHA.