The National Council on Disability (NCD) undertook this research to understand the market for universally designed mainstream consumer products and services, document successful universal design (UD) development processes, understand consumer needs, understand facilitators and barriers, and identify and address current issues in universal design. This research comes at a time when understanding and incorporating UD into the development process are most crucial, within a window of opportunity for implementing section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 governs the purchase of accessible electronic and information technology purchased by the Federal government. Despite having been in place for nearly three years, section 508 has yet to reach its potential. One of the greatest shortfalls of Section 508 is the lack of understanding of and attention to the functional performance requirements. If progress is not made quickly in improving the skills of government and industry employees on accessibility issues, the window will soon shut with little having been accomplished. If industry does not see that federal agencies are serious about implementing section 508 in a consistent manner, companies will shift the monetary and human resources needed for improving accessibility to produce development opportunities that offer a higher return on investment.