New Title II ADA Requirements for Government Websites

What are the new Title II ADA requirements for state and local government websites?

State and local governments are required to make their websites, mobile apps, and other digital content compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. 

Here’s what’s new. The ADA always required government services to be accessible, but there was no specific technical standard for websites. A 2024 Department of Justice Rule named one: WCAG 2.1 Level AA. 

The compliance standard isn’t new, but the deadline is. And it depends on population. Governments serving fifty thousand people or more must comply by April 26, 2027. Smaller governments and special districts have until April 26, 2028. 

In practice, WCAG 2.1 AA means adding alt text to images, captions to videos, providing sufficient color contrast, and ensuring forms are accessible. Narrow exceptions exist, like properly archived content.