Many people with disabilities need special accommodations to use websites.

Although the government proposed a web accessibility rule years ago, it never became final. Meanwhile, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), has published Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and some courts have adopted versions of these standards.

In 2024, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice made WCAG Version 2.1, Level AA the official web and mobile app accessibility standard for state and local governments.  This rule does not yet apply to private businesses, but the federal government could adopt a similar rule for them.  Some courts already require it.

Governments with 50,000 or more people must comply by April 26, 2026. Cities, municipalities with fewer than 50,000 people, and special district governments have until April 26, 2027.

A Fact Sheet on ada.gov summarizes the final rule’s main points. Key highlights include:

• Federal, state and local governments must meet this standard in their mobile apps and websites;
• The rules apply even if an outside vendor creates and/or maintains the app or website; and
• Some content is not covered, such as archived materials from before the final rule, older electronic documents, third-party content like posts from the public, individual password-protected documents (like a water bill), and preexisting social media posts.

Take-Away:

Companies with websites or apps should work with knowledgeable IT staff or consultants to ensure their sites meet accessibility standards. WCAG Version 2.1, Level AA is the recommended standard.

For further information, please contact Tim Bowles, Cindy Bamforth or Helena Kobrin.

See also:

• Ahead of the Curve: Workplace Policy Handbook and Forms for 2026, (April 17, 2026)
• Don't Fix What Ain't Broken: Walmart Tagged For Cancelling Accommodations And Terminating Disabled Worker, March 13, 2026)      
• Who Lurks About Your Website? Lawyers are Trolling for Disability Access Claims (Sept. 3, 2021)

Helena KobrinApril 23, 2026