The US Department of Justice updated its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2024. This rule has specified the technical standards to ensure web content and mobile app accessibility.
Key Compliance Deadlines
The deadline for compliance varies with the size of the populations. State or local governments with a population of 50,000 or more will have till April 24, 2026, as their deadline. For states with a population up to 49,999, the deadline is April 26, 2027. ADA Information Resources can help you calculate the population of your public entity.
Who Are the Legally Covered Entities?
The title applies to all services, programs, and activities of the state and local governments and to special-purpose districts. It also applies to other organizations that work with these governments to provide public services.
Which Content Does It Apply To?
The rule covers all web content and mobile applications, with a few exceptions listed below.
- Archived web content: Content archived and left unchanged before the deadline, content kept for reference or research purposes, and content maintained in special areas.
- Preexisting conventional electronic documents: Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets, and documents publicly available before the deadline.
- Third-party content: Content posted by third parties who are not in a contractual relationship with the public entity.
- Individualized documents: Password-protected documents of individuals.
- Preexisting social media posts.
- Conforming alternate versions: Existing content that has equivalent or better accessibility than the prescribed technical standard.
Even though these exceptions exist, if an individual requests access to this content, public entities must provide an accessible version to them.
Technical Accessibility Standard
The standard specified for ADA Title II is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA. An accessibility audit of existing assets will help determine the amount of work required to ensure compliance. Accessibility testing—both automatic and manual—is essential to make sure the digital space runs smoothly.
Planning for Readiness
Understand and Assess: Learning and understanding the rule’s requirements, the state population, and the deadline that applies is a good way to lay the groundwork. Draw an inventory of web content and apps that might need to comply with WCAG 2.1, with reference to the exceptions stated by the rule.
Plan: Figure out the roles and responsibilities of individuals in the process, planning, and execution. Determine the fixes and how to ensure full compliance while prioritizing content that is frequently used and important.
Work: Train staff members to understand the accessibility requirements, identify areas where the rule applies, and work on them. Create accessible workflows, policies, and feedback systems. Rethink job descriptions, vendor contracts, and new purchases.
Upkeep: Once the deadline passes, noncompliance will invite hefty fines, lawsuits, and expensive settlements based on the severity of the issue. Dedicating a page or contact line for accessibility feedback for users will help you quickly sort out accessibility issues. Accessibility requires continuous upkeep and improvement for a good user experience.
The process of making your digital landscape accessible may seem daunting, but with the right help, you will be able to ensure compliance within the deadline. Discuss your accessibility requirements with the experts at Amnet.
Sources
- https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule.
- https://www.ada.gov/resources/web-rule-first-steps/.
- https://www.ada.gov/resources/small-entity-compliance-guide/.
- https://www.boisestate.edu/accessibility/2025/01/16/americans-with-disabilities-act-title-ii-web-mobile-application-accessibility-rule-justice-department.
- https://content.acsa.org/department-of-justice-releases-new-rules-regarding-website-accessibility-under-title-ii-of-the-ada.
