US to Update Web Accessibility Rules for Public Services
The U.S. Department of Justice is revising its web accessibility rules for public services under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This move is expected to influence global standards and future EU policy development. The anticipated changes will likely lead to stricter enforcement, broader coverage, and an expanded definition of digital accessibility for government agencies.
- The final rule, published on April 24, 2024, specifically adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for all state and local government digital services. This marks the first time the Department of Justice has set a specific technical standard for web accessibility under Title II of the ADA, with compliance deadlines starting in 2026 for larger public entities. - This ADA rule for state and local governments is distinct from Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which governs the accessibility of U.S. federal agencies and their contractors. The new rule provides long-awaited clarity for non-federal public services that were previously bound by the ADA's broader anti-discrimination mandate without a specific technical benchmark. - The European Union's Web Accessibility Directive (WAD), which became fully effective in June 2021, mandates similar standards for public sector bodies across
