In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice introduced a new rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act that directly affects how municipalities present their digital content. This rule is designed to ensure that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, can access and use government websites and mobile apps with ease.
Instead of seeing this as another guideline to follow, think of it as a meaningful step toward building a more inclusive digital experience for your entire community. When your website is accessible, more residents can engage with local services and stay informed.
In this post, we’ll walk you through what the new rule means, how it impacts your municipality and the practical steps you can take to get started.
Why The New ADA Rule Matters
Imagine trying to renew a license, pay a bill, or register to vote, but not being able to read the website or use it with a screen reader. For people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments, this is a frustrating and all-too-common reality when digital platforms are not built to help them access vital services
The United States Department of Justice has introduced a new rule under Title Two of the Americans with Disabilities Act to change that. This rule applies to state and local governments and requires all public-facing digital content, including websites and mobile apps, to meet clear accessibility standards.
Ultimately, your website should work for everyone in your community, regardless of ability.
The Official Standard: WCAG 2.1, Level AA
The Department of Justice has adopted a standard called WCAG 2.1 Level AA. WCAG is an abbreviation for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It provides a clear framework for making websites more accessible to people with disabilities.
These guidelines cover a wide range of best practices, including:
- Adding alternative text to images so screen readers can describe them.
- Using clear, readable fonts and sufficient contrast between text and background.
- Ensuring your municipal website can be navigated using only a keyboard (no mouse needed).
- Providing captions and transcripts for videos and audio content.
- Ensuring interactive elements like forms and buttons are clearly labeled and easy to use.
- Making sure content is structured logically with proper use of headings and landmarks.
- Allowing users to resize text without losing functionality.
If you already work with a municipal website provider like Town Web, the good news is that we are fully familiar with WCAG and already build your municipal website with these standards in mind.
Your First Steps to Get Compliant
The Department of Justice released a guide called First Steps Toward Complying with the ADA Title II Web and Mobile App Accessibility Rule. It’s made specifically for municipal teams like yours.
Here's a quick, simplified checklist to help you get started:
- Learn the basics: Get familiar with the new ADA rule and what it covers
- Check your deadline: Find out when your municipality needs to be compliant. It depends on your population size.
- Assign a lead: Choose someone to manage the process, like your ADA coordinator or IT staff. If you’re a one-horse town, juggling roles as a Clerk and Treasurer, that’s totally okay. Start with the basics, look for quick wins, and reach out for help when needed.
- Train your team: Make sure anyone updating the website understands accessibility best practices.
- Review your digital tools: List out your website pages and mobile apps, and note which ones get the most use.
- Understand exceptions: Some content, like archived materials, may not need to comply.
- Identify accessibility gaps: Look for parts of your site that need updates to meet the standard.
- Set your priorities: Focus first on the most important or frequently visited pages.
- Check vendor contracts: If you use a website provider, confirm they follow accessibility standards.
- Update your accessibility policy: A clear, public-facing policy shows your commitment and helps guide your team.
How Town Web Can Help
At Town Web, we build websites exclusively for local governments, and we’re already helping clients meet the latest ADA rules. Whether you're starting from scratch or want to improve an existing site, we’ve got your back.
Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:
- We design with accessibility in mind.
- We use tools to check for compliance.
- We provide ongoing updates and support.
- We work with Accessibe to offer a premium accessibility tool you can add on. It’s a simple way to enhance your website’s accessibility and support ADA compliance.
All your residents deserve a digital experience that works for everyone.