The DOJ’s New Web Accessibility Rule: What You Need to Know and How to Use AI for Compliance
Digital accessibility just took a huge leap forward with the Department of Justice (DOJ) finalizing a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The rule, which sets clear requirements for state and local government websites and mobile apps, ensures that all digital public services are accessible to people with disabilities.
For businesses, accessibility consultants, and tech companies providing ADA compliance services, this is a pivotal moment—not only does the rule clarify WCAG compliance, but it also creates massive demand for accessibility audits, remediation, and compliance solutions.
So, what’s changing? And what does this mean for government agencies, businesses, and digital accessibility providers? Let’s break it all down.
Why This Rule Matters: No More Gray Areas in Web Accessibility
For years, ADA website compliance has been a confusing and inconsistent space. While courts, accessibility experts, and the DOJ itself have repeatedly stated that the ADA applies to digital services, there were no official technical standards to enforce compliance.
This created legal uncertainty for state and local governments and frustration for people with disabilities who continued to face barriers online.
The new DOJ rule removes all ambiguity, requiring compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA, the gold standard for web accessibility.
As the DOJ puts it:
"Just as stairs can exclude people who use wheelchairs from accessing government buildings, inaccessible web content and mobile apps can exclude people with a range of disabilities from accessing government services."
- Department of Justice, RIN 1190-AA79
This is a major win for digital accessibility—but it also means governments must act fast to meet upcoming compliance deadlines.
What’s Changing?
The DOJ’s new rule mandates that all state and local government entities ensure their digital platforms are fully accessible, including:
- Websites
- Mobile apps
- Public forms and portals
- Online payments
- Voter registration tools
- Educational content for public schools and colleges
- Emergency alerts and safety notifications
This rule applies to all online services provided by state and local governments, including third-party tools they rely on, such as payment processors, scheduling platforms, and document-sharing portals.
The DOJ emphasizes the importance of independence and privacy for people with disabilities:
“A person with a disability who cannot use an inaccessible online tax form might have to call to request assistance… which could involve significant delay, added costs, and could require providing private information such as banking details or Social Security numbers over the phone.”
- Department of Justice, RIN 1190-AA79
For accessibility advocates, this rule is long overdue. For public entities, this means compliance is no longer optional—it’s a legal requirement.
Key Accessibility Requirements
To comply, digital platforms must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, which cover
- Screen reader accessibility – ensuring blind and visually impaired users can navigate via NVDA, JAWS, or VoiceOver Keyboard navigation – ensuring users who cannot use a mouse can still access all content
- Color contrast and readability – using tools like a color contrast checker to ensure text is legible
- Captions and transcripts – making audio and video content accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing users
- Logical page structure – using proper headings, labels, and ARIA attributes
Who Needs to Comply—and By When?
The rule applies to all state and local governments, but compliance deadlines vary based on population size:
- State and Local Government of 50,000 or more persons comply by April 26, 2026
- State and Local Government of 0 to 49,999 persons comply by April 26, 2027
- Special district governments comply by April 26, 2027
That might seem like plenty of time, but web accessibility remediation isn’t a quick fix—especially for government websites with thousands of pages of content.
Are There Any Exceptions?
Yes, but they are very limited. The DOJ allows exceptions for:
- Archived content (not actively used for services)
- Pre-existing PDFs and documents (unless required for applications or services)
- Third-party content (unless contracted by the government)
Old social media posts
However, even if a document is exempt, agencies must still provide an accessible version upon request.
"If a person with low vision requests an accessible version [of an archived document], then the town would still need to address the person’s request."
- Department of Justice, RIN 1190-AA79
Bottom line: Accessibility can no longer be ignored.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
Government agencies not only risk lawsuits and bad press, but failing to comply can be expensive.
The DOJ estimates that total compliance costs for all public entities over 10 years will be between $3.3 billion (3% discount rate) and $3.5 billion (7% discount rate)
However, the benefits far outweigh the costs, with estimated monetized benefits to society reaching $5.2 billion per year.
The DOJ highlights several key benefits including time savings for people with disabilities who no longer need workarounds; increased independence and privacy; more efficient government services; and Legal certainty, reducing lawsuits and compliance confusion
What This Means for Businesses, Developers, and Accessibility Experts
While the DOJ’s rule applies to state and local governments, businesses working with public agencies must act now. Governments rely on private companies for:
- Web development and digital services
- Accessibility audits and remediation
- Compliance tracking (VPATs, Section 508, WCAG compliance)
If you provide digital services to governments, now is the time to:
✔️ Audit your websites and apps for WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 compliance
✔️ Ensure third-party tools and integrations meet ADA standards
✔️ Implement ongoing monitoring to maintain accessibility
✔️ Provide VPAT documentation to prove compliance
At TestParty, we offer comprehensive accessibility solutions—from audits and remediation to real-time compliance tracking—so you stay ahead of ADA and WCAG requirements. Get started today!
Final Thoughts: The Time to Act is Now
This historic rule cements digital accessibility as a civil right—and compliance is no longer optional.
The DOJ makes it clear:
"Adopting technical standards for web content and mobile app accessibility provides clarity to public entities regarding how to make accessible the services, programs, and activities that they offer."
- Department of Justice, RIN 1190-AA79
For governments, this means getting started today to avoid last-minute compliance chaos.
For businesses, this means adapting fast to help clients meet their new legal obligations.
For accessibility professionals, this is the biggest opportunity in years to provide essential services.
Need an ADA compliance audit? Want to ensure your website is WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 compliant? Contact TestParty today for a free accessibility assessment!
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