Web & PDF accessibility: the 2026 deadline you can’t ignore
Is your government website accessible to all users? If not, you have until April 24, 2026 to update it to comply with Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).
Title II requires state and local governments to ensure their public-facing websites, mobile apps, PDFs and other digital content meet the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) by these deadlines, based on population size:
- April 24, 2026: Governments serving 50,000+ people
- April 26, 2027: Smaller governments and special districts serving fewer than 50,000 people
Examples of state and local government entities Title II applies to:
- State agencies/departments
- County, city and town governments
- State universities, community colleges and school districts
- Libraries, museums, tourism bureaus and historical societies
- Transit authorities and utility providers
- Public hospitals and clinics
- State- or city-funded organizations
- Nonprofits administering government programs or benefits
What happens if my website or digital content isn’t accessible?
Typically, nothing happens until someone files a complaint with the DOJ, often within 180 days of discovering an accessibility issue. If accepted, the DOJ generally focuses first on remediation and settlement, with lawsuits occurring only if corrective action isn’t taken or falls short.
Private lawsuits are different and can be filed directly in federal court without a complaint or remediation period. While these cases are relatively rare and don’t usually result in large payouts for the person who sues, they can still expose you to legal and financial risk.
In either case, financial penalties aren’t automatic, but legal action of any kind can be costly due to remediation work, attorney and court fees and settlement stipulations like hiring accessibility vendors or training staff.
What about non-government websites?
While there’s no fixed accessibility deadline for non-government websites, Title III of the ADA already applies to most public-facing businesses and nonprofits—including retailers and ecommerce companies, healthcare providers, banks and financial services, event venues and hospitality organizations.
That means your websites and digital content should already be accessible, and your business may face lawsuits, DOJ enforcement and legal costs if barriers exist.
Why does digital accessibility matter?
Digital accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement. It’s a responsibility. It ensures that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and interact with your organization’s website and digital content.
In the U.S., roughly 1 in 4 adults (25%) has a disability, including vision or hearing loss, mobility limitations or cognitive impairments. Many of these individuals rely on assistive technologies—such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, head pointers and text-to-braille translators—to use websites and apps. If your website, app or PDFs don’t work with these tools, those users may be denied equal access.
How to get started
If your website, content or PDFs aren’t compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA—or you’re not sure if they are—it’s time to act. Inaccessible digital content can expose both government and non-government organizations to legal and reputational risk.
The good news is that while digital accessibility can be complex, getting started doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
- Inventory your content: Take stock of all pages, images, videos, PDFs and documents to understand your site’s scope and identify potential issues.
- Set the foundation: Understand what digital accessibility includes. At a high level, this covers on-page content (text, headings, images, video, etc. ), design choices (color contrast, button size, motion, etc.) and front-end code that ensures assistive technologies can interact with your site. Resources like WebAIM’s Introduction to Web Accessibility and Quick Reference to Accessibility Principles provide a clear, practical overview of accessibility requirements.
- Assess where you stand: Use an accessibility checker or hire an expert to evaluate your site. Tools like the WAVE web accessibility evaluation tool can highlight issues based on WCAG 2.1 standards and help prioritize fixes.
- Acknowledge shortcomings: Review or publish an accessibility statement acknowledging known barriers and your commitment to remediation.
If tackling website and PDF accessibility feels overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. Our team can help you assess your website and digital content, identify potential issues and guide you toward practical solutions that meet WCAG 2.1 standards.
Even a small step today can make a big difference for your users—and for your organization.
