Digital accessibility refers to the practice of designing and developing websites, mobile applications, and digital content so that people with disabilities can use them effectively. This includes individuals who are blind or have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, have motor disabilities, or have cognitive or learning differences.
The Americans with Disabilities Act has applied to digital content for decades, but the 2025 Department of Justice rule under Title II finally established WCAG 2.1 Level AA as an explicit, enforceable standard for state and local government digital services. This represents a significant step forward in ensuring that the digital public square is accessible to all.
Digital accessibility is not just a compliance checkbox — it is a civil right. When government websites are inaccessible, individuals with disabilities are effectively denied equal access to public services.
ADA Today
What WCAG 2.1 Level AA Requires
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standard includes requirements in four key areas. Under Perceivable, content must be presented in ways users can perceive — including text alternatives for images, captions for videos, and content that does not rely solely on color. Under Operable, all functionality must be accessible via keyboard, navigation must be predictable, and users must have enough time to read content. Under Understandable, text must be readable and page behavior must be predictable. Under Robust, content must be interpretable by a wide variety of user agents, including current and future assistive technologies.
Common Accessibility Barriers
Frequent digital accessibility issues include images without alt text, videos without captions or audio descriptions, forms without labeled fields, low color contrast between text and background, navigation that requires a mouse, PDFs that are not tagged or structured, and auto-playing content that cannot be paused. Addressing these issues is the foundation of any digital accessibility program.
Video conferencing platforms are also subject to new FCC accessibility rules, with deadlines extending into 2026, requiring captions, keyboard navigation, and screen reader support for work meetings, online classes, and telehealth appointments.