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Navigating the DOJ’s Accessibility Ruling: A Guide for Government Agencies
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On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice issued new accessibility requirements for state and local government websites and mobile apps. This means all digital platforms must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA to ensure they’re accessible to people with disabilities.
What Government Agencies Need to Know
The Ruling
Your web content and mobile apps must follow WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. This is the technical standard for ensuring accessibility for all customers.
Why It Matters
This ruling ensures that people with disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairments, can access essential government services online. If you don’t comply, you may face legal issues and exclude many people from using your services.
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.
Deadlines
- Larger agencies (serving 50,000 or more people) have until April 24, 2026 to comply.
- Smaller agencies have until April 26, 2027.
How to Get Started
First, consider consulting with accessibility specialists, who can make sure your updates meet WCAG and DOJ standards and improve the overall customer experience. The right experts will help you go beyond compliance, making your agency’s processes and digital services more accessible and inclusive.
Next, conduct an accessibility audit of your agency’s digital platforms, such as your website and mobile app. This audit will find barriers for customers with disabilities, giving you specific data to solve these issues. Use these insights to address the most critical needs and teach your team about the required changes.
Finally, train your team on accessibility through targeted sessions, webinars, and workshops. Regular education will make accessibility part of your agency’s daily work and foster a shared responsibility.
Beyond Compliance: Embracing Innovation
Complying with the new guidelines is just the start. The real opportunity lies in using these standards to innovate.
For example, applying accessibility and usability principles can transform an online form from simply accessible to truly customer-friendly. You’ll improve everyone’s experience by using plain language for labels, minimizing errors, and providing clear instructions when mistakes happen. These changes especially help people with disabilities, while making the process easier for all customers.
Think of accessibility as a way to upgrade your services. Innovating beyond the basics creates a more inclusive and engaging experience, setting a new standard for public service. By staying ahead of changing regulations, your agency can become a leader and model for other state and local agencies.
Managing the Transition to Accessibility
Accessibility standards will keep changing, and there will always be new ways to improve the customer experience. This isn’t a one-time fix; it requires a change to the culture, process, and roles within your agency.
Organizational Change Managers (OCMs) can help. They act as coaches and experts, guiding your agency through this transition. OCMs connect current practices with new requirements, help your team adapt to changes, and can ensure accessibility becomes part of your daily work.
Key Takeaway
The DOJ’s ruling is a chance to lead in accessibility and inclusivity. Act now — work with experts, audit your platforms, and bring accessibility into your culture for a more inclusive future.