The following is useful and relevant information to understand guidelines, compliance and timelines

by Charles H. Castaño

• Guidance on Web Accessibility and ADA describes how State and Local Governments and businesses can ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities.

• Referencing Ogletree Deakins Law, on a recent post, they mentioned:

  “In August 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would make the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) the standard for compliance for state and local governments covered by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  • The DOJ is proposing to make the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines the ADA Title II compliance standard for local and state governments.

  • If finalized, the standard would apply to websites and mobile apps, and would give governments two to three years for compliance, based on population.

  • The DOJ explicitly recognized the impossibility of designing and maintaining a website that conforms in all respects and at all times to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, but what measure of conformance would be adopted is unclear.”

Preparing for the unavoidable requirements for compliance for business websites will give businesses advantages:

• • • Being pro-active and sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities

    • Being ahead of the competition meeting compliance

    • Being a leader in addressing the needs of its clients, prospects and visitors