For a while now, many websites tied to the federal government from the federal government has had to conform to guidelines that make the website accessibile to the disabled. The buzzword here is Section 508, after its location in the US legal code.
There's a small but lucrative sub-practice of web design that helps site owners pass muster in this area. But the net may be widening. Back in 2013, the Wall Street Journal reported that activists are pushing for a wider interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They argue that all e-commerce websites have to be 508-compliant.
At the time, the WSJ reported that big names like Target, Netflix and eBay had made accessibility changes rather than get dragged through litigation. We asked whether smaller sites would be next.
Where things stand now
- In 2022 the U.S. Department of Justice published guidance saying the ADA applies to the web content of businesses open to the public (Title III). It doesn't set a single technical standard for private businesses, but it points to existing guidelines like WCAG.
- In 2024 the DOJ issued a rule requiring state and local government websites and apps to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. An April 2026 interim rule pushed the compliance dates to April 26, 2027 for governments serving 50,000 or more people, and April 26, 2028 for smaller ones and special districts.
So the fight we saw coming is here. If your site serves the public, accessibility belongs on your list. Want help? See our Website Design services, or contact us.