A deadline is coming. Not the kind you can push back with an email to your boss, but the type enforced by federal law and backed by thousands of annual lawsuits.
By April 24, 2026, all web content and mobile apps for state and local government entities serving populations of 50,000 or more must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule. The compliance deadline for state or local governments with a population of 0 to 49,999 persons follows a year later on April 26, 2027.
If you’re thinking, “We’re a private business, so we’re in the clear,” think again. While the April 2024 U.S. Department of Justice rule specifically targets government entities under Title II of the ADA, private businesses have been dealing with the same accessibility requirements for years.
What ADA Compliance Looks Like
Building an accessible website involves more than checking boxes on a compliance form. Accessibility means creating an experience that works for everyone, no matter how they access your content. Someone using a screen reader should be able to navigate your site and complete a purchase. Someone with limited motor function should be able to fill out your contact form using only a keyboard. Someone with color blindness should be able to read your text without straining their eyes.
Start by understanding where you stand. A professional accessibility audit examines your site against Web Content Accessibility Guide (WCAG) standards through automated scanning and manual testing with assistive technologies. Manual testing catches issues that automated tools miss, such as whether your site’s navigation structure makes sense to someone who can’t see the visual layout.
Document your accessibility efforts. Keep records of audits, remediation work, and training. If you ever face a demand letter or lawsuit, demonstrating good-faith efforts to improve accessibility can significantly impact the outcome.
A Better Website Experience for Everyone
Accessible websites are legally compliant and provide a better overall user experience.
Clear navigation helps everyone find what they need faster. Properly structured headings make content scannable. Sufficient color contrast improves readability in bright sunlight on mobile devices. Video captions help people watching in noisy environments or places where sound would disturb others.
Search engines favor accessible websites. Many accessibility best practices align with search engine optimization fundamentals. Proper heading hierarchies, descriptive link text, and alt text for images all help search engines understand and rank your content.
Don’t Wait for a Lawsuit
Plaintiff attorneys are leveraging sophisticated scanning tools to identify potential ADA violations more efficiently, with automated accessibility scanning software helping to identify websites targeted in digital accessibility lawsuits.
The businesses getting hit with demand letters and lawsuits don’t have particularly bad websites, either. They’re ordinary businesses with ordinary websites built without accessibility in mind.
The case against Domino’s Pizza is a perfect example of failing to comply with ADA standards. In 2016, Guillermo Robles, a blind man, sued the pizza chain because he couldn’t order pizza from their website using his screen reader. He filed the lawsuit claiming Domino’s violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Domino’s fought the lawsuit all the way to the Supreme Court, arguing the ADA didn’t apply to websites. The Supreme Court denied a review petition in 2019. A judge ruled in 2021 that Domino’s website violated the ADA, and the company settled in 2022, six years and countless legal fees later.
The April 2026 deadline for government entities is creating momentum for private-sector compliance. Courts are increasingly rejecting arguments that websites don’t qualify as places of public accommodation under the ADA. Accessibility expectations are rising, not falling.
Create a website that welcomes all visitors
We’ve helped businesses across industries build accessible websites from scratch and redesign existing sites to meet WCAG standards.
Reach out to start a conversation about where your website stands and what steps make the most sense for your business!
