Living with a disability often means navigating barriers that many people never have to think about. Some barriers can be addressed with simple changes, while others require broader awareness, intentional design, and policy change.
Accessing the internet should not be one of those barriers. Yet for many people with disabilities, the World Wide Web can still be difficult to navigate, from websites that require mouse use to videos without captions, images without alt text, and online forms that do not work well with screen readers.
In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), conversations around digital accessibility are gaining renewed attention across schools, businesses, and public services.
What Makes a Website Accessible?
Many accessibility features also improve the user experience for everyone, from captions in noisy environments to clearer navigation and easier-to-read layouts.
Screen readers that convert digital text and interface elements into speech for individuals with vision loss
Keyboard navigation that allows users to browse without relying on a mouse
Text alternatives for images, such as alt text, so users who cannot view images can still understand the content
Captions for videos and transcripts for audio content
Options to resize text, adjust contrast, or use dark mode
Clear, consistent layouts with simple language, predictable navigation, and easy-to-follow instructions
Understanding WCAG Accessibility Standards
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium came out in 1999. Since then, they have been revised on a few occasions, the latest in 2023/2024.
There are currently three levels of WCAG accessibility standards:
WCAG Level A: The minimum standard for basic accessibility features, such as alt text and keyboard navigation
WCAG Level AA: A more comprehensive standard that includes features like sufficient color contrast and consistent navigation
WCAG Level AAA: The highest level of accessibility compliance, with enhanced standards designed to provide the most accessible user experience
How the ADA Applies to Websites and Apps
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all web content and mobile applications provided by public entities must be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
WCAG 2.1 AA, released in 2018, was adopted as the technical accessibility standard for state and local government web content and mobile applications under a final ADA rule issued by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2024. Compliance requirements for public entities will begin taking effect in 2026.
While this requirement is for public entities, private businesses that serve the public are also subject to ADA accessibility expectations, and will face ongoing legal risks if their websites are inaccessible.
Courts have consistently cited WCAG standards as the primary benchmark for digital accessibility. Currently, thousands of accessibility-related lawsuits are filed annually against organizations with inaccessible digital experiences.
What the New ADA Rule Means
The new ADA regulations apply to web content and mobile applications provided by state and local governments, including public universities, community colleges, and K-12 public school districts.
Digital accessibility affects everyday tasks like completing school assignments, applying for jobs, scheduling medical appointments, using online banking, and accessing transportation or public benefits.
The disability community can be hopeful that improved digital access is coming, at least to government websites and mobile apps. These include the websites that children with disabilities access at school, as well as the websites that thousands of Americans use to access government services, like applying for benefits, seeking tax information, and even ordering mail-in ballots.
The rule broadly covers official web content, mobile apps, online learning platforms, digital documents (PDFs, Word files), and social media posts made after the compliance date.
Dates depend on the population of the public entity's jurisdiction. Those serving a population of 50,000 or more are required to make the change by April 24, 2026. Smaller jurisdictions are afforded an extra year, with compliance set for April 26, 2027.
Accessibility Features That Improve Digital Access
Accessibility for Users with Mobility Disabilities
The rule mandates that all functionality of a website or application must be operable through a keyboard interface alone. This significantly improves digital access for people with disabilities who cannot use their hands to operate a traditional mouse. Individuals with disabilities who use switch controls, sip-and-puff devices, head pointers, or adaptive keyboards can navigate every link, button, form field, and interactive widget using their preferred assistive input device.
The guidelines also address potential time-outs on forms or application processes (which may take longer when not using a traditional mouse), and require a visible "focus indicator" to make navigation easier.
Accessibility for Users with Vision Loss
The guidelines seek to improve vision accessibility by allowing users to resize text up to 200% without losing functionality or readability, providing text alternatives for images, ensuring keyboard-only navigation, offering clear focus indicators, supporting screen reader compatibility, and requiring descriptive link text.
Guidelines require a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text and 3:1 for large text, preventing confusion for users with low vision or color blindness, and proper coding (e.g., ARIA labels, semantic HTML) so screen readers can provide audio context for headings, labels, and form fields. Web content should include descriptive link text rather than vague phrases like “Click Here” for better context when navigating via screen readers, too.
Guidelines also ensure users will not encounter flashing lights, addressing an accommodation for individuals with photosensitivity.
Accessibility for Users with Hearing Loss
Guidelines require that synchronized captions are provided for all prerecorded audio content in synchronized media (e.g., videos with sound). Captions provide a textual representation of all speech and essential non-speech information (e.g., sound effects, music cues, speaker identification) needed to understand the content.
The rule also applies to all live audio content in synchronized media (e.g., webinars, live news streams, online events). This allows individuals with hearing loss to access real-time information as it is being broadcast, ensuring inclusion in live events and communications. Any prerecorded audio-only content, like a podcast or an audio recording of a speech, requires an alternative such as a descriptive transcript.
Accessibility for Users with Cognitive Disabilities
New WCAG guidelines focus on reducing memory load, improving predictability, and simplifying user interactions for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Reducing pop-ups, autoplaying media, and other distracting elements can help users with ADHD and similar conditions focus more effectively.
Clear language, consistent layouts, and predictable navigation also support users who may struggle with memory, processing, or learning new interaction patterns. Allowing additional time for tasks and providing tools to prevent or correct mistakes can further improve accessibility for users with slower processing or attention-related challenges.
Accessibility at Ability Central
Too often accessibility is an afterthought, and features are excluded not because they are incredibly difficult to include, but because web developers just don't consider them.
At Ability Central, accessibility has been a priority since the beginning of our digital presence. Our developers ensure that our site and its content follow WCAG-specific technical requirements.
Ability Central’s web developer, Geoff Butterfield, says WCAG 2.1 AA is achievable for most websites, and easy for less complicated sites. He hopes Ability Central can continue setting a strong example for digital accessibility.
Our goal is to meet the guidelines listed in WCAG 2.2, officially released October 2023, introducing new success criteria to further enhance accessibility, particularly for users with cognitive disabilities, low vision, and limited fine motor skills. We aim to eventually meet AAA standards, including enhanced accessibility measures such as reduced background noise in videos and a 7:1 contrast ratio.
Building accessible websites is often less about technical difficulty and more about intentional design and planning.
At Ability Central, we believe in ensuring meaningful digital accessibility for all individuals, providing equal access to essential online experiences. Our web developers seek real users with real disabilities to test the accessibility of our site and materials. New accessibility features are always in the works.
In the future, Ability Central plans to add a user dashboard that individuals with disabilities can customize, a new search feature that makes the task easier for individuals with cognitive disabilities, and even a dyslexia font that's in development. Ability Central web developer, Cynthia Swain-Sugarman, says it's all on the roadmap.
Why Digital Accessibility Matters
We live in a digital world. Daily life increasingly depends on internet access. Both public and private entities point us to the worldwide web to access and provide information. From e-commerce and banking to filing taxes and applying for government services, the American experience is online.
That’s why ensuring people with disabilities are not left behind in the digital world is so important.
If you have found a public website does not meet accessibility standards, you can file an ADA complaint here. Use the U.S. Department of Justice website to submit an online report or mail a form, detailing dates you encountered issues, the specific inaccessible website URL, the accessibility issues (e.g., screen reader issues, lack of captions), the barriers you face, and the solution you want (e.g., fix the site).
Want to support more work like this? Explore Ability Central’s homepage and consider a donation.
Additional Information
The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for legal, medical, or other professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date resources, some information may become outdated or incomplete. Always consult with your provider about personal medical concerns.
