New ADA rules set a time-frame for all state and local governments to conform to WCAG 2.1, Level AA technical standards for accessibility. The rule applies to nearly all digital content, including text, images, sound, videos and documents. It also applies to content not directly developed by the local government or not hosted directly on the local government’s website, including mobile apps, dashboards and other site features developed by third parties on behalf of the local government, and social media posts.
The requirements apply prospectively to all content posted beginning April 26, 2027, for public entities (other than special district governments) serving populations of 50,000 people or more, and April 26, 2028, for those serving populations of below 50,000 people. Dependent Special District Governments April 26, 2028.
Preexisting conventional electronic documents like PDFs are exempt, although all documents posted from the effective date forward must be accessible
Articles and Resources
Two Deadlines, One Big Requirement: The ADA Digital Accessibility Mandate - The Missouri Municipal Review
ADA Web Accessibility: A Practical Checklist For Cities - Missouri Municipal League
Is Your City Ready for Website Accessibility Requirements? - National League of Cities
Fact Sheet: Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Government - ADA.gov
First Steps Toward Complying with ADA Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule - ADA.gov
WCAG 2 - "Quick Reference" - A customizable quick reference to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2 requirements (success criteria) and techniques.
WCAG 2.1 - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Sample Plans/Statements/Guidelines
Planning and Managing Web Accessibility - Guide outlines activities to help you integrate accessibility throughout the web production process
Digital Accessibility Plan - Template plan for Missouri State Agencies
Road Map For Compliance - State of Missouri Digital Accessibility RoadMap
St. Louis Website Accessibility Statement and Guidelines - City of St. Louis
Accessibility Statement - City of Independence
Accessibility Statement - Lee's Summit
Webinars
DOJ Webinar - (January 16, 2025) - Free Webinar from the Federal Department of Justice. This webinar provides a summary of the rule.
MML Recorded Webinar - The New ADA Digital Accessibility Rules: What Missouri Municipalities Need to Know
Selecting Web Site Evaluation Tools - Highlights features of evaluation tools, and discusses different aspects to consider when selecting these tools.
Evaluation Tools and Companies
Selecting Web Site Evaluation Tools - Highlights features of evaluation tools, and discusses different aspects to consider when selecting these tools.
A Brief Introduction to JAWS, NVDA, & Voice Over
Vendor/Consultants/Resources
- IMS - (MML Participating Affiliate) - Accessibility on Demand™ (AoD™) is IMS Technology Group’s scalable compliance solution for organizations required to meet ADA Title II, Section 508, and WCAG 2.1 AA standards.
- The Kestrel Co. (St. Louis): A digital agency specifically focused on ADA and WCAG compliance. They offer manual auditing, automated monitoring, and remediation services tailored for Missouri public entities.
- Great Plains ADA Center - Located in Columbia, Mo., the Great Plains ADA Center provides training, information, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, we work with individuals, businesses, and communities to support accessibility and ADA implementation
- Civic Plus - Improve digital content compliance and inclusivity with comprehensive accessibility solutions