DOJ Rule Promotes Web, Mobile App Accessibility for Users with Disabilities
The Department of Justice has issued a final rule to improve accessibility of websites and mobile applications for people with disabilities. The rule, published April 24, requires state and local governments to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards within two to three years, based on population size.
Public entity websites and apps provide services such as healthcare, education, voter information, and more. The new rule requires these services to meet technical accessibility standards, promoting independence, dignity, and privacy for people with disabilities.
The rule was developed with the help of individuals with disabilities, advocacy groups, governments, and web accessibility experts. Public feedback significantly influenced the final rule. Commenters highlighted the barriers posed by inaccessible websites and apps. One individual stated, “As blind and visually impaired adults, we live independent, productive, and self-sufficient lives like everyone else. Our privacy, privacy, and livelihoods depend on full, unrestricted access to any website and mobile app that is available to everyone.”
“The Internet is lifting the barriers to communication and interaction that millions of Americans face in the physical world,” one commentator noted. “These regulations have the potential to dramatically change the lives of people with disabilities and others.”
These comments underscore the rule’s role in removing barriers to civic participation and enabling people with disabilities to engage more fully with their communities. The rule is intended to advance the ADA’s goals of equality, participation, independent living, and digital self-sufficiency.
The final rule is available on the Federal Register and on ADA.gov, along with a fact sheet and small entity compliance guide to help state and small local governments understand the requirements.
For questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, call the Department’s toll-free Americans with Disabilities Act Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 833-610-1264 (TTY). Visit the Americans with Disabilities Act website at www.ada.gov Civil Rights Division website www.justice.gov/crt for more information.
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