Deadlines approaching for new ADA standards for municipal websites, apps, and social media

By KATE COIL

TT&C Assistant Editor

A new update to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is requiring governments and government-affiliated websites, mobile apps, and social media posts be accessible to all.  

While many municipalities utilize web-based tools to provide services, programs, and activities to the public, not all of these sites have been adapted for the use of screen readers and other assistive technologies.  A new update to Title II of the ADA aims to eliminate digital barriers that prevent disabled citizens from having   access to information and ability to participate in civic life.  

The new standards must be met by all municipal government, public school, public library, police and fire department, transit agency, parks and recreation and other government affiliated websites – even those managed through third parties.  Government-affiliated mobile apps and social media platforms are also required to meet standards. The deadline for compliance is April 24, 2026, for all municipalities with populations of 50,000 residents or more, and April 24, 2027, for all municipalities with 49,999 or fewer residents.  

Misha Dziubak, a certified ADA coordinator who works in Knoxville’s Disability Services Office and serves as a liaison with the Mayor's Council on Disability Issues (CODI), said the new web content accessibility guidelines are aimed at improving access for those with hearing, visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities.   

“Any website can be difficult to navigate if the information is not perceivable, operable, understandable, or robust,” Dziubak said. “Civic participation from community members is always of utmost importance. It is imperative that every member of the community who wishes to do so can access public notices and other pertinent information, read minutes from public meetings, connect with all of our departments, and access forms.” 

Dziubak said more citizens than ever are relying on government websites, mobile apps, and social media channels.  

“The importance of access to online information and materials was highlighted during the pandemic when more people chose to interact this way than ever before,” she said. “Many community members still prefer to interact with the city online, and we have continued to provide the access needed for people to engage with us online or in person.” 

COMMON ISSUES 

Websites can inadvertently limit access, depending on the needs of the individual or what assistive technology they are using. Screen readers are one of the most common tools in use.  

“All information presented on websites should be created with a focus on being utilized by assistive technology such as screen readers,” Dziubak said. “Text to audio seems to be one of the most widely used assistive technologies for accessing written information for a wide variety of people with disabilities. However, screen readers can get ‘stuck’ when accessing information if there are pop-ups, or forms are created improperly, or due to improper HTML structure.” 

Sounds and visuals, like video content, can create obstacles.  

“Common website barriers for those with hearing disabilities include audio only alerts that do not include a visually comparable alert, background audio that cannot be turned off or down, and video or audio without captioning,” Dziubak said. “For those with visual disabilities, barriers can include missing alt text on photographs or graphics, low color contrast, fixed font sizes that cannot be enlarged and non-descriptive ‘click here’ links.” 

Menus, clickable buttons, and other design issues can also pose problems.  

“For those with motor-based disabilities, anything that requires precise mouse usage can make giving or accessing information difficult,” Dziubak said. “Small clickable areas, drag and drop, inconsistent keyboard navigation can all impede easy access. Long and complex information, pages with no clear focus or headings, and flashing or moving elements can make navigation hard for those with cognitive disabilities.” 

Kevin Benson, senior business development executive of VC3, said there are also special considerations for any forms that are accessed online.  

“For forms, the system should identify errors clearly and offer suggestions for correction,” he said. “Many government websites have downloadable PDFs, forms, and documents. These should also meet ADA standards. PDFs should be properly tagged with headings, tables, and alt text for images so that they can be read by screen readers. Forms should be navigable with a keyboard and provide clear instructions and error messages when necessary.” 

Social media posts are another area where municipalities must be mindful. 

“Social media platforms have their own accessibility features, but government agencies and organizations are still responsible for making their content accessible,” Benson said. “This includes adding alt text to images or using automatic image descriptions (where possible) for users who rely on screen readers, ensuring high contrast between text and background colors to make posts legible for people with visual impairments, using easy-to-read fonts, and ensuring links are clearly labeled.” 

There are a few exceptions that aren’t legally required to comply with the update::  

• Archived web content (if unchanged and for reference only)
• Preexisting electronic documents (e.g., old PDFs)
• Third-party posts not under government control
• Password-protected individualized documents
• Social media posts made before the compliance date 

Benson recommends reviewing the ADA Fact Sheet on digital content and  using tools to help determine accessibility and areas for improvement, including the WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool and WebAIM Contrast Checker to ensure your site’s meets accessibility standards.  

BRINGING IN STAKEHOLDERS 

To ensure their own compliance, Dziubak said the city of Knoxville is bringing together staff with experts in the field.  

“Being able to access government websites is crucial, as is making sure we are fully in compliance. That’s why our city communication and law departments have been collaborating to ensure understanding of and compliance with the new guidelines that will go into effect,” she said. “They have been meeting with vendors to view demonstrations on how ADA accessibility would be improved for the city, how they would ensure all current materials meet standards, and creation of a new website focused on increased accessibility for the city.” 

Benson said anyone who posts content also needs to be trained on the new guidelines. 

“Content creators — whether they are uploading documents, posting news updates, publishing images, or managing social media — play a key role in maintaining ADA compliance,” he said. “Because of this, it's essential to provide ongoing training and build awareness of best practices.” 

Dziubak also suggests soliciting feedback from the community, both as a way to ensure municipal websites and apps can be used by all and to start other conversations about community accessibility needs.   

“Actively ask for feedback from community members of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds on those online resources,” she said. “This can be done many ways, such as having a voluntary disability advisory council available to engage with local disability agencies to find volunteers from the community, and of course, welcoming feedback through phone calls, emails, and public meetings. When the local disability community is involved and many different types of disabilities are represented, accessibility issues can be addressed at the start.”