Please refer to Section508.gov’s IT Accessibility Laws and Policy for review of key legislative and executive actions that have advanced digital equity across the federal government over the past 50 years. Please refer to the FY23 Assessment for a review of federal initiatives and resources on ICT accessibility.
Recent Federal Law and Policy on ICT Accessibility
Since the publication of the FY23 Assessment in December 2023, the federal government continues to issue important law and policy to improve digital accessibility, most notably:
- M-24-08 Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act provides implementation guidance to federal agencies for establishing digital accessibility programs and policies, procure accessible products and services, design and develop accessible digital experiences, and create accessible content. The memo also provided strategies to manage feedback, remediate accessibility issues, and cultivate a culture of digital accessibility. Immediate agency actions included appointing Section 508 program managers, updating digital accessibility statements, establishing feedback mechanisms, and assessing ICT accessibility policies. In addition to agency-specific actions, the memo required the following governmentwide actions: updating resources on Section508.gov—this web site, standardizing accessibility conformance reporting, expanding digital accessibility certifications and training, accommodating assistive technology, establishing a governmentwide service to help agencies acquire products and services related to the accessibility of ICT, and exploring a federal digital accessibility design and testing lab.
- The DOJ published Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities, a final rule updating regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended. This rule sets forth WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for web content and mobile application accessibility for services, programs, and activities provided by state and local governments.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Service Programs or Activities, a rule that prohibits discrimination on the basis of a disability and includes a definition of what accessibility means for websites, kiosks, and mobile applications at HHS. It also requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA, aligning with the standards published by the DOJ under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Reviewed/Updated: December 2024
