RatedWithAI
Accessibility scanner
61 Days Until the ADA Title II Deadline
April 24, 2026 — The clock is ticking.
On April 24, 2026, the Department of Justice's new ADA Title II web accessibility rule takes effect. State and local government websites serving populations of 50,000 or more must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards — or face federal enforcement, lawsuits, and loss of funding. Smaller governments have until April 26, 2027, but the smart ones are starting now.
What Happens on April 24, 2026?
The DOJ's final rule — published April 24, 2024, under 28 CFR Part 35 — gives state and local government entities two years to make their websites and mobile apps accessible to people with disabilities. For entities serving 50,000+ people, that deadline is April 24, 2026.
This isn't a suggestion. It's federal law. The rule applies to every digital touchpoint: websites, web applications, mobile apps, and digital documents. Government entities that fail to comply face:
- DOJ enforcement actions — The Department of Justice can investigate and sue non-compliant entities
- Private lawsuits — Citizens can file ADA complaints, and law firms are already preparing cases
- Loss of federal funding — Non-compliance can trigger reviews under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Consent decrees — Court-ordered remediation plans with ongoing monitoring and penalties
Who Must Comply by April 24?
The first wave covers state and local government entities with populations of 50,000 or more. This includes:
State Agencies
DMVs, health departments, courts, tax agencies, licensing boards
City & County Governments
Municipal websites, utility portals, permit systems, parks & rec
Public Universities
Course registration, LMS platforms, financial aid portals
School Districts
Parent portals, enrollment systems, meal programs, transportation
Public Transit
Trip planners, real-time tracking, fare payment, rider alerts
Public Libraries
Catalog systems, digital lending, event registration, card management
Emergency Services
911 portals, emergency alerts, disaster response resources
Election Systems
Voter registration, polling information, ballot tracking, results
The WCAG 2.1 AA Standard: What It Requires
WCAG 2.1 Level AA includes 50 success criteria across four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust. The most commonly violated criteria — and the ones most likely to trigger lawsuits — include:
Missing alt text on images — affects 58.4% of home pages (WebAIM 2026)
Low color contrast text — affects 81% of home pages
Vague 'click here' or 'read more' links — affects 45.6% of home pages
Form inputs without labels — affects 46% of home pages
Missing heading structure, table headers — affects 25% of home pages
Interactive elements can't be reached via keyboard — affects 20% of home pages
Missing lang attribute — affects 17.1% of home pages
Missing or generic page titles — affects 12% of home pages
The Lawsuit Landscape: 2025-2026
Web accessibility lawsuits have been accelerating for years. In 2025, over 5,000 ADA digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in the United States. As the April 24 deadline approaches, legal experts expect a significant spike in government-targeted litigation.
Key Lawsuit Statistics
⚠️ Warning: Accessibility Overlays Won't Protect You
In 2025, an accessibility overlay provider was fined $1 million for deceptive compliance claims. 30% of ADA lawsuits now involve websites that use overlay widgets. Courts have consistently ruled that overlays do not constitute compliance with WCAG standards. The DOJ's rule specifically requires conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA — not the use of any particular tool or widget.
The Cost of Waiting
Every day you wait, the risk compounds. Here's what non-compliance costs:
Your 60-Day Compliance Playbook
With 61 days remaining, there's still time to achieve compliance — but you need to start now. Here's a week-by-week action plan:
Audit & Assess
- →Run an automated accessibility scan of your entire website
- →Identify your top 10 most-visited pages and prioritize those
- →Catalog all PDF documents and digital forms
- →Review mobile app accessibility (if applicable)
- →Assign an internal accessibility coordinator
Fix Critical Issues
- →Add alt text to all meaningful images
- →Fix color contrast ratios to meet 4.5:1 minimum
- →Add proper labels to all form inputs
- →Ensure all interactive elements are keyboard accessible
- →Add ARIA landmarks and proper heading hierarchy
Address Remaining Issues
- →Remediate all PDF documents (or convert to HTML)
- →Add captions and transcripts to video content
- →Test with screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
- →Fix link text ('click here' → descriptive labels)
- →Validate all forms for error handling and clear instructions
Verify & Document
- →Run a final automated scan to verify fixes
- →Conduct manual testing with real assistive technologies
- →Publish an accessibility statement on your website
- →Create a VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template)
- →Establish an ongoing monitoring process
The Tax Credit Most People Don't Know About
Small businesses and government contractors can claim the Disabled Access Credit (IRS Form 8826) — up to $5,000 per year to offset the cost of accessibility improvements. This can make a tool like RatedWithAI (starting at $29/month) effectively free after the tax benefit.
Eligible expenses include website accessibility audits, remediation work, assistive technology purchases, and accessibility consulting. The credit covers 50% of eligible expenditures between $250 and $10,250.
How RatedWithAI Helps You Meet the Deadline
RatedWithAI provides AI-powered accessibility scanning that goes beyond simple automated checks. Our scanner identifies WCAG 2.1 AA violations with plain-language explanations and prioritized fix recommendations — so you know exactly what to fix first.
Instant WCAG 2.1 AA Audit
Scan any page in seconds. Get violation counts, severity ratings, and a compliance score.
Plain-Language Fix Guides
Every violation includes step-by-step instructions that non-technical staff can follow.
Ongoing Monitoring
Weekly or daily scans detect regressions before they become lawsuit triggers.
Compliance Documentation
Generate reports for stakeholders, auditors, and legal teams to demonstrate progress.
Don't Wait Until It's Too Late
With 61 days until the deadline, every day counts. Start with a free scan to see where your website stands — it takes less than 60 seconds.
Key Resources
Related reading: ADA Title II Compliance Guide · ADA Lawsuit Settlements 2026 · ADA Compliance Checklist 2026 · All WCAG Criteria