Update: DOJ extends web accessibility deadlines

The Department of Justice is giving state and local governments more time to comply with the new ADA web accessibility rule.

The compliance dates will be extended by 1 year:

• Large agencies (50,000+ population): April 2027

• Smaller agencies: April 2028

This doesn’t change the requirements. It just changes the timeline.

Ideally, that means better long-term accessibility instead of rushed, low-quality compliance.

One of the main drivers behind this delay is the cost and effort required to deal with PDFs.

Most agencies have thousands of them. Many are inaccessible, outdated, or both.

And the rule hasn’t changed: if a PDF is actively used or needed for a service, it needs to be accessible.

This extra year helps. But it doesn’t solve the problem.

Instead of jumping straight into expensive PDF remediation, start with better questions:

• Which of these should be webpages instead?

• What can we remove or properly archive?

• How do we stop creating new inaccessible documents?

This is the shift: from remediation to usability. Use this extra time to be strategic.

Accessible websites are better websites. If you perpetuate the PDF status quo, you’re not just creating accessibility barriers. You’re also creating a poor user experience for everyone.

We’re going deeper on this here:

Beyond PDF remediation: turning ADA & PDF accessibility anxiety into a sustainable government strategy

• Tuesday, April 21

• 9 a.m. (Pacific time)

• Register for the webinar

If PDFs are still the elephant in the room (they are), this will help you make a plan that actually works.