An 11 member coalition of Attorney Generals (AGs) recently submitted their comments to the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division regarding proposed revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The revisions, if accepted, will establish requirements for web and mobile app accessibility for state and local governments. This step is seen as a move towards enhancing accessibility standards and thus, inclusion for all citizens.
The coalition, led by Indiana AG Todd Rokita, includes representatives from Arizona, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and others. Their support can considerably propel the revisions towards becoming implemented legislation.
JD Supra reports that the coalition has expressed several key points in their comments to the DOJ. As per their suggestions, the DOJ should clearly distinguish between “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA” and “WCAG 2.1 AA”. This is an essential step towards clarity and better implementation of the guidelines. Furthermore, they also believe that DOJ should provide guidance and a timeframe within which the compliance with these requirements must be achieved.
The proposed revisions to the Americans with Disabilities Act come at a time when digital accessibility is more important than ever. With a growing percentage of public and private services moving online, ensuring that these platforms are accessible to all, including those with impairments, is absolutely imperative.
It will be interesting to see how the situation develops given the support of the coalition. However, these changes, if implemented, can set an important precedent in the legal and digital accessibility world.