Articles

Read the full article on CMSWire: https://www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/why-digital-accessibility-must-be-treated-as-a-risk-management-priority/ (opens in a new window)

In today's increasingly digital world, businesses of all sizes face the same critical issue—ensuring their websites are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Justice has finalized new digital accessibility rules under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For the first time, state and local governments have a clear technical standard to follow and fixed deadlines to meet.

In what’s starting to feel like a recurring accessibility audit failure, the White House is once again being sued by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), and once again, it’s under a Trump administration.

As the European Accessibility Act (EAA) enforcement deadline approaches in June 2025, companies doing business in the EU must be ready to respond to accessibility complaints from users, each country with its own process, deadlines, and penalties.

While the EAA provides a common legal framework, enforcement is handled locally, meaning businesses may face simultaneous investigations in different countries.

Public school districts can no longer treat website accessibility as optional. With new ADA Title II regulations and state laws like Colorado’s HB21-1110, K–12 schools must ensure all websites, apps, and digital content meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Compliance deadlines begin in 2026.