The WCAG Compliance Clock Is Ticking

For many city departments, digital accessibility can feel like one more mandate on an already full plate, but ignoring it is no longer an option. The Department of Justice has
finalized new ADA rules requiring public entities to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA standards as early as April 24, 2026 for some local governments, and residents are already filing lawsuits against inaccessible sites and media services. The reality: Lawsuits won’t wait until the deadline. The opportunity: Cities that take measurable steps now can not only reduce legal risk but also improve how residents access and engage with digital services and media. This isn’t about panic—it’s about building a practical, phased plan that city IT directors, AV specialists, and communications teams can realistically execute.

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Why Early Action Matters

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If your city streams council meetings without captions or maintains websites with poor color contrast, you’re not alone. However, those gaps are increasingly drawing complaints and legal scrutiny. Starting early gives your municipality three big advantages. First, it shows good faith to courts and residents that you’re addressing accessibility. Second, it prevents a last-minute scramble that can overwhelm staff (and budgets). And third, it keeps control of the timeline in your hands instead of being dictated by a legal settlement. Accessibility compliance isn’t a one-weekend project. It takes planning, coordination across departments, and often the support of outside partners. Municipal leaders who treat accessibility as part of their local government communications strategy can position themselves ahead of the curve.

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Build a Realistic Roadmap

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Arguably, the best first step in any accessibility strategy is assigning ownership. Someone—whether it’s a program manager, IT director, or even a cross-departmental task force—needs to track efforts across websites, videos, forms, and other public- facing platforms. From there, you should create an inventory of your digital assets and flag the ones that matter most to residents, such as council meetings, agendas, calendars, and forms. There are also several WCAG compliance screening services available to help you make sure no digital stone has been left unturned.

You also need to be honest about your team’s capacity. Many cities lack large development teams, so know who owns each platform and where outside support may
be necessary. For example, vendors can handle bulk work like captioning videos or remediating PDFs, while automated tools can identify common issues such as missing alt text or bad contrast. However, automation has limits, and overlay tools that claim to “fix everything” rarely deliver. Focus instead on smart automation in areas like video captioning or PDF remediation, while reserving human review for more complex fixes. Finally, document your progress. This ensures continuity through staff turnover and
provides valuable evidence if legal questions arise. A documented plan also demonstrates that your city is actively pursuing government media accessibility solutions, which strengthens both legal protection and public trust.

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Be Ready for Bumps

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Even with a solid plan, bumps will happen. New regulations, staff changes, or unexpected tech challenges can shift priorities. You might even need to change long-standing branding designs and colors. The key is staying flexible. Each accessibility issue is an opportunity to better understand how residents experience city services. It’s also important to resist the temptation to remove content out of fear. Taking down videos, forms, or records may seem like a safe option, but it undermines transparency and limits public access. A better strategy is to pair accessibility improvements with communication: Show your community that you’re making progress and that access for all residents is a shared priority. Think of accessibility as a collaborative effort. When IT, AV, communications, and legal teams collaborate on city government media initiatives, the outcome is stronger than any single department could deliver alone. As a result, over time, accessibility will become baked into the way you design and deliver services. For city IT and media leaders, the upcoming WCAG deadlines won’t produce perfection overnight, but a coordinated effort should reflect steady, visible progress. With a clear roadmap, smart use of tools and vendors, and a commitment to keeping services open and accessible, your compliance should be manageable and create an opportunity to strengthen trust with your community. The clock may be ticking, but municipalities that act now have the time to execute a plan that will deliver better, more inclusive communication for the residents they serve.
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