Why WCAG Compliance Is Critical Before 2026

City communicators and media specialists are used to balancing technology, transparency, and trust. But a major shift is coming: By April 24, 2026, cities with populations over 50,000 must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards under the updated ADA Title II rules. Smaller municipalities and special districts have until 2027, but larger cities are now less than six months away from enforcement.

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Tightrope Media Systems recently produced a webinar, “Your Website, Your Meetings, Your Risk—WCAG Compliance Still Matters Ahead of 2026 Rule Enforcement,” to address these urgent compliance challenges. As Tightrope’s Dana Healy emphasized, accessibility in digital media is no longer optional—and not just because of compliance deadlines. It’s a reflection of how local governments serve and engage residents. When a resident can’t read your city’s online forms, watch your accessible city council meetings, or navigate your website with a screen reader, they’re effectively excluded from civic participation.

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What WCAG Compliance Means‍

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The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set the standard for accessible online content. Under these rules, every digital communication your city produces—from media workflows for government to livestreams, public portals, and even in-room displays—must be accessible to all.

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So, what’s included in WCAG compliance? The basics include:

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• captions for all live and on-demand videos
• audio descriptions when visuals convey essential information
• clear structure and contrast for screen readers
• proper labeling for online forms and menus
  

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As Tightrope’s Pete Tufigno explained, compliance goes far beyond websites. It includes city council meeting streams, archived videos, mobile service apps, even the kiosks in city hall lobbies. “Every public-facing digital asset is included under this umbrella,” he warned.

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‍The Risk of Waiting

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Even though enforcement begins in 2026, cities are already seeing lawsuits. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, several municipalities have faced legal action for inaccessible websites and videos.

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Legal experts expect a surge in what Healy called “surf-by” lawsuits, which is essentially the digital equivalent of the “drive-by” ADA lawsuits of the early 2000s. Instead of checking for missing ramps, plaintiffs are now scanning websites for missing captions and low-contrast designs.

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The risks are real, but they’re also preventable. As Tufigno noted, cities that take early, methodical steps now will be well ahead of the curve. Plus, they’ll strengthen trust with residents along the way.

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Cities can start small and make meaningful progress. Healy recommends beginning with an audit of all public-facing digital assets, including websites, forms, and videos. Accessibility toolkits make it easy to identify problem areas. From there, you can conduct a pilot project. Start with one department or one recurring meeting to test captioning workflows and build internal knowledge.

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Closed captioning and transcripts are a fast way to improve government meeting accessibility, while audio descriptions are becoming an essential next step. According to Tufigno, emerging tools like MediaScribe are helping municipal AV teams automate these tasks, offering live and on-demand captioning, multilingual transcription, and more.

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These capabilities not only meet online community media ADA requirements but also enhance engagement. Residents who are hard of hearing, non-native English speakers, or simply multitasking can still follow every discussion.‍

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Building Collaboration and Moving Forward‍

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Accessibility can’t fall on a single IT or media specialist. It requires collaboration across communications staff, IT, legal, and administration. Tufigno recommends designating an internal “accessibility champion” who coordinates across departments to track progress and maintain accountability.

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Healy’s advice: Break the work into manageable steps.

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“Start with high-impact fixes,” she explained. “Every transcript you post, every file you caption, that’s a step in the right direction.”

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That’s more than a compliance checkbox—it’s a commitment to transparency and equal access. By integrating accessibility into local government media strategies today, cities not only avoid risk but also open doors to broader civic engagement. Each improvement, from captions to multilingual audio services, represents another resident who can fully participate in local government.

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The upcoming WCAG deadline isn’t just a regulatory milestone. It’s a chance for cities to lead with inclusivity, build digital trust, and future-proof their communications infrastructure. As Healy noted, accessibility is both a moral and operational imperative. Start now, start small, and make accessibility part of your media workflow before the deadline makes the choice for you.

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Want more insights? Access our free Event Replay of “Your Website, Your Meetings, Your Risk—WCAG Compliance Still Matters Ahead of 2026 Rule Enforcement.”