The Growing Challenge of Producing ADA-Compliant Accessible Websites

Back in 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, its application to the public sector was largely to require physical accommodations so all public buildings could be accessible to all people. Common examples were curb ramps so people in wheelchairs could travel safely through local streets and restrooms in public buildings for people with disabilities. But while accommodations to physical infrastructure are relatively straightforward, electronic infrastructure—notably public sector websites that provide financial information and permit residents to conduct a variety of transactions with their governments—present a potentially expensive and time consuming challenge to ADA compliance.

• Publication date: December 2021
• Authors: Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene