Alabama - HHS Section 504
Alabama behavioral health: website accessibility requirements
Alabama's behavioral-health and substance-use treatment providers must bring their websites and digital documents to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard under HHS Section 504. Here is the deadline that applies to you, what the standard requires, and the issues most likely to affect behavioral health provider sites.
Your deadline
HHS Section 504 web rule · WCAG 2.1 AA
- May 11, 2027
- 15 or more employees
- May 10, 2028
- Fewer than 15 employees
Which date applies depends on your employee count. Providers with 15 or more employees fall under the earlier date.
These dates are set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Section 504 web accessibility rule. This is general information, not legal advice.
What WCAG 2.1 AA requires
WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the technical standard both federal rules point to. In practice it means your website, mobile app, and the documents you publish must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust: usable with a keyboard alone, readable by a screen reader, legible at high zoom and adequate contrast, and free of barriers in forms and media.
For behavioral health, the surfaces that matter most are usually intake and screening forms, appointment scheduling, crisis and hotline information, and insurance and eligibility pages.
Common issues on behavioral health websites
These are the barriers that most often turn up on behavioral health provider sites. Use them as a starting checklist.
Intake and screening forms
Confidential intake and self-screening forms must be completable by keyboard and screen reader.
Crisis and hotline information
Emergency and hotline content must be perceivable to everyone, immediately.
Appointment scheduling
Online scheduling that fails assistive technology blocks access to time-sensitive care.
PDF documents
Program information and consent forms posted as untagged PDFs create barriers.
Video without captions
Program-overview and education videos need captions.
Know exactly where you stand
We'll check your behavioral health provider website against WCAG 2.1 AA and send a plain-language findings report. No overlay widget, no obligation.