The 2027–2028 federal accessibility deadlines, explained

For years, web accessibility law in the United States was a patchwork of court decisions. That changed: two federal rules now set out, in black and white, that many organizations must meet a specific technical standard — WCAG 2.1 Level AA — for their websites, by specific dates. Here's what applies to whom. This is general information, not legal advice.

The standard: WCAG 2.1 AA

Both rules point to the same technical standard — the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1, Level AA. It's a published set of success criteria covering whether content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for people with disabilities. Both rules apply it to websites, and both reach mobile apps and PDFs as well.

Healthcare: HHS Section 504

The Department of Health and Human Services' Section 504 rule covers federally funded healthcare organizations — hospices, community health centers, nursing homes, behavioral health providers, and more. The deadline is tiered by size:

• May 11, 2027 — organizations with 15 or more employees
• May 10, 2028 — organizations with fewer than 15 employees

Government & education: ADA Title II

The Department of Justice's ADA Title II rule covers state and local governments and the entities they run — city and county governments, public school districts, higher education, and libraries. The deadline is tiered by the population served:

• April 26, 2027 — entities serving a population of 50,000 or more
• April 26, 2028 — entities serving under 50,000, and special districts

For higher education, the tier is set by the population of the state or locality the institution serves, not its enrollment.

These are the dates set by published federal rules. They're facts to plan around, not a reason to panic — the organizations that start early simply have more room to do the work properly.

What the deadline actually asks of you

Meeting the deadline means your website, apps, and PDFs conform to WCAG 2.1 AA. The first step isn't buying anything — it's finding out where you stand. An assessment identifies the specific barriers on your site and maps each to the criterion it fails, so you know exactly what the work is before you commit to it.