People with disabilities want what anyone does – the chance to learn, to work, to engage in civic and social activities. As more of these essential life activities have moved online, the law has been unclear about how equal access is provided to people with disabilities. A Department of Justice Final Rule posted in April 2024 was meant to clarify the obligation of public entities to provide equitable access to digital communications for people with disabilities under Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The DOJ reasonably provided two years for municipalities, county governments, public hospitals and colleges, and others to update their digital systems. The 2024 Final Rule clearly stated that it would “establish specific requirements, including the adoption of specific technical standards, for making accessible the services, programs, and activities offered by State and local government entities to the public through the web and mobile applications.”
On April 20, 2026, however, the DOJ upended decades of advocacy by people with disabilities for equal access to web-based information and services. Six days before it was scheduled to take final effect, the DOJ published an “extension” to their previous ruling. Disabled people heard loud and clear that their need for equal access to the communication tools of the modern world had been deprioritized.
I work for Knowbility, an Austin-based nonprofit advocacy and training agency. We raise awareness and improve skills for the provision of digital accessibility. For more than two decades, we taught and supported companies and individuals in developing digital accessibility practices. Recently, we’ve worked with an increasing number of county governments, municipalities, educational districts, and other entities impacted by the DOJ ruling. We’ve seen growing awareness of the need for equal access by their citizens with disabilities – more than 20% of people and increasing as the population ages. We’ve seen the impact on internal development policy, process, and purchasing decisions being made by these agencies. We’ve seen increased understanding of the broad benefits of digital accessibility for all constituents. Just as a more accessible built environment helps all people navigate the world more successfully, so it is with the web. As websites and applications are designed to work with the assistive technologies that help users who are blind, deaf, and those with mobility or cognitive disabilities interact online, all users have improved experiences. Accessible websites allow all citizens to more easily find and use information from the critical – like voting locations and timelines – to the practical, like trash pickup schedules, city council meeting minutes, and park and pool activities.
Local governments are learning this as they implement more accessible online services and communications. They are taking accessibility more seriously and developing long-term plans to meet global accessibility standards and maintain equal access over time. But many are not there yet. Backing away from the enforcement of the new rule has had a chilling effect on the momentum being built in local government entities. Small cities and counties are often faced with limited resources and fewer will now be directed toward digital inclusion. Millions of citizens with disabilities will continue to be marginalized and struggle to find civic information on their local government websites.
Still, digital accessibility remains the law of the land. Eve Hill, a leading civil rights attorney formerly at the DOJ, reassured the community that the ADA is clear about nondiscrimination. The Rule simply defined how it would be measured and enforced. In a recent keynote talk, Hill warned local governments (and businesses) that their online presence still must be accessible. If it’s not, she’ll see them in court. If the DOJ won’t enforce the law, the courts will.
The ADA took years upon years of activism to become law. One of the most effective was the three-week occupation of the Oakland Federal Building by disabled activists led by Judith Heumann in 1977. The ADA’s promise of universal access was never partisan, and it shouldn’t be now. As Heumann said, “Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things we need to lead our lives.” Today, the internet is a critical one of those things.
Sharron Rush is co-founder and executive director of Knowbility, a leader in digital accessibility advocacy and training since 1999. She has been widely honored for her work, including the AARP Purpose Prize in 2023. Knowbility was founded in Austin, Texas, to address the need for equal access to digital communications for disabled people.
Got something to say? The Chronicle welcomes opinion pieces on any topic from the community. Submit yours now at austinchronicle.com/opinion.
This article appears in May 15 • 2026.