DOJ Rule on Web Accessibility

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published a rule requiring state and local government web sites, web documents, and web applications to meet the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA by April 24, 2026 (2027 for small local governments). In April 2026, the DOJ extended the deadline to April 26, 2027 (2028 for small local governments).

Because this is the same requirement as the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act (IITAA), Illinois agencies have a head start, but there is still work to do.

To help State agencies ensure their websites are accessible, the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) is providing online guides, live trainings, and technical assistance. For more information, see:

• DOJ Fact Sheet - information about the rule.
• DOJ Extension - notice of the one-year extension.
• DoIT Accessibility Guides - how to create accessible web pages and documents.
• DoIT Accessibility Testing - how to test web pages and web apps.
• DoIT DOJ Rule SharePoint - resources for State of Illinois staff, including Training Sign-up.

If you have questions about web accessibility in Illinois, please email DoIT.Accessibility@Illinois.gov