ADA Title II update: The key takeaway from the April 20 compliance date extension from the DOJ is to keep going!

4/20/2026

Per the Extension of Compliance Dates for Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities (Effective April 20, 2026), the compliance date for State and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more is extended from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027.

This is not an invitation to pause. Keep the momentum going and continue audit and remediation work!

Digital accessibility is not optional or something to work on later. It is a current responsibility, and progress must continue.

  1. Recognize accessibility as a continuous legal requirement. 
    • Accessibility is not a one-time compliance event. It is an ongoing capability.
    • Even though the ADA Title II deadline has been extended, expectations for accessibility – and the needs of the people who rely on it – have not.
    • Missouri’s accessibility law and standard have been in effect for over two decades, a reflection of the 1998 Section 508 accessibility update.
  2. Remain aligned to WCAG 2.2 AA.
    • The technical foundation of the rule is well established and widely adopted across industries and is regularly used by the U.S. Department of Justice in enforcement and settlement agreements. Continuing to align with WCAG reflects how accessibility is currently measured and enforced.
    • Progress made today moves you toward meeting current compliance expectations and closer to sustainable, scalable accessibility.
    • The state’s accessibility standard defines WCAG 2.2 AA as Missouri’s required standard, effective April 6, 2026.
  3. Do not pause accessibility efforts.
    • Accessibility is an ongoing process and must be prioritized to ensure equal access for everyone who engages with your organization.
    • ADA and state legal obligations remain in effect.
  4.  Focus on sustainable accessibility practices.
    • Success means continuing to build systems, processes, and programs that consistently produce accessible outcomes – not from chasing deadlines. This work continues through the state’s 2025 accessibility roadmap and agency plans.
      • Ongoing automated testing through tools such as Siteimprove , automated testing tool browser extensions, and desktop tools
      • Clear governance and accountability
      • Design systems and templates with accessibility built in
      • Ongoing conformance monitoring and remediation

Goals for the Remaining Work

  • Continue the work you are doing.
  • The team will review remaining Roadmap work and any known readiness gaps.
  • Periodic status updates will continue, and interim milestones may be created.

Thanks for your continued dedication to accessibility,

State of Missouri Digital Accessibility Roadmap

The Digital Accessibility Roadmap Team

Sara Bollmann (OA/ITSD-EPMO)
Elaine Houtman (Missouri Assistive Technology)
Pam Keep (OA/ITSD-Business Systems Development)
Shayne Martin (OA/Commissioner’s Office)
Jen Spadafora (OA/ITSD-EPMO)
Lainie Strange (OA/ITSD-Web Team)