Making Government Websites Work for Everyone: A 2026 Accessibility Roadmap
By Adrian Esquivel, CEO, TECKpert For many Floridians, a government website is the front door to public services. It is where a family signs up for benefits, a small business renews a license, or a resident checks storm information during a fast-moving emergency. When a site is difficult to navigate with a keyboard, a screen reader, or captions, people do not just get frustrated. They get blocked from services. Accessibility is also moving from best practice to a clear requirement. In April 2024, the US
Use USWDS to Standardize Design and Reduce Risk One of the most effective accelerators available to government teams is the US Web Design System, commonly called USWDS. USWDS provides accessible components, patterns, and implementation guidance that help teams start closer to compliance before they add custom features. It also reduces one of the biggest cost drivers in government web programs: every site being built as a custom experience with inconsistent navigation, forms, and content templates.
local government web content and mobile apps. For agencies serving 50,000 or more people, the compliance date is April 24, 2026. Smaller entities generally have until April 26, 2027. The takeaway for leadership is straightforward: accessibility is not a single audit or a one-time remediation project. It is an operating discipline that touches procurement, design, content, development, and ongoing support. Agencies can reduce risk quickly by standardizing design patterns, focusing on the highest impact user journeys, and adding practical checks to the way they publish and release changes.
Department of Justice issued a final rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act that sets WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for state and 16 – 2026 Legislative Edition – Florida Technology Magazine
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