Why Digital Accessibility Enforcement Is on the Horizon
Jennifer Waltner
January 14, 2021
Reading time: minutes
New administration brings focus on accessibility
Companies began to face intense scrutiny over digital accessibility in 2020 as pandemic shutdowns drove customers online. As online interactions increased, so did Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) digital accessibility lawsuits: 2020 saw a 23% year-over-year increase in the number of ADA-related lawsuits, according to a survey by UseableNet. When Joe Biden and Kamala Harris take office and bring new leadership to the Department of Justice (DOJ), more aggressive enforcement of ADA Title III issues will likely follow.
In “The Biden Plan for Full Participation and Equality for People with Disabilities” the president-elect states that his administration will “aggressively enforce existing civil rights laws for people with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.” The plan adds that the administration will “push for strong ADA compliance” and “continue to advocate for stronger ADA enforcement.”
The president-elect stated that his administration will “aggressively enforce existing civil rights laws for people with disabilities.”
Organizations should take note of this emphasis on the ADA, which puts digital accessibility in a whole new focus for software development teams.
Impact across different industries
President-elect Biden [...]