PROJECT BRIEF

BACKGROUND

Given the upcoming enforcement of federal accessibility guidelines for cities with populations of greater than 50,000 on April 24, 2026, cities are required to examine their digital accessibility policies to ensure compliance. Under Article II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all digital services provided by municipalities must meet the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. The City of Madison is intent on prioritizing digital accessibility to ensure equitable service delivery and proactively adapt to anticipated regulatory changes.

AIMS

The project team analyzed the City of Madison's current digital accessibility landscape, benchmark against other municipalities, and identified key opportunities and challenges. Based on these insights, the team aims to provide policy recommendations for Madison to pursue the long-term development of digital accessibility. Ultimately, this project will help Madison build a more inclusive environment, ensuring that people with disabilities can fully access and benefit from public services.

METHODOLOGY

The project’s approach followed a five-stage process to ground digital accessibility recommendations: (1) literature review, (2) comparative analysis, (3) stakeholder outreach, (4) policy review, and (5) policy development and recommendations.

DELIVERABLES

The final report developed by the team consisted of three deliverables (1) digital accessibility policy and implementation strategy to achieve Title II ADA compliance, (2) digital accessibility policy guidance for current and future Administrative Policy Memoranda (APMs), and (3) an executive summary providing key research findings and recommendations.

IMPACT AND FUTURE WORK

This report highlights both the City’s current efforts and the structural gaps that must be addressed to meet federal compliance by April 24, 2026. Policy recommendations and guidance position the City of Madison to become a leader in municipal digital accessibility. Future work should focus on building internal capacity through training, formalizing ongoing accessibility review processes, and establishing mechanisms for accountability and community feedback. Additionally, the City of Madison should continue monitoring federal guidance, emerging technologies, and evolving best practices to adapt its digital infrastructure and policies over time.