Discrimination at First Sight: The Reality of Government Agencies Not Being ADA Compliant

Government regulations and reporting affect nearly every area of our lives. Whether it’s healthcare, social security, taxes, or many other services, the government is often involved.

Government agencies share information through printed materials, electronic documents (like PDFs), or websites. Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), these agencies must offer this information in an accessible format, such as braille, large print, audio, accessible PDF, or accessible websites.

Without an accessible form of communication, millions of Americans don’t have the information they need.

Take, for example, our co-founder, Lou Fioritto. Lou has been blind since infancy and has often shared his experiences growing up in an inaccessible world.

As a young man, when Lou received government documents or other important communication in the mail, he paid high school students to read them aloud. Unlike other young adults in their 20s, Lou sacrificed his privacy and security to achieve independence.

No one should ever experience what Lou did all those years ago. The reality is people who have a visual or reading disability are unable to access important documents without challenges.

In addition to banks, hospitals, and other businesses, government agencies and institutions must provide people with information in accessible formats. 

So, what happens when equal access is denied?

Exclusion of people with disabilities

When a person with a visual impairment or blindness contacts a government agency and asks for assistance, they should be able to expect a quick and satisfactory response. However, they often hear, “I don’t know who can help you”. This barrier prevents a person from getting the information they need.

Accessible technology is useless when websites are not accessible

Even when someone has a personal accessibility solution, such as a screen reader, they still need government agencies to provide accessible websites and PDFs.

Screen readers may allow the user to navigate the pages of government websites. However, more often than not, they cannot find the information they need because of a lack of accessibility. Only when the website is formatted properly with the correct heading levels, table structure, alternate text, etc., can the user navigate and read content on the site. Without proper formatting, all the accessible technology in the world will not help those who rely on it.

Unfortunately, this is a common issue. In 2023, the General Services Administration (GSA) released a report on the level of government agencies’ digital accessibility. It found that over 75% of the reporting entities don’t meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 AA standards.

Missing opportunities to share much-needed information

The “Effective Communication Rule,” under Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), makes it mandatory for public and private businesses to provide equal access to all communication. Accessible formats—like braille and large print—are just additional ways of presenting the same information in an accessible format.

In the event of an emergency, it’s important that people who have visual or reading disabilities have access to the same information, warnings and resources as everyone else. Once the immediate emergency has passed, there may be a need to fill out government forms for help. It’s critically important that these web pages and forms are accessible to everyone regardless of ability. Thankfully, the Department of Justice recently released a final ruling revising Title II of the ADA. This ruling builds upon existing requirements to remove communication barriers by requiring state and local governments to make their digital information accessible. Depending on the municilpalty’s size, these organizations must bring their digital information—like websites, mobile apps, and PDFs—into WCAG 2.0 AA compliance by late April of 2026 or 2027.

This new ruling ensures that people who rely on assistive technology to access digital content get the same information as everyone else.

Compliant government agencies save lives and help people in need.

Missing valuable government agency resources

If agencies do not provide accessible documents or 508 compliant websites following Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) AA standards, people cannot be active participants in these agencies’ programs and resources. It is a common but inaccurate perception that every person with a disability has a family member or friend who can help them navigate inaccessible websites and complete inaccessible forms. Moreover, people with disabilities shouldn’t have to reach out to their friends or families. Government agencies should empower them with accessible document options.

In addition to properly formatted websites, alternate format documents like 508 remediated PDFs, braille, large print, and audio keep all Americans in the loop. If we assist all people, we enable our country to reach its full potential. Removing barriers in America leads to less discrimination, more independence, and a shared value of and respect for the dignity of every person.