Digital accessibility is about more than just meeting legal standards—it’s about ensuring everyone in your community has equal access to public information and services. For local governments, that includes websites and the documents they publish online—everything from council minutes to permit forms and embedded PDFs.
As the Department of Justice formalizes clear expectations and deadlines, now is the time for public agencies to take a thoughtful, proactive approach to PDF accessibility.
What’s Required, By When, and For Whom?
Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all state and local governments must ensure that digital content is accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes both websites and the documents they host.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act also requires federally funded agencies to provide accessible digital documents.
In April 2024, the DOJ released a final rule clarifying these obligations: websites and mobile apps must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA—and timelines are now set.
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Large jurisdictions (≥50,000 residents): by April 24, 2026
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Smaller jurisdictions (<50,000 residents): by April 24, 2027
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Special districts: also by April 24, 2027
These deadlines underscore the importance of addressing all public-facing content—especially documents—to ensure equal access.
Understanding the Scope of PDF Accessibility
Many older public documents weren’t designed with accessibility in mind. PDFs and Word files may lack proper tags, clear reading order, or text alternatives—making them incompatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
In some cases, these documents span years or even decades and are dispersed across multiple systems. The task isn’t about questioning the need for accessibility—it’s about modernizing infrastructure so that governments can serve every resident with dignity and ease.
A Thoughtful Approach to Moving Forward
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Start with a Content Inventory: Identify which documents are public-facing and essential to accessing services.
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Focus on What Matters Most: Prioritize high-use, high-impact forms and materials.
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Build Accessibility Into Everyday Workflows: Equip staff with the knowledge and tools to create accessible PDFs from the outset.
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Use Trusted Support: Accessibility experts can help, but the goal is long-term empowerment and continuity—not dependency.
This is not about compliance for compliance’s sake. It’s about making sure every member of the public has equitable access to critical information—something we all want.
Streamline Accessibility with DocAccess
To support public agencies in making their documents accessible at scale, Streamline created DocAccess—a tool designed to remove barriers to implementation while maintaining full compliance and inclusivity.
✅ No uploading, no waiting—just automatic, real-time accessibility
✅ WCAG 2.1 AA-compliant PDFs generated instantly
✅ Works with linked documents, even from external sources
✅ Get started in minutes
✅ Just pennies per page
DocAccess helps governments ensure accessibility is always active, ongoing, and affordable—so you can focus on serving your community.
👉 Start your free trial of DocAccess today and see how simple accessibility can be.
