The US government has released new regulations requiring all web pages and mobile apps to meet ADA standards, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities such as vision and hearing loss.
These rules aim to ensure equal opportunities, full participation, independent living and economic independence for persons with disabilities in the digital world. Most state and local governments provide a variety of services online, including tax payments, municipal services, health care, education, voter registration, and more.
The new rules require developers of web content and mobile apps for state and local governments to meet certain technical standards that allow people with disabilities to access that content. This will help remove barriers to participation in public life and provide opportunities for interaction with communities.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. It is considered the world’s first comprehensive law aimed at protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. The new rules cover public institutions, schools, hospitals and other public organizations. They will have two to three years to implement the changes, depending on the size of the settlement.