by Bob Duthaler
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) continues to evolve as technology changes. The latest updates are about to have a major impact on how state and local governments manage their online presence. The new ADA Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule require that all digital content—including websites, apps, and videos—be accessible to everyone.
By April 24, 2026, public entities serving populations of 50,000 or more must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. Smaller municipalities will follow a year later, by April 24, 2027. This means that all prerecorded videos must include audio descriptions, and all video content (live or prerecorded) must include closed captions. In other words, accessibility will no longer be optional or by request; it will be required and proactive.
This new rule is a significant shift for government communicators and PEG (public, educational, and government) stations alike. It reinforces the importance of ensuring that every member of our community, regardless of ability, has equal access to the information we provide. It also highlights the need for local stations and municipalities to evaluate their workflows, captioning systems, and content management strategies now to stay compliant and avoid last-minute challenges.
At JAG, we are not just watching this development from the sidelines—we’re taking action. We understand that accessibility is both a moral and legal responsibility, and that the implementation of these new requirements will take planning, resources, and knowledge. That’s why JAG is already working closely with national partners and organizations across the country to monitor developments, share information, and ensure that our members have the tools and guidance they need.
Through our collaborations with other PEG associations and technology partners, we’re staying ahead of the conversation and bringing valuable insights directly to our members. Our goal is to make sure that every JAG station and municipal communications department understands what’s required and how to meet these standards effectively.
To help you prepare, our October General Membership Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 29th at Noon (online) will focus entirely on this topic. We’ll bring in accessibility experts to explain the new ADA Title II rule, discuss best practices, and provide step-by-step strategies for compliance. Whether you’re a large municipality or a small local station, this session will help you understand required changes and how to start implementing them now. Guest panelists include Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media and others to be announced.
As always, JAG remains committed to supporting our members through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Accessibility is about inclusion, equity, and good governance—all values that lie at the heart of our mission. Together with our partners and members, we will ensure that New Jersey’s PEG stations and municipal communicators continue to lead the way in providing accessible, transparent, and engaging local content for all.
This is important discussion that affects every local government and PEG operation. Let’s work together to make sure we’re ready to meet these new standards and continue serving our communities at the highest levels of accessibility and professionalism. Meeting invitation, October 29th at Noon, login: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86520743091?pwd=v7YCFr4TFtdtILm9alcWIYl0IX7SfB.1
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else for employment opportunities, purchasing goods and services, and participating in state and local government programs.
Title II Applies to State/Local Programs
Examples of state/local service, programs, or activities that need to comply with the ADA include:
- Public education (schools)
- Public transportation
- Recreation
- Health care
- Social services
- Courts
- Voting
- Emergency services
Offices where people go to:
- Renew licenses
- Apply for food stamp
- Pay their taxes
- Attend town meetings
- Serve on boards and commissions
- Conduct other government business
General Requirement
Title II of the ADA requires state/local governments to give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities. State/local governments cannot deny people with disabilities the chance to participate in programs available to others and they cannot make them participate in different programs than those available to everyone else.
Specific Requirements
The ADA also includes specific requirements for state/local governments. For example, if you are part of a state/local government you must:
- Communicate with people with disabilities as effectively as you communicate with others.
- Make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures where needed to make sure that a person with a disability can access the state/local government’s programs, services, or activities.
- Allow service animals to be with their person even if you have a no pets policy.
- Provide program access by ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from programs because existing buildings or facilities are inaccessible to them.
- Follow specific standards for physical accessibility when building or altering a building or facility.
- Follow specific requirements for ticket sales and testing accommodations.
You can also learn about these and other requirements in the State and Local Government Primer.
Upcoming Webinar: Livestreaming for Emergency Management Join Switchboard Live and SoSu TV (SoSu.TV: Innovative Government Video Production, Reno, NV) for an exclusive JAG members-only special session on live streaming in emergency management situations. We’ll cover best practices, platform redundancy, and real-world applications for emergency response teams. Join us on Wednesday November 12th, 11AM Register here.
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President’s Message: October 2025 – Preparing for ADA Title II Web and Mobile Accessibility Compliance (Closed Captioning & Audio Description)
Posted: October 22, 2025 by Doug Seidel
by Bob Duthaler
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) continues to evolve as technology changes. The latest updates are about to have a major impact on how state and local governments manage their online presence. The new ADA Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule require that all digital content—including websites, apps, and videos—be accessible to everyone.
By April 24, 2026, public entities serving populations of 50,000 or more must meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. Smaller municipalities will follow a year later, by April 24, 2027. This means that all prerecorded videos must include audio descriptions, and all video content (live or prerecorded) must include closed captions. In other words, accessibility will no longer be optional or by request; it will be required and proactive.
This new rule is a significant shift for government communicators and PEG (public, educational, and government) stations alike. It reinforces the importance of ensuring that every member of our community, regardless of ability, has equal access to the information we provide. It also highlights the need for local stations and municipalities to evaluate their workflows, captioning systems, and content management strategies now to stay compliant and avoid last-minute challenges.
At JAG, we are not just watching this development from the sidelines—we’re taking action. We understand that accessibility is both a moral and legal responsibility, and that the implementation of these new requirements will take planning, resources, and knowledge. That’s why JAG is already working closely with national partners and organizations across the country to monitor developments, share information, and ensure that our members have the tools and guidance they need.
Through our collaborations with other PEG associations and technology partners, we’re staying ahead of the conversation and bringing valuable insights directly to our members. Our goal is to make sure that every JAG station and municipal communications department understands what’s required and how to meet these standards effectively.
To help you prepare, our October General Membership Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 29th at Noon (online) will focus entirely on this topic. We’ll bring in accessibility experts to explain the new ADA Title II rule, discuss best practices, and provide step-by-step strategies for compliance. Whether you’re a large municipality or a small local station, this session will help you understand required changes and how to start implementing them now. Guest panelists include Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO, Alliance for Community Media and others to be announced.
As always, JAG remains committed to supporting our members through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Accessibility is about inclusion, equity, and good governance—all values that lie at the heart of our mission. Together with our partners and members, we will ensure that New Jersey’s PEG stations and municipal communicators continue to lead the way in providing accessible, transparent, and engaging local content for all.
This is important discussion that affects every local government and PEG operation. Let’s work together to make sure we’re ready to meet these new standards and continue serving our communities at the highest levels of accessibility and professionalism. Meeting invitation, October 29th at Noon, login: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86520743091?pwd=v7YCFr4TFtdtILm9alcWIYl0IX7SfB.1
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities. The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability just as other civil rights laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else for employment opportunities, purchasing goods and services, and participating in state and local government programs.
Title II Applies to State/Local Programs
Examples of state/local service, programs, or activities that need to comply with the ADA include:
Offices where people go to:
General Requirement
Title II of the ADA requires state/local governments to give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all of their programs, services, and activities. State/local governments cannot deny people with disabilities the chance to participate in programs available to others and they cannot make them participate in different programs than those available to everyone else.
Specific Requirements
The ADA also includes specific requirements for state/local governments. For example, if you are part of a state/local government you must:
You can also learn about these and other requirements in the State and Local Government Primer.
Upcoming Webinar: Livestreaming for Emergency Management Join Switchboard Live and SoSu TV (SoSu.TV: Innovative Government Video Production, Reno, NV) for an exclusive JAG members-only special session on live streaming in emergency management situations. We’ll cover best practices, platform redundancy, and real-world applications for emergency response teams. Join us on Wednesday November 12th, 11AM Register here.
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Category: Latest JAG News, President's Message