Accessibility and Compliance Standards Every Government Website Must Meet

Is your institution planning a new government website or upgrading an existing one? How do you review web development proposals for your institution’s website project on accessibility standards? And what are some accessibility standards we observe at EnspireFX when developing websites for state agencies and public institutions?

Beyond design and functionality, every public sector website should meet recognised accessibility standards to ensure all citizens can access digital services regardless of disability.

Website accessibility is the practice of designing digital services that can be used by people with visual, motor, auditory, speech, and cognitive impairments. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 1.3 billion people, around one in six people worldwide, experience significant disability.

Accessibility is both a compliance requirement and a practical way to improve user experience, search engine visibility, and overall website performance.

Why Accessibility Matters

So why does accessibility even matter to a public institution’s website? Accessible websites benefit every visitor, and especially people with disabilities. They improve user experience, make websites easier for search engines to understand, increase website traffic, support higher conversion rates, and enable organisations to serve a broader audience.

The Global Accessibility Standard

The international benchmark for website accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

WCAG includes three conformance levels:

• Level A – Basic accessibility requirements.
• Level AA – The most widely adopted standard for government and public sector compliance.
• Level AAA – The highest level of accessibility.

For most public sector organisations, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the recognised technical standard.

The Four WCAG Principles

Every accessible website should be built around four core principles, commonly known as POUR.

1. Perceivable means users must be able to perceive the information presented.
2. Operable means users must be able to navigate and operate the website.
3. Understandable means both the content and user interface should be easy to understand.
4. Robust means the website should function reliably across different browsers, devices, and assistive technologies.

Essential Accessibility Requirements

An accessible government website should include meaningful alternative text for images so screen readers and search engines can understand visual content. Decorative images should not include unnecessary alternative text.

Colour should never be the only method used to communicate information. Text should meet minimum contrast ratios of 4.5:1 for standard text and 3:1 for large text to improve readability.

Web pages should use clear typography and proper heading structures, including semantic HTML such as H1, H2 and H3 tags. Links and call-to-action buttons should clearly describe their purpose instead of using generic labels such as “Click Here” or “More.”

All website functions should be accessible using a keyboard alone. Users should be able to move through interactive elements without becoming trapped, while visible focus indicators should clearly show which element is selected.

Videos should include captions, audio content should provide transcripts, and videos containing essential visual information should include audio descriptions where necessary.

Forms should provide clear labels for every field. When users make mistakes, error messages should identify the affected field and explain the problem using clear text.

Accessibility Statements

Government websites should publish an Accessibility Statement to demonstrate transparency and accountability.

The statement should include:

• The website’s compliance status with WCAG 2.1 or WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
• Any known accessibility issues.
• Contact details for users to report accessibility barriers or request information in alternative formats.
• Information about the relevant enforcement procedure.

Monitoring and Compliance

Accessibility compliance is monitored and enforced in different jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, monitoring is carried out by the Government Digital Service (GDS), while the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Failure to meet accessibility requirements can result in reputational damage, failed compliance audits, and legal disputes.

In April 2024, the United States Department of Justice updated ADA Title II regulations, establishing WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for state and local government websites and mobile applications.

Compliance deadlines are:

• Population of 50,000 or more – 26 April 2027.
• Population below 50,000 – 26 April 2028.
• Special district governments – 26 April 2028.

The regulations identify limited exceptions for archived web content, certain pre-existing electronic documents, third-party content, password-protected personalised documents, and pre-existing social media posts. Even where these exceptions apply, organisations must still provide effective communication when requested through alternative formats.

Accessibility Is an Ongoing Responsibility

Website accessibility is not a one-time exercise. It should be incorporated into website planning, design, development, procurement, and ongoing maintenance.

At EnspireFX, we follow WCAG standards and the POUR principles, and that’s how all government institution website projects we undertake are accessible, compliant, and usable by all citizens and improve overall website performance.