On April 20, 2026 the Department of Justice (DOJ) submitted an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to the Federal Register extending the compliance dates by one year for nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in regard to the accessibility of web information and services. As it is currently written, the new effective date for the delayed compliance requirements for organizations of our size is April 26, 2027.
You can find the official rule at: Federal Register: Extension of Compliance Dates for Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities
Key Takeaways
In a practical sense, nothing changes for us as an organization. Thanks to everyone's diligent work, we are one of the leading institutions in the state of Washington when it comes to wholistic digital accessibility. Let's keep up the momentum and continue to be a leader in this work. Not only is it the right thing to do for our community, but remember, we still have to adhere to the following laws and policies:
- ADA Title 2 Subpart H - Web and Mobile Accessibility
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Digital Accessibility Policy | WaTech
- Accessible Technology Policy | Olympic College
Now What?
Stay the course. Not only do we have a legal obligation to provide accessible services, but it is simply the right thing to do. We exist to serve our community, all of our community, to the fullest extent that we can. Efforts are being made by various departments to curate a more holistic training package to ensure that you have the background knowledge and skill set necessary to support the College’s work in this area.
If you want to go into more detail or have questions or concerns and would like this to be explained more thoroughly, please schedule a meeting with Kyle Gonzalez.
