6 Common Government Website Accessibility Issues and How to Fix Them (WCAG 2.1 AA)

Staff Reporter

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Government Websites: Accessibility Misses and Fixes Beyond Compliance
Source: Web Accessibility in Government: Common Misses and Practical Fixes by Lindsey Markel, Lullabot (August 20, 2025)

Lullabot's Lindsey Markel highlights six common accessibility pitfalls on government websites and offers practical fixes in light of the U.S. Department of Justice's April 2024 ADA update, which now requires WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance. Issues include inaccessible PDF-heavy content, missing or vague alt text, poor color contrast, navigation that fails keyboard users, inaccessible forms, and unclear "read more" links. Each is paired with actionable solutions-such as converting key PDFs to HTML, refining alt text for meaning, testing contrast with multiple tools, and labeling form fields properly.

Markel stresses that accessibility should go beyond legal checkboxes, becoming part of agency culture to truly serve citizens. While quick wins (PDF cleanup, alt text audits, keyboard testing) are possible, lasting improvements require empathy, structured workflows, and embedding accessibility into every stage of development. This shift not only avoids lawsuits but also strengthens trust between government and constituents.

Reference: Web Accessibility in Government: Common Misses and Practical Fixes by Lindsey Markel, Lullabot (20 August 2025)

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