Navigating ADA Compliance for Government Sites
Why ADA Compliance for Government Websites is Required
By 2026–2027, every township and city must have an ADA-compliant website according to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. The Department of Justice has made it clear: website accessibility is no longer optional — it’s the law. But more importantly, it’s about making sure every resident has equal access to the information they need to participate in community life.
Today, residents rely on websites more than ever for essential services: finding meeting agendas and minutes, accessing voting information, checking health and safety updates, or looking up transportation schedules. When your website isn’t accessible, just like steps at a building entrance without a ramp, people with disabilities are denied equal access to this critical information.
Those who are blind need the website to be readable by screen readers, those who are deaf or hard of hearing need captions on videos, and those who can’t use a mouse need the site to be able to handle voice recognition. A poorly designed website creates digital barriers that block access to the information they need.
The Challenge for Municipalities
Many townships and municipalities are challenged by ADA compliance requirements because of the difficulty, cost and time commitment. DOJ estimates the following average annual costs per small entity using a 3 percent discount rate: county ($9,601), municipality ($18,269), and township ($15,135). But the flip side of not having an ADA compliant website is even more concerning, as just the first-time penalty is $75,000! Guello Marketing helps local governments solve this problem by providing ADA compliant websites starting at only $3,000 and providing an easy system for remediating PDF’s used on the website with different packages to meet their needs.
Some supervisors just hand off the ADA compliance issue to the “guy who built our website” for him to take care of. Unfortunately, this can be a problem too. ADA compliance goes way beyond basic coding—it’s about meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards for screen readers, keyboard navigation, color contrast, and more, which requires specialized training most general developers lack. Supervisors need to ask their website guy:
- Have you completed certified accessibility courses (like IAAP CPACC)?
- What’s your exact process for testing with real users with disabilities?
Even if they claim expertise, a third-party audit will not only confirm the work is done properly, it can also be used in court to show you acted reasonably in order to reduce legal risks.
The risk if your ADA Compliance is not done properly? In addition to the $75,000 penalty for first time violations, subsequent violations go up to $150,000, in addition to legal costs and the actual expense of fixing the website and documents. Having an independent audit, documented remediation, and periodic follow‑up testing is one of the strongest ways for a municipality to reduce both legal and reputational risk if their ADA Compliance is challenged..
The Time Saving Solution
Guello Marketing created a system designed specifically for ADA Compliant websites and PDF Remediation for municipalities, including counties, townships, cities and schools. Our system makes it easy and affordable for municipalities to become and stay ADA compliant according to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards and for the benefit of their residents.
How to Get Started
Achieving ADA compliance is not easy, unless you have Guello Marketing – and then it’s easier than you think.
Guello Marketing developed a streamlined package specifically for townships and municipalities, covering every step from audit to training.
- Schedule an ADA Website Audit
- Receive a Custom Report outlining what’s needed for compliance
- Choose a Plan for remediation and ongoing support
- Launch with Confidence knowing your township website is fully accessible
📞 Call Today: 810 705-0581 Or fill out the form below.
What ADA Compliance Includes
Guello Marketing designs and audits township websites and remediates PDF’s using WCAG 2.1 AA standards, ensuring that your site is both accessible and user-friendly. Here’s what that means for your township or municipality:
Readable, Legible Content
Keyboard Navigation
Screen Reader Compatibility
Accessible PDFs and Documents
Accessible Multimedia
