Accessibility Laws and Regulations

Beware of AI Accessibility Promises: US Federal Agency Fines an Overlay Company One Million Dollars After public comments, the Federal Trade Commission finalizes Order against accessiBe for misleading advertising

Posted on Updated on June 6, 2025
The new year brought weclomed digital accessibility news from the United States Federal Trade Commission, known as the FTC. The FTC is a federal (national) government agency whose mission is “protecting the public from deceptive or unfair business practices and from unfair methods of competition.” On January 3, 2025, the FTC issued a press release… Read more… Beware of AI Accessibility Promises: US Federal Agency Fines an Overlay Company One Million Dollars After public comments, the Federal Trade Commission finalizes Order against accessiBe for misleading advertising

Kiosk Accessibility: The Law is Paying Attention

Posted on Updated on June 6, 2025
[Latest UpdateJune 28, 2022] Digital accessibility is not just about websites, and the law is taking notice. This post, updated with new developments, highlights cases about kiosk accessibility. I use the term “kiosk” broadly to include tablets and any piece of technology offering services, products, and information. Who will use that technology? People — and that means disabled people. Read more… Kiosk Accessibility: The Law is Paying Attention

Proposed web and software accessibility legislation introduced in United States Congress Bill reintroduced in 2025 after failing to pass in 2023

Posted on Updated on May 30, 2025
On September 28, 2022 the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act was introduced in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. (This is called “bicameral legislation” because the same proposed bill was introduced in both parts (Senate and House ) of the US Congress.) In the Senate the bill was… Read more… Proposed web and software accessibility legislation introduced in United States Congress Bill reintroduced in 2025 after failing to pass in 2023

Hacking Accessible Pedestrian Signals is Not a Joke: It’s a Civil Rights Violation Audible signals are a critical safety tool for Blind pedestrians and advocacy is why we have them

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On April 12, 2025 the top story on the Palo Alto (California) online news site was “Silicon Valley Crosswalk Buttons Apparently Hacked to Imitate Musk, Zuckerberg Voices” It told the story, covered by other media too, of how someone hacked into audible pedestrian signals so they broadcast messages such as “From undermining democracy, to cooking… Read more… Hacking Accessible Pedestrian Signals is Not a Joke: It’s a Civil Rights Violation Audible signals are a critical safety tool for Blind pedestrians and advocacy is why we have them

Accessibility is a Civil Right: Lainey Feingold’s 2025 CSUN Digital Accessibility Legal Update Short article with slide deck and recording

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On March 13, 2025 I offered the United States digital accessibility legal update as a featured presentation at the 40th annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference in Anaheim California. I began attending the conference 25 years ago, and this year was one of many times I’d given the legal update. This time was different. Jump to:… Read more… Accessibility is a Civil Right: Lainey Feingold’s 2025 CSUN Digital Accessibility Legal Update Short article with slide deck and recording

Two Federal Actions Address Disability and Accessibility More on federal DEIA programs and Department of Education processing of complaints

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I recently came across two documents from the trump administration that indicate that the administration may consider disability issues differently than race, gender, and gender identity issues. As explained below, I share these here with some trepidation. Jump to: February 5, 2025 memo from the US Office of Personnel ManagementDepartment of Education lifts freeze on… Read more… Two Federal Actions Address Disability and Accessibility More on federal DEIA programs and Department of Education processing of complaints

Lawsuit filed to Block trump DEIA Executive Orders "In the United States," says the legal complaint, "there is no king."

Posted on Updated on February 23, 2025
I was glad to learn that a lawsuit was filed in federal court challenging two Executive Orders published shortly after trump became president. These sweeping (and unlawful) executive orders attack diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) from many angles. I was also glad to see that the first line of the introduction to the legal… Read more… Lawsuit filed to Block trump DEIA Executive Orders "In the United States," says the legal complaint, "there is no king."

Web Accessibility Lawsuit Moves Forward Against the State of Louisiana Judge refuses to throw case out of court just because deadlines for Title II technical standards are in the future.

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The deadline for state and local governments in the United States to meet the 2024 rule about web and mobile accessibility are coming up in 2026 and 2027, depending on the size of the government agency. I illustrated this article with an image of an hour glass to represent the idea that time is running… Read more… Web Accessibility Lawsuit Moves Forward Against the State of Louisiana Judge refuses to throw case out of court just because deadlines for Title II technical standards are in the future.

Top Lawyers in 16 States Push Back on anti-DEIA Executive Orders "Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility best practices are not illegal"

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February 13, 2025 brought welcome news in the ongoing resistance to the federal executive orders attacking diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiatives is a breath of fresh air (like the flower breaking through pavement illustrating this article) in the face of illegal and unjust pronouncements… Read more… Top Lawyers in 16 States Push Back on anti-DEIA Executive Orders "Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility best practices are not illegal"