United States Legal Updates

The articles linked on this page are about the law in the United States as it relates to the ability of disabled people to participate in the digital world (digital accessibility). Articles are listed in chronological order based on the date it was written or last updated. Most recent articles and updates appear first. You will find cases about web and mobile access, about kiosks, voting machines, ATMs and other tech.

There is also information about lawsuits, settlements, Structured Negotiation results, and laws. The articles are about Lainey Feingold’s work and the work of other lawyers, clients, organizations, and government agencies. If you are looking only for Lainey Feingold's cases, please visit the Settlements page.

Basic information about laws and policies in the United States can be found on the LFLegal Global Law and Policy page, which also includes resources about digital accessibility law and policy around the globe. Federal (national) accessibility laws can be found here. Information about state and local digital accessibility laws can be found here.

All these articles are for your informational only. They are not legal advice. If you think you have a specific legal question you should contact a lawyer.

Legal Update: Accessibility Overlay Edition

Posted on Updated on December 7, 2023
This post originally shared four developments in the legal space about web accessibility overlays. Three are very troubling. One gives hope for stemming the tide of quick-fix “not-solutions” that can actually make websites less usable by people with disabilities. Updates add new content to the original four developments. New to the overlay issue? I first… Read more… Legal Update: Accessibility Overlay Edition

US Supreme Court Acheson Hotel Case May Impact Web Accessibility Lawsuits

Posted on Updated on December 5, 2023
On Wednesday October 4 the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case about who can file a lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case is called Acheson Hotels vs. Deborah Laufer. Ms. Laufer is a disabled woman. She uses a wheelchair and has a vision impairment and limited use of… Read more… US Supreme Court Acheson Hotel Case May Impact Web Accessibility Lawsuits

Public Comment Sought on Proposed New “Access to Video Conferencing” Rule Published by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

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On August 7, 2023, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially published a proposed rule designed to improve the accessibility of video conferencing and video conferencing platforms for people with disabilities. The FCC is seeking public comment on the proposed Access to Video Conferencing rule. Comments can be submitted until September 6, 2023. The… Read more… Public Comment Sought on Proposed New “Access to Video Conferencing” Rule Published by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Who is to Blame for Delay in ADA Web Access Regs? It’s not the DOJ

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The 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) falls on Wednesday, July 26, in just about two weeks. Will that be the day that official notice of long-promised web accessibility regulations for state and local governments in the United States is finally published? The official notice, called a Notice of Proposed Rule Making… Read more… Who is to Blame for Delay in ADA Web Access Regs? It’s not the DOJ

Two US Government Agencies Address Online Accessibility in Higher Education: Are Regulations Next?

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On May 19, 2023, two United States federal agencies issued what is known as a “Dear Colleague” letter about the importance of digital accessibility in higher education. A Dear Colleague letter is a tool that government agencies use to convey policy, resources, and commitment on various issues. The higher education digital accessibility letter was jointly… Read more… Two US Government Agencies Address Online Accessibility in Higher Education: Are Regulations Next?

Podcasts Need Transcripts: December 2021 lawsuit against SiriusXM

Posted on Updated on August 29, 2022
On December 9, 2021, the National Association of the Deaf (“NAD”) and Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”) filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM, Stitcher, and Pandora. The companies do not provide transcripts or captions for podcasts. (Sirius purchased Stitcher in 2020 for 325 million dollars. In 2019 it acquired Pandora in a $3.5 billion all-stock transaction.) The… Read more… Podcasts Need Transcripts: December 2021 lawsuit against SiriusXM

#ADA32: The ADA has applied to digital for decades

Posted on Updated on August 15, 2022
Recently I had the opportunity to ask an audience the first words that came to mind when I said “law in the digital accessibility space.” I heard what I often hear: “threatening” “ambiguous” “confusing.” Yet I heard something else too. I heard reference to the law in the digital space as a “powerful enabler”and a… Read more… #ADA32: The ADA has applied to digital for decades

Legal Update: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Offices, Championing Digital Access

Posted on Updated on August 8, 2022
During the previous United States presidential administration some very committed disability rights lawyers hunkered down in the Department of Justice (DOJ). They did what they could to protect the Americans with Disabilities Act during that challenging time. But there were very few proactive developments in the digital accessibility space. Today things are different! Recent developments show that the DOJ is once again a champion of disability rights generally and digital accessibility specifically, Read more… Legal Update: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Offices, Championing Digital Access