The National Federation of the Blind filed a federal lawsuit on May 21, 2026, challenging the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services after both agencies abruptly delayed web accessibility compliance deadlines that were set to take effect this spring. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, argues the delays violate federal administrative law and leave millions of people with disabilities unable to access essential government services online.

The DOJ and HHS issued interim final rules in April and May 2026 pushing back compliance dates by one year. The DOJ rule covers state and local government websites under ADA Title II, while the HHS rule applies to entities receiving federal health funding under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Both rules require websites and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

What Changed

The DOJ delayed its April 24, 2026 compliance deadline to April 26, 2027, for governments serving populations of 50,000 or more. Smaller governments and special districts saw their deadline pushed from April 26, 2027, to April 26, 2028. The HHS rule, which covers hospitals, health clinics, and state disability services agencies receiving HHS funding, delayed its May 11, 2026 deadline to May 11, 2027.

The technical standards themselves didn't change. Websites and mobile apps must still meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The delays affect only the enforcement timeline.

According to the NFB press release, the regulations finalized in April and May 2024 came after more than 16 years of rulemaking and public engagement. The lawsuit contends the agencies violated the Administrative Procedure Act by issuing the delays without providing a public comment period and without demonstrating that new information justified the change.

Who Is Affected

The rules apply to thousands of government entities nationwide. K-12 public schools, community colleges, state universities, city and county governments, public libraries, and state disability services agencies all fall under the compliance requirements.

For people with disabilities, the delays mean another year without guaranteed access to government websites. Parents can't access IEP portals, apply for school enrollment, or review district policies without calling or visiting in person. Adults using screen readers face barriers when applying for disability benefits, paying utility bills through municipal portals, or scheduling telehealth appointments through state health systems.

The NFB lawsuit specifically cites the inability of blind individuals to independently access services that non-disabled people complete online in minutes.

What This Means for Families

The one-year delay doesn't eliminate web accessibility obligations under the ADA. Title II's underlying requirements for nondiscrimination and effective communication remain in effect. Government entities have been on notice since the ADA was signed in 1990 that their services must be accessible.

What changed in 2024 was the adoption of a clear technical standard. Before that, there was no federal consensus on what "accessible" meant for government websites. The WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard provides specific, testable criteria covering text alternatives for images, keyboard navigation, color contrast, and compatibility with assistive technology like screen readers.

The DOJ interim final rule states the agency "fully anticipates implementing the regulation at the new deadline," suggesting enforcement actions may follow in April 2027. Until then, families encountering inaccessible government websites can still file ADA complaints based on the existing Title II obligations.

What Families Can Do Now

If you encounter a government website you can't access due to a disability, you have options:

• File an ADA complaint with the DOJ Civil Rights Division. The underlying Title II obligations remain in effect even though the technical standard deadline was delayed. You can file online at civilrights.justice.gov.
• Contact the government entity directly. Many agencies have ADA coordinators who handle accessibility requests. Ask for an alternative way to access the service or file a formal complaint under the entity's grievance procedures.
• Document the barrier. Note the specific page or function you couldn't access, the assistive technology you were using, and what you were trying to accomplish. This information strengthens any complaint you file.

You can also follow the NFB lawsuit. If the court vacates the interim final rules, the original 2026 compliance deadlines would be reinstated. The NFB is asking the court to declare the delays illegal and order the agencies to enforce the original timelines.

The case is National Federation of the Blind v. U.S. Department of Justice, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Court documents are publicly available through PACER or may be published on the NFB website as the case progresses.

What's Next

The lawsuit is in its early stages. The DOJ and HHS will file responses, and the court will decide whether to hold oral arguments or rule based on written briefs. A decision could take several months.

In the meantime, government entities that planned to comply with the original April 2026 deadline may continue their accessibility work voluntarily. Some state and local governments have already adopted WCAG 2.1 standards as policy, independent of federal enforcement timelines.

For families navigating inaccessible government websites right now, the enforcement timeline matters less than the immediate barrier. You don't need to wait for a court ruling to assert your right to accessible services. The ADA's Title II obligations have been the law for more than three decades.