The US Department of Justice (DOJ) added digital accessibility requirements to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for Minnesota’s state and local government entities. 

This recap and resources guide summarizes the Office of Accessibility’s multi-part series, designed to help agencies prepare for the April 2026 compliance deadline and build sustainable accessibility practices. This series has guided agencies through every step—from initial self-audit to ongoing quality assurance—so teams can confidently meet requirements and build lasting accessibility improvements.

Series overview

1. Conducting a self-audit :
   • Agencies must assess the accessibility of their digital content, including websites, intranets, mobile apps, and digital documents.
   • Key steps include understanding applicable standards (WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508), assembling a diverse audit team (including people with disabilities), and documenting findings for remediation and reporting.
   • SMART goals help prioritize high-impact fixes and guide remediation efforts.
2. Strategic planning and prioritization :
   • Success begins with executive buy-in and a clear, organization-wide accessibility policy.
   • Designate a digital accessibility lead and convene a cross-functional team (procurement, development, communications, DEI, ADA coordinator).
   • Use audit data to set priorities, focusing on high-traffic sites, frequently used forms, and critical documents.
   • Develop a communications plan to keep leadership, staff, and the public informed and engaged.
3. Implementation :
   • Treat accessibility as an ongoing program, not a one-time project.
   • Assign clear roles and responsibilities (e.g., Accessibility Coordinator), set timelines, and measure progress.
   • Use templates and toolkits to streamline work and ensure consistency.
   • Incorporate both short-term achievable goals and longer-term strategic objectives.
4. Accessibility as a workflow: A Quality Assurance (QA) perspective :
   • Integrate accessibility checks into QA and development workflows.
   • QA teams play a vital role by retesting fixes, using accessible templates, and sharing success stories.
   • Early and repeated testing prevents issues from spreading and supports sustainable improvements.
   • Practical advice from QA professionals: Use built-in tools, focus on new requirements, and support teams with quick answers.

Actionable next steps

Every agency’s journey toward ADA Title II compliance will look different. Some may be just beginning their accessibility efforts, while others are refining established practices. The following steps offer a flexible, adaptable roadmap that can guide your organization no matter where you start:

1. Conduct or update your agency’s accessibility self-audit.
2. Develop or revise your accessibility policy and implementation plan.
3. Assign clear roles and responsibilities (e.g., Accessibility Coordinator).
4. Integrate accessibility checks into QA and development workflows.
5. Plan for ongoing training and support.
6. Review and use accessible templates and built-in tools.

Resources

The following resources connect directly to the topics covered in our articles—from self-audit to implementation and ongoing quality assurance, as well as the DOJ's website. Note: This is not an exhaustive list, it’s meant to help you begin your accessibility journey.

Office of Accessibility

State Standard

• State of Minnesota’s Digital Accessibility Standard  

Articles

• Preparation for update to ADA Title II Series :
  • Conduct a self-audit (first part of this series)
  • Strategic planning and prioritization (second part of this series)
  • Implementation (third part of this series)
  • Accessibility as a workflow: A QA Perspective (fourth part of this series)
• Conforming alternate versions and when to use
• Using built-in software accessibility checkers:
  • Microsoft Word  
  • Microsoft PowerPoint  
  • Adobe Acrobat  
• Website accessibility testing

Training and tools

• Accessibility training
• Minnesota’s 2010-2012 implementation toolkit  

Department of Justice

• Title II – Full Update  
  • Title II Rule fact sheet  

Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C)

• Web Standards page  
• WCAG 2 Overview page  
• Accessibility Fundamentals  

Other Training and Resources

• Accessibility Online webinars  
• International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)  

Final thoughts

Preparing for the ADA Title II update takes commitment, collaboration, and continuous learning. Use this guide and provided resources to enhance your agency’s accessibility practices. Reach out to the Office of Accessibility to share your success stories to inspire others.