Fact Sheet: Title II

Why State and Local Governments Must Make Digital Information Accessible

Americans increasingly rely on websites and apps to get timely information and services from state and local government entities. But for people who are blind or have low vision, and those with other disabilities, government websites and apps aren’t always accessible. They may not work with the technology people who are blind or low vision use to read digital materials, making it difficult or impossible for people to get the information and services they need.

Good strides were made in 2024, when the Biden administration announced a final rule for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The rule will require state and local governments to make their websites and apps accessible to people with disabilities. It will also set a consistent standard for website accessibility.

AFB’s research has shown the challenges of not being able to access government programs and services online. These include a loss of time, effort, and money as well as exclusion from education, telehealth, and employment opportunities.

The new rule will have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people with disabilities. It will improve access to public education, voting, benefits delivery, healthcare, employment training, public utilities, transit services, business licensing, and much more. But as AFB’s research shows, there’s still work to do so that all technology is accessible to everyone.

What AFB’s Research Found

A number of studies conducted by AFB showed that a lack of access to digital tools like websites and apps create unnecessary barriers for people who are blind or low vision.

Students often struggle to access digital materials.

In AFB’s Barriers to Digital Inclusion Study (BDIS), 88% of college students reported problems accessing course websites and 84% had problems with course apps. Both groups said the access problems happened at least some of the time.
In an AFB study about COVID-19’s impact on blind and low vision adults, 56 higher education students reported dropping a class, taking an incomplete, leaving their program, or having to file an official complaint. This was because courses were not accessible online or in a hybrid setting. Hybrid courses combine in-person and at-home learning.
In November 2020, 60% of educators surveyed by AFB said their K-12 students who were blind or had low vision could not access at least one digital classroom tool or program. Another 35% reported that their students could not access at least two tools.

Websites and apps for local transit, public benefits, and other services are not always accessible.

During AFB’s BDIS survey research, 80% of people surveyed had problems with transit websites at least some of the time. Another 74% had problems with transit-related mobile apps at least occasionally.
Similar rates of accessibility problems were reported for looking up information on public benefits. Examples include Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Participants in AFB’s BDIS Phase 2 diary study reported an average of 12 accessibility problems per week with websites, mobile apps, and public digital kiosks. When they faced an accessibility problem, it took them about twice as long to do the task. In 23% of cases, they had to get help from a sighted person to do a task, and in 20% of cases they couldn’t solve the problem and had to give up on the task they were doing online.

Accessibility problems with websites and apps for learning, transit, and necessary public benefits cause people to lose their independence and privacy. It also makes them feel frustrated and socially excluded. In the Barriers to Inclusion diary survey:

77% of participants said access barriers make them frustrated.
78% said they lose independence.
55% said they lose privacy because they have to disclose information to a sighted person to get assistance.
45% said they feel socially excluded.

One survey respondent wrote: “Inaccessible Web sites make me feel ashamed because I can't understand the site as sighted people can. I feel inferior to sighted people. They also make me feel inadequate.”