Legal Guidelines for Interactive Media

[Author: Bill Fischer]

Overview

This is my interpreted checklist of the legal requirements for interactive media as outlined by Title II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 508 of the rules for Educational and Governmental Institutions. Federal departments and agencies, some state governments, educational institutions, and some federal grantees, are required to meet section 508 regulations, which were last updated in 2018. This requires compliance to WCAG 2.2 level AA (Web Content Accessibility Guideline) plus some additional requirements under 508. Websites, mobile, and desktop apps and games that can be considered places of public accommodation (those offering services that are similar to those that are or have been offered in physical locations) also need to comply, will need to comply or, in some cases, alternative modes of access may be offered. 

A photograph of many instructional street signs in a cityscape

The three primary regulatory components

The WCAG 2.2 AA Specifications

You can find the official requirements in their original legal language at the Elsevier accessibility checklist website (external link).

Read the fact sheet for the 2024 updated ADA regulation for digital accessibility for web content and mobile app (external link).

Visit this WebAim technical guide for screen reader compatibility (external link) for help with organizing, writing, and code development.



A summary of The Guidelines

The Four Principles of Accessibility

Anyone who wants to use the Web must have content that is:



Navigation




Links




Layout




Text




Images