Preparing Missouri Municipal Websites for Digital Accessibility Requirements

For local governments, a website is an important connection point between a community and the services, information, and resources residents rely on. Ensuring those digital experiences are accessible to everyone has long been an important part of creating a user-focused municipal website, and evolving accessibility requirements are giving Missouri municipalities another reason to make it a priority.

With accessibility standards and federal compliance deadlines in place, municipalities across Missouri have an opportunity to look beyond simply meeting requirements and consider how accessibility can be built into their websites for the long term.

 

Missouri has established accessibility standards for information and communication technology (ICT) based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The Missouri State ICT as of 2026 uses WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA as its guideline, reflecting the state's broader commitment to accessible digital information and services.

 

For municipalities, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides an important framework for digital accessibility. Under Title II of the ADA, the U.S. Department of Justice has established technical requirements for state and local government websites and mobile applications, using WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard.

 

Compliance timelines vary based on the population of the public entity. State and local governments with a total population of 50,000 or more are required to comply by April 26, 2027, while governments with a total population of fewer than 50,000 and special district governments have until April 26, 2028. While these deadlines provide municipalities with time to prepare, building accessibility into a website from the beginning can make compliance easier to achieve, and maintain over time.

 

Addressing accessibility during a website redesign provides an opportunity to consider how residents will interact with the website before design and development decisions are finalized.

 

At Upanup, we are committed to creating accessible web solutions that meet and exceed our clients' requirements, going beyond the current WCAG 2.1 Level AA technical standard established by the DOJ. Accessibility considerations are incorporated throughout our municipal website projects, from early planning and user experience through design, development, content, and quality assurance.

 

This approach is being put into practice as we expand our work with local governments across various regions. By incorporating accessibility requirements into the project from the outset, the new website is being built with both current requirements and the community's long-term digital needs in mind.

 

Launching an accessible website is an important milestone, but municipalities should also consider what happens after launch. Websites continually change as staff publish new documents, upload media, add images and introduce new online services.

 

Ongoing accessibility monitoring plays an important role in maintaining accessibility over time. Through Upanup's experience working with municipal clients, we have seen how regular monitoring and clear, actionable recommendations help organizations achieve stronger accessibility performance by keeping accessibility a consistent priority rather than a one-time consideration. Equipping municipal staff with the knowledge and tools to create accessible content can further support these efforts, helping preserve accessibility improvements made during a website redesign and proactively address new barriers as websites evolve.

 

For Missouri municipalities preparing for upcoming federal requirements, the goal does not have to be simply reaching compliance by a particular date. It's an opportunity to create digital experiences that better serve every resident, strengthen community connections, and make essential services and resources easier for everyone to access.

 

Preparing your municipal website for evolving digital accessibility requirements? Connect with us to learn more about our accessible website solutions, including our accessibility maintenance services, innovative products, and learn how we support local governments throughout the website lifecycle.