Government Web Accessibility Trends for 2025

Between all the government agencies our team talks to, the most common roadblock for their websites is often accessibility. When online platforms fail to accommodate users with disabilities, it leads to exclusion and disenfranchisement. Therefore, solving your accessibility issues is crucial for public engagement. 

Citizens are more likely to engage with their government when they can easily access information and services without barriers. This engagement can lead to increased participation in civic activities, such as public events or programs, which are essential for a thriving community. Let’s go over some of the key web accessibility guidelines and techniques you should consider going into 2025.

Compliance with WCAG 2.2 and Anticipation of WCAG 3.0

WCAG 2.2, released by the W3C, builds on WCAG 2.1 with added focus areas that are particularly relevant for public sector websites, such as improved support for people with cognitive and learning disabilities. This includes requirements for better keyboard focus indicators, new guidelines for touch target size and spacing, and measures to help users manage time limits on content. 

By adopting WCAG 2.2 standards, government agencies move closer to offering a digital environment that is accessible to all community members, enabling fairer access to online public services and resources.

W3C continues to make the web a better place by refining and adding to its standards, with the anticipated WCAG 3.0 draft currently in progress.

User Experience Trends

User experience is not only important for those with disabilities, but it’s crucial for all users. Let’s go over a few components to keep in mind when designing and developing a seamless user experience.

Universal Design Principles

State and local governments are increasingly adopting universal design principles, which focus on creating websites that are accessible, intuitive, and functional for all users, regardless of ability. Universal design goes beyond mere compliance with accessibility standards by fostering a user-centered approach that values inclusivity from the outset. 

Nonprofit organizations like the World Wildlife Fund have effectively embraced user-centric design principles, creating websites that are clean, simple to navigate, and free of clutter. Their sites incorporate well-structured HTML tags and semantic elements, enhancing both usability and accessibility.

Personalization Features

Personalization is rapidly becoming a core aspect of accessible web design, as adaptive technologies allow users to adjust their browsing experience to meet their specific needs. Government websites are increasingly offering options like adjustable text sizes, various color contrast settings, and flexible layouts that adapt to different screen orientations and preferences. 

These features give users greater control, allowing them to modify visual and structural elements to create a more comfortable and accessible experience. For example, someone with low vision may prefer larger text or high-contrast color schemes, while individuals with cognitive disabilities might benefit from simplified layouts. 

Hounder has helped San Bernardino County Schools implement personalization and enhance the user experience on their Cradle to Career website as a result. Visitors are prompted to identify themselves as a parent, educator, or another role, and the content is then filtered to meet their specific needs, providing a more personalized and relevant experience from the start.

Mobile Accessibility

As mobile device usage continues to grow, particularly for accessing public services on the go, optimizing for those screen sizes has become critical for state and local government websites. Designing with mobile accessibility in mind involves creating responsive layouts, optimizing load times, and ensuring all interactive elements are easily usable on smaller screens. By focusing on mobile-first design, government websites are more equipped to support a wider audience, offering convenient access to essential services.

Descriptive ALT Text

Going into 2025, descriptive ALT text is becoming increasingly important, especially for those who use screen readers. Make sure that the ALT text you use on images is accurate to what the visual depicts, and it’s useful for the reader to understand alongside the content on your page. This will naturally boost the user experience of your web pages significantly.

AI Assistive Technologies

With the rise of AI technology, there are numerous tools that can help users digest and comprehend information on websites. 

AI Captioning

One significant advancement is the integration of AI-powered real-time captioning on video platforms. Google, among others, has developed tools that generate AI-driven subtitles for both pre-recorded and live video content, including live streams. This capability is particularly beneficial for individuals who are hard of hearing, non-native speakers, or anyone consuming content in a noisy environment. The AI can process audio input in real-time, transcribe spoken words, and display them as text on the screen, allowing users to follow along without sound.

AI Voice Assistants

AI voice assistants, such as Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri, are becoming increasingly integrated with websites and mobile applications, offering hands-free navigation and interaction. These voice-activated AI systems allow users to interact with websites through spoken commands, which is a game-changer for individuals with physical disabilities who may struggle with traditional input devices like keyboards. 

This is why it’s crucial in 2025 to optimize your content for voice search since many users are switching to consuming content through this method. Unlike traditional text-based searches, voice search queries are often more conversational and longer, reflecting how people naturally speak. For instance, instead of typing "best pizza near me," a user might ask, "What’s the best pizza place open near me right now?" This shift requires businesses to adapt their SEO strategies to capture voice queries by focusing on natural language, long-tail keywords, and question-based content.

AI-Powered Screen Readers

AI-powered screen readers can provide a more intuitive description of complex content through natural language processing (NLP). For example, instead of simply reading the alt text of an image, AI can analyze the image's contents and describe its context more comprehensively, improving the user experience for visually impaired individuals.

These are just a few examples of how AI is enhancing web accessibility, and it’s essential to design and write your content with these tools in mind. By optimizing your website to work seamlessly with AI-driven technologies, you make your content more accessible and user-friendly for a diverse range of visitors.

Accessibility Optimization Tools

AI-powered tools are transforming accessibility testing by automating the identification of potential issues on government websites. These tools can quickly scan entire websites, detecting common accessibility barriers like missing alt text, insufficient color contrast, or improper heading structures. 

Unlike manual testing, which can be time-intensive and prone to human error, automated testing tools allow for continuous quick and easy issue identification and resolution. 

For example, platforms like WAVE are frequently utilized to conduct quick accessibility checks and compile detailed reports. Other tools like Siteimprove offer convenient plugins for platforms such as WordPress to make accessibility testing even easier. Google Lighthouse is another great option that can perform a variety of audits for accessibility, SEO, website performance, and more.

Video Accessibility and Multimedia Compliance

Videos and other multimedia on your website should be optimized to be fully accessible for all users. Achieving this level of accessibility involves using several key techniques.

Auto-Captioning and Transcription Technologies

Accurate auto-captioning and transcription tools are becoming essential for accessibility, especially as technology now allows for real-time captions with greater precision. These tools help agencies quickly generate captions for videos, making content more accessible to those with hearing impairments. Transcriptions also allow users to engage with multimedia in a text format, enhancing accessibility across various media.

Descriptive Audio and Visual Accessibility

Audio descriptions provide useful context for visually impaired users, narrating visual elements like actions, expressions, and scene changes. These descriptions make video content more inclusive, allowing all users to experience key visual details. Additionally, features like adjustable playback speeds and accessible media players support a range of needs, benefiting individuals with cognitive disabilities or language barriers as well.

Regulatory Changes Impacting Multimedia Content

New standards and guidelines increasingly require multimedia accessibility in government content. Updates to WCAG and Section 508, for example, now emphasize captions, descriptive audio, and live interpreter options for video content.

Invest in Training and Awareness for Government Staff

To promote accessibility on your website, it’s essential to train the staff responsible for editing and posting content in accessibility best practices.

Agencies continue to focus their concerns on accessibility from the start of content creation and development. You should make sure staff are trained to integrate accessibility principles for every aspect of the website. This proactive approach helps identify and address accessibility needs early on, rather than retrofitting changes after content is published. 

Don’t forget to also leverage user feedback on your website, then use it to make improvements that provide equal access for all individuals.