While government may not be the single most-sued industry in Illinois, IL sees 150+/year ADA web lawsuits annually. Plaintiff attorneys are expanding their targeting beyond traditional high-risk industries, and government websites in Illinois are increasingly in the crosshairs.
Title II compliance deadline
DOJ enforcement settlements
Government sites with violations
Under Illinois Human Rights Act, government businesses in Illinois face specific liability for website accessibility violations. Illinois provides state-level protections for disability discrimination. Chicago is an active filing jurisdiction for ADA web accessibility cases. This means that a single accessibility complaint against your government website could result in statutory damages, attorney's fees, and mandatory remediation.
Government services must be equally available to all citizens. The DOJ's 2024 ADA Title II rule explicitly requires WCAG 2.1 AA compliance for state and local government websites, with deadlines in 2026 and 2028 based on population size.
Inventory all public-facing web content and prioritize essential services — online payments, permit applications, and public records — for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance before the April 2026 deadline. Convert all scanned documents, meeting minutes, and public notices to tagged accessible PDFs or HTML with proper heading structure and reading order. Build text-based search alternatives for GIS tools, zoning maps, and parcel viewers so residents can access property and land use information without relying on visual maps. Ensure emergency alert systems use proper ARIA live regions and that all emergency information is available in accessible text format.
Illinois courts have recognized websites as places of public accommodation under both federal and state law. Government businesses in Illinois should treat ADA website compliance as an urgent priority given the state's enforcement environment and the industry's high target profile.
Yes. Under both the federal ADA and Illinois Human Rights Act, government businesses in Illinois that serve the public must ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
Illinois sees 150+/year ADA web accessibility lawsuits per year across all industries. Government is increasingly targeted in IL. Lawsuits typically settle for $10,000-$75,000+.
The most common violations for government websites include public records in inaccessible pdf format, permit/license application forms with missing labels, meeting agendas posted as images of text. These issues are the primary targets for ADA plaintiff attorneys in Illinois.
Under Illinois Human Rights Act, government businesses can face statutory damages, compensatory damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief. Defense costs alone typically exceed $25,000, making proactive compliance far more cost-effective.
Free WCAG 2.1 AA scan. Get AI-generated code fixes before a IL lawsuit finds you.
Scan Your Site Free