Executive Summary
When the U.S. Department of Justice finalized new ADA Title II accessibility requirements, Washington state agencies faced a significant challenge: ensuring government websites and digital services complied with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by April 2026.
Many agencies lacked the internal capacity, tools, and expertise needed to identify and remediate accessibility barriers across complex web environments. Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) recognized that accessibility compliance could not be solved agency by agency. It required an enterprise approach.
Beginning in October 2025, WaTech’s Web Team launched a statewide accessibility initiative using Siteimprove to scan, assess, prioritize, and remediate accessibility barriers across agency websites. WaTech created a shared accessibility service that centralized technology, expertise, and remediation support to help agencies move faster, reduce costs, and improve compliance readiness statewide.
To date, 91 state agency websites have been scanned, including agencies outside WaTech’s direct customer base. Approximately 75% of WaTech-supported websites improved to between 90% and 100% accessibility compliance levels. WaTech absorbed the cost of the enterprise platform and invested more than 500 staff hours supporting statewide remediation efforts.
The initiative created more than a compliance program. It established a scalable statewide framework for improving digital accessibility, reducing barriers for residents with disabilities, and modernizing how Washington delivers digital government services.
