Lansing Website Accessibility & WCAG Guide

Technology and Data Michigan 4 Minutes Read · published March 01, 2026 Flag of Michigan

Lansing, Michigan public entities and contractors should design websites that meet recognized accessibility standards so people with disabilities can access online services and information. This guide summarizes applicable law, practical steps to implement WCAG-based accessibility, how enforcement works, and where to submit complaints in Lansing.

Scope & Applicable Standards

Public entities in Lansing are subject to federal nondiscrimination obligations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Many city departments and the city website follow WCAG 2.1 AA as the technical standard for web content and document accessibility; specific departmental policies and the City's contact details are on the City of Lansing accessibility page (City accessibility page)[1]. Federal enforcement and guidance on Title II accessibility are administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, which provides technical and legal guidance for public entities (DOJ Title II guidance)[2].

Start by auditing public-facing content and prioritizing high-traffic services.

Practical Compliance Steps

  • Conduct a full accessibility audit against WCAG 2.1 AA and document findings.
  • Create or update an accessibility statement describing conformance level and contact options.
  • Remediate templates, PDFs, video captions, and interactive applications based on prioritized risk.
  • Adopt a remediation timeline for high-priority issues and publicize expected completion dates.
  • Provide an accessible complaint and alternative-access channel (phone, email, or paper).
WCAG provides testable criteria; many US public bodies use WCAG 2.1 AA as the target standard.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for inaccessible websites affecting Lansing public services can arise under federal law (ADA Title II) or through administrative complaint channels. Specific monetary fines or per-day penalties for website noncompliance are not specified on the cited city page; federal enforcement remedies are set out by the Department of Justice and may include injunctive relief and technical compliance orders rather than predetermined fines on the municipal page cited below (City accessibility page)[1].

  • Fines/monetary penalties: not specified on the cited City page; federal remedies may vary based on case and are handled by DOJ or courts.
  • Escalation: first complaints typically prompt an opportunity to remediate; repeat or systemic failures can lead to administrative action or litigation (not specified on the cited City page).
  • Non-monetary sanctions: injunctive relief, binding remedial plans, monitoring, and court orders are available under federal law.
  • Enforcer and complaint pathway: City of Lansing accessibility contact for local resolution and the U.S. Department of Justice for federal Title II complaints (DOJ Title II guidance)[2].
  • Appeals and review: court review of enforcement orders; time limits for filing administrative complaints with DOJ vary—see DOJ guidance for specific deadlines (not specified on the City page).
If local remedies do not resolve the issue, federal complaint routes may be available.

Applications & Forms

The City of Lansing does not publish a city-specific web-accessibility permit or universal remediation form on its public accessibility page; the page lists contact methods for reporting accessibility problems and requesting alternatives. For federal complaints, DOJ provides instructions on filing Title II complaints on its site (DOJ Title II guidance)[2].

Common Violations

  • PDFs/images lacking accessible text alternatives or proper tagging.
  • Forms and interactive widgets not reachable or usable by keyboard or assistive tech.
  • Video content without captions or audio descriptions where needed.

Action Steps for Lansing Agencies

  • Run automated scans and manual testing with assistive technologies.
  • Prioritize critical user journeys (payments, licensing, forms) for immediate remediation.
  • Publish an accessibility statement with contact and estimated timelines for fixes.
  • Provide an accessible channel to report issues and request alternatives; record and track requests.
Document remediation decisions and maintain versioned records to demonstrate good-faith efforts.

FAQ

What standard should Lansing city websites follow?
Most Lansing departments aim to meet WCAG 2.1 AA; applicable legal obligations are under ADA Title II. See the City accessibility page for departmental details.[1]
How do I report an inaccessible Lansing city web page?
Report via the City of Lansing accessibility contact methods on the city page; if unresolved, you may file a federal Title II complaint with the U.S. DOJ.[1][2]
Are there published fines for noncompliance?
The City page does not list specific fines for web accessibility; federal enforcement typically seeks injunctive relief and remediation plans rather than fixed municipal fines on the cited page.[1]

How-To

  1. Inventory all public-facing web content, applications, and documents to create a scope for remediation.
  2. Run automated accessibility scans and supplement with manual keyboard and screen-reader testing.
  3. Prioritize fixes for essential services (payments, permits, forms) and tag documents for remediation.
  4. Publish or update an accessibility statement with contact details and expected remediation timelines.
  5. Establish a complaint intake and tracking process; attempt local resolution before escalating to federal complaint routes.
  6. Train content authors and developers on WCAG techniques to prevent regressions.

Key Takeaways

  • Follow WCAG 2.1 AA as the practical technical standard for Lansing public websites.
  • Document audits, remediation plans, and complaint responses to show good-faith compliance efforts.
  • Use the City accessibility contact first; DOJ Title II is the federal enforcement pathway if local resolution fails.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Lansing accessibility page
  2. [2] U.S. Department of Justice - ADA Title II guidance

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