New HHS Digital Accessibility Requirements: Meet Compliance with Cloverleaf

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, HHS has mandated that organizations with 15 or more employees must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards by May 11, 2026.

If your healthcare organization, educational institution, or entity receives federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, you face an important compliance deadline. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, HHS has mandated that organizations with 15 or more employees must comply with WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards by May 11, 2026. Smaller organizations have until May 10, 2027. These standards ensure websites are accessible to people with disabilities, including those using screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies.

Who Is Affected?

These requirements apply to organizations receiving HHS federal funding, including:

  • Healthcare providers accepting Medicare or Medicaid
  • Hospitals and medical centers
  • Universities and educational institutions with HHS grants
  • Non-profit organizations and social service agencies with HHS funding
  • Research institutions receiving HHS grants

Parallel Public Works Can Help

While retrofitting existing applications is possible, custom work on existing CMS solutions or website builders—particularly in WordPress—can be extremely costly and time-consuming. Migrating your site to Cloverleaf now will allow you to meet these legal requirements seamlessly while taking advantage of all the modern features that Cloverleaf offers, including enhanced security, faster performance, and simplified content management.

Take Action with Parallel Public Works

Starting your compliance journey now provides adequate time to address challenges and avoids last-minute scrambling as deadlines approach. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation to discuss your organization's needs and see how Cloverleaf can provide immediate accessibility compliance.

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