The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 3417) has been reintroduced in the House. This bipartisan legislation aims to create federally enforceable accessibility standards for websites and apps.
I have been advocating for disability rights for over a decade. I’ve seen the cycle more times than I can count.
For this important bill on digital accessibility compliance, we’re hoping it doesn’t die. But here’s how it works at a high level and how you can get involved:
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We propose a bill.
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We find someone to sponsor it, usually with bipartisan support.
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We ask you to contact your representatives to build cosponsor momentum, hoping the bill makes it through committee and onto the floor. Sometimes we push to have it included in a larger bill, like a budget package, because that improves its chances.
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Then two years pass. The bill dies. And the next session, we start over. We ask you to do it all again.
Contents of Why H.R. 3417 and Digital Accessibility Matters
- A Crowded Congress: Competing Priorities in Policy
- Why Digital Accessibility Needs Legal Backing Now
- How H.R. 3417 Clarifies Digital Accessibility Obligations
- Disability Advocacy: When to Speak Up and When to Step Back
- Support H.R. 3417 in Your Own Way
- Next Steps for H.R. 3417 and digital accessibility
A Crowded Congress: Competing Priorities in Policy
Everyone is fighting for your attention.
Other groups raise concerns about other bills that are likely to pass this year. They urge you to contact your representatives about specific proposals in the federal budget. They ask you to fight for something completely unrelated to disability rights.
Why Digital Accessibility Needs Legal Backing Now
The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act is important because, right now, digital accessibility lives in a legal gray area.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed before the internet was central to everyday life. Courts have interpreted the ADA to cover websites and apps, but businesses continue to claim they aren’t legally required to make their platforms accessible.
If your agency or organization is unsure whether your website is truly accessible, DARTSuite offers trusted manual testing services tailored for public sector and enterprise environments. Our experts ensure your site meets WCAG standards—before inaccessibility becomes a compliance issue.
How H.R. 3417 Clarifies Digital Accessibility Obligations
This bill eliminates the ambiguity surrounding digital accessibility compliance and how to achieve it. It would give disabled people a clearer legal path when we’re denied access to online services. It would shift the burden away from individuals having to file lawsuits and put more responsibility on businesses to do what they should have done years ago.
Disability Advocacy: When to Speak Up and When to Step Back
Some of you may read this and think, "Okay, but why fight for a longshot bill? Why not resist this budget cut instead, or advocate for that issue?"
Others may be thinking, "I’d love to help, but it feels hopeless. I’d rather focus on survival."
The reality is that we all have different priorities, based on our values, our energy, and our circumstances. If you have the time and energy to advocate for any issue, that’s something to celebrate. And if you choose this one, even better.
Advocating for disability rights and accessibility is not about fighting every battle or knowing exactly which fight to pick. It’s about doing something. Anything.
And if you’re too tired or too busy to do anything right now, that’s okay too.
Most of us in the disability community, at some point, won’t be able to fight. So we take turns.
"You lift this barrel; I’ll go move that rock. You take a break and drink some water."
That is community.
Too often, we think of ourselves as isolated individuals carrying the weight of the world. And unless we have a concrete disability community around us, it can feel like we’re the only ones doing it. Especially if our friends, families, or coworkers aren’t sympathetic, or simply don’t have the time to take up the cause.
We start to believe we have to fight for our rights, because if not us—then who? That message can be useful. It drives many of us in advocacy. It challenges us to keep going.
But the truth is, when survival is urgent and the world feels heavy, it’s just as vital to know when to fight and when to rest. Burnout can take years to heal from—if we don’t let ourselves step back now, we may not come back at all.
And if we never step up, we miss the experience of building something bigger than ourselves. We miss the real power of interdependence.
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Support H.R. 3417 in Your Own Way
If you do have the energy, and if this is the battle you choose, I urge you to contact your representative and encourage them to cosponsor H.R. 3417.
Whether you send an email or make a phone call, tell them what accessibility means to your ability to work, contribute, and thrive. Remind them that digital accessibility benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. For example:
When the software at my job is accessible, it means less strain on me and better outcomes for my workplace.
When healthcare information is accessible, doctors and disabled patients can communicate more clearly, improving care.
When government websites and applications are accessible, it means people with disabilities can participate fully in local and civic life.
Who wouldn’t want that?
Next Steps for H.R. 3417 and digital accessibility
If you have time, contact your representative.
If you don’t, rest. We’ll lift the barrel while you drink some water. And we’ll trust you to do the same when we need to rest, too.
Thinking about how digital accessibility plays out in real-world decisions?
We dive into those complexities in Accessibility Trade-Offs: When Inclusive Design Creates New Barriers.
And if you’re an employer trying to navigate your responsibilities, check out The Ultimate ADA Compliance Employer Checklist.