Free WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliance Project Manager Checklist — The Local Edge Tools
What Is WCAG and Why Does It Matter?
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
The new ADA rule for accessibility, establishes WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard for web content and mobile applications for state and local governments.
The Importance of Compliance
The push for web accessibility is not just regulatory: there is a notable rise in ADA website accessibility lawsuits. Between January 2025 and June 2025, U.S. courts saw 2,014 additional website accessibility lawsuits, representing a 37% increase from the same period in 2024.
Deadlines for Compliance
If your state or local government serves fewer than 50,000 people, your compliance deadline is April 26, 2027. This also applies to special districts.
If your population served is 50,000 or more, the deadline is April 24, 2026.
The Local Edge Podcast Episode 1 – WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliance for Local Governments
Live preview (read-only): Click to open the live preview in your browser
Free Project Management Resource
To assist with compliance, I developed a Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Project Manager Success Criteria Checklist for Level 2.1, Level AA. It is structured in Google Sheets, but you can easily download it as a Microsoft Excel file if your organization uses the Microsoft Suite. Please note that some checklist features may not transfer perfectly, but all the necessary data will be available for you to use and adapt as needed.
The checklist is derived from the full WCAG manual, breaking it down into actionable items to facilitate your website’s accessibility upgrade.
Get your own editable copy (free forever):
The tool covers four main WCAG principles:
Perceivable
Operable
Understandable
Robust
For each guideline, there are live links for further reading, and columns to track compliance status, assigned tasks, completion dates, and notes. This resource is designed to be practical and easy to use, allowing project managers to track progress efficiently.
