About

The Public Library Web Accessibility Advocates (PLWAA) is a coalition dedicated to advancing and upholding digital accessibility compliance within the public library sector.

Our team includes certified accessibility professionals who conduct manual WCAG 2.1 Level AA testing, individuals who rely on assistive technology, and advisors with expertise in usability and federal civil rights law. We focus exclusively on taxpayer-supported libraries and base all actions on verifiable evidence, neutrality, and documented noncompliance under Title II of the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Why PLWAA Was Created

PLWAA was formed in response to widespread and persistent digital inaccessibility in public institutions, despite clear federal requirements. Our research has identified several root causes:

  • Systemic Neglect of Civil Rights: A persistent failure to treat digital accessibility as a legal and ethical civil rights obligation.
  • Unverified Vendor Claims: Reliance on “accessible” product labels without requiring empirical proof, such as manual testing reports against WCAG 2.1 AA standards across diverse assistive technologies.
  • Negligent Procurement Processes: A lack of independent verification and a tendency to adopt “boilerplate” accessibility statements that repeat vendor inaccuracies without scrutiny.
  • Operational Gaps: Chronic underinvestment in staff training and a lack of administrative oversight to ensure ongoing compliance.

These failures have resulted in public resources supporting systems that effectively deny patrons with disabilities equal and independent access to information and services.

Mission & Values

Mission: To uphold the civil right to digital access by driving ADA Title II compliance across state and local library systems through verified evidence and, when necessary, formal complaint and escalation processes.

Core Values:

  • Accountability: Digital access is a non-negotiable civil right under federal law
  • Equity: All patrons deserve equal, independent access to community resources
  • Integrity: Evaluations are neutral, transparent, and strictly evidence-based
  • Due Process: Formal complaints follow documented non-compliance and failed voluntary resolution efforts