ADA Laws for Dermatologist in Massachusetts

State Law Summary

Federal ADA Requirements (Applies to Most Businesses)

Like every state, businesses in Massachusetts must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The two ADA sections most relevant to websites are:

• Title II — applies to state and local government services
• Title III — applies to private businesses open to the public

Under Title III, businesses classified as public accommodations must provide equal access to their goods and services. Courts increasingly interpret this obligation to include websites and digital services, particularly when a website is connected to a physical location.

Examples of businesses affected include:

• restaurants
• retail stores
• hotels
• banks
• healthcare providers
• professional services.

Because the ADA does not specify a technical website standard, courts and settlements typically rely on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 or 2.1 Level AA as the benchmark for accessibility.

The federal government has also issued guidance stating that inaccessible websites can deny disabled users access to goods and services just as physical barriers would.

Website Compliance Rules

Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law

Massachusetts also has strong disability protections under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272 Section 98, which governs discrimination in places of public accommodation.

The law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in businesses that serve the public. While the statute was originally written for physical locations, courts and legal claims increasingly apply the concept to digital services such as websites.

Potential remedies under Massachusetts law may include:

• injunctive relief (orders to fix the website)
• damages
• attorney’s fees.

Because of this state law, accessibility lawsuits in Massachusetts sometimes include both ADA claims and state discrimination claims.

Damages & Penalties

Massachusetts Enterprise Digital Accessibility Policy (Government Websites)

Massachusetts has established formal accessibility standards for state government websites and digital services.

The state’s Enterprise Digital Accessibility Policy requires state agencies to ensure their websites, documents, and applications are accessible to people with disabilities.

The policy requires digital content to meet:

• WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards
• accessibility requirements for web pages, documents, apps, and multimedia content.

These standards apply to:

• state agency websites
• government web applications
• mobile apps
• digital documents and media published online.

Many Massachusetts government agencies publicly state that their websites are designed to follow WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards.

Federal Rule for Government Websites (2024)

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice finalized a rule clarifying digital accessibility requirements under ADA Title II.

The rule requires state and local government websites and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards.

Compliance deadlines include:

• April 24, 2026 — government entities serving more than 50,000 residents
• April 26, 2027 — smaller jurisdictions.

This rule applies to:

• Massachusetts state agencies
• county and municipal governments
• public universities
• public schools.