Simkins & ElgazarArticles on accessibility law and AI rules.
Plain guides to the ADA Title II web rule, Section 508, VPATs and ACRs, WCAG, and the state and federal rules for AI, written by the two principals.
Colorado's New AI Law: What Small Businesses Owe in 2027
From January 1, 2027, Colorado firms that use software to score or screen people for jobs, homes or loans owe notices, explanations and human review.
Council Meeting Video Under Title II: Captions Rules
Title II requires WCAG 2.1 AA: captions for recorded and live meeting video. DOJ set no accuracy number, but auto captions alone are risky.
Connecticut's AI Law and Your Hiring Tools: What Employers Owe Now
Since October 1, 2026, Connecticut says using a hiring tool is no defense to a bias claim. Notices start in 2027. What a small employer should do now.
Which VPAT Edition: WCAG, 508, EN 301 549 or INT?
Use the edition that matches your buyer's standard: 508 for federal, WCAG 2.1 for Title II, EN 301 549 for the EU, INT for all three.
GSA's New AI Clause: What It Asks of Federal Contractors
GSA clause 552.239-7001 applies when you sell an LLM tool that handles government data. It bans training on that data and sets 72-hour incident reports.
How to Evaluate a Vendor's ACR Before You Sign
An ACR is the vendor's own claim. Check it for completeness, spot-check a few criteria, and require an Issue Detail Supplement and contract terms.
How to Find and Control Shadow AI in Your Company
Ask your team, then check app consents, browser extensions and network logs. Control shadow AI with an approved list and an easy way to request tools.
Public Universities and Title II: Course Content Rules
Title II has no course content exception. A public university's LMS and its content must meet WCAG 2.1 AA, even behind a login.
How to Write an AI Acceptable Use Policy for a Small Team
Start with an inventory of the AI tools in use, sort your data, then write short rules for tools, data, review and contractors. Train people on it.
Is a Vendor's Portal Covered by the Title II Web Rule?
Yes. A vendor-run portal is covered when you provide it through a contract or license. What the exception covers and what to do if the vendor won't fix it.
Title II PDFs: What to Fix, Archive, or Delete
New PDFs must meet WCAG 2.1 AA under Title II. Old ones are exempt unless used to get a service. How to sort, archive or remove them.
What Is a NIST AI RMF Assessment and What Does It Cover?
A NIST AI RMF assessment checks your AI use against the framework's 72 subcategories across Govern, Map, Measure and Manage, and records evidence for each.
ADA Title II Web Rule Deadlines: April 2027 and April 2028
Public entities with 50,000+ people must meet WCAG 2.1 AA by April 26, 2027. Smaller entities and special districts have until April 26, 2028.
What Happens After an Accessibility Audit? Re-Testing and Validation Explained
An accessibility audit finds issues, but the process continues after the report. Learn how re-testing works and how to reach full compliance.
WCAG 2.2 vs. WCAG 2.1: What Changed and What It Means for Section 508
WCAG 2.2 added 9 new success criteria. Learn what changed, how it affects Section 508 compliance, and whether you need to update your accessibility testing.
Common VPAT Mistakes That Can Lose You a Government Contract
A poorly prepared VPAT or ACR can eliminate your proposal before technical evaluation begins. Avoid the common mistakes that hurt credibility with buyers.
How to Prepare for a Section 508 Accessibility Audit: A Checklist
Preparing for an accessibility audit reduces cost and turnaround time. Follow this checklist to address common issues before your evaluator arrives.
The Cost of Section 508 Non-Compliance: Risks for Government Contractors
Non-compliance with Section 508 can mean rejected deliverables, lost contracts, and legal liability. Understand the financial and operational risks early.
Manual vs. Automated Accessibility Testing: Why You Need Both
Automated tools catch some accessibility issues, but full Section 508 compliance requires manual testing by a certified Trusted Tester. See what each covers.
How to Read an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)
An ACR documents a product's accessibility conformance level. Learn to interpret conformance levels, evaluate test results, and use an ACR in procurement.
Section 508 vs. ADA vs. WCAG: Understanding the Differences
Section 508, ADA, and WCAG are related but distinct. Learn which applies to your organization, how they overlap, and what each requires.
What Is a VPAT? A Complete Guide to VPATs and ACRs
Learn what a VPAT is, how it becomes an ACR, and why federal contractors need one. Covers VPAT 2.5 format, conformance levels, and common mistakes to avoid.
Why NIST AI RMF Is Now a Federal Procurement Filter
Most contractors treat the NIST AI Risk Management Framework as a suggestion. That was true in 2023. It is not true now.
The Case Against Long Prompts in Regulated AI Deployments
A Stanford study found short prompts outperform long ones. In compliance-regulated industries, that's not just a performance insight. It's a governance requirement.
Anthropic's Project Glasswing Changes What 'Responsible AI' Means for Security
Anthropic just used an unreleased AI model to find a 27-year-old vulnerability in OpenBSD. The implications for enterprise security run in both directions.
What Is Section 508 Compliance? A Guide for Federal Contractors
Section 508 requires federal agencies and their contractors to make digital content accessible. Learn what it means, who it applies to, and how to prepare.