U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION

Product and Disability Rights Section

RANDY ABRAMSON​

Product Manager

VERONICA WILLIAMSON​

Product Owner - ADA.gov modernization project

CINDY NELSON​

ADA.gov Web Content Manager

KRISTIN STITCHER​

Attorney Advisor

The ADA.gov product and DRS team embarked on a redesign of ADA.gov to simplify ADA guidance and empower users to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and understand their rights. Through human-centered design and user testing, they created a modern, user-centered website with intuitive navigation and easy-to-understand text, adhering to USWDS design standards.

 

The team introduced "overviews of featured topics" that underwent a quality control process, providing plain language explanations and using icons to enhance understanding. These overviews offer clear guidance on what is permissible and what is not within the ADA guidelines, addressing common questions. To enhance user interaction, the team developed an information architecture that enables seamless navigation between documents of varying complexity. The site offers different levels of content, catering to both beginners and those seeking more advanced information, ensuring accessibility for all users.

 

By embracing agile methodologies and human-centered design, the team successfully launched the new ADA.gov site while managing other responsibilities within the Civil Rights Division. Since its launch, the new ADA.gov site has maintained visit counts, with users spending less time on the site, indicating improved efficiency in information retrieval.

 

The new ADA.gov site serves as a valuable resource for the public, making ADA guidance more accessible and reducing the need for elementary inquiries. This optimization of assistance allows staff to allocate their time and expertise more effectively.