SPECIAL DISTRICTS

Yes. Special district governments are covered by ADA Title II, and the Department of Justice's web accessibility rule gives them their own compliance date: April 26, 2028. Unlike cities and counties, that date applies to every special district regardless of size or the population it serves.

The rule defines a special district government as a public entity, other than a county, city, township, or independent school district, that state law authorizes to provide one or a few functions, and that has enough independence to count as its own government. Water, fire protection, library, park and recreation, transit, hospital, drainage, and utility districts usually fit. Independent school districts are excluded and follow population-based dates instead.

Yes, if they publish the meeting video. The ADA Title II rule applies to the video a district posts online, not to how often its board meets. A district that posts twelve meetings a year has twelve videos that need accessible captions by April 26, 2028.

The ADA Title II rule doesn't require you to publish video, but your state might require other meeting records online. Florida, for example, has required every special district to keep a website with its budget, meeting schedule, and agendas since 2015. Check your state's open meetings and public records laws before deciding what to publish.

It depends on your state and your district's approved records retention schedule. Some states set a specific period for meeting video, and many leave it to a state archivist or the district's own records policy. Ask your counsel or records officer, and check whether the schedule was written before your district started recording meetings.

BoxCast plans have no per-meeting or per-minute captioning fees, so a monthly board meeting, committee meetings and hearings are all covered by one flat price. You can see current pricing on our website without requesting a quote, or try any plan free for 14 days.