How Ignition72 Helped Louisiana Make 16 Websites Fully Accessible

Accessibility work is often talked about as a checklist. In reality, it is a commitment, a strategy, a partnership, and the law.  For public websites that are used by over 50,000 people, their sites are required to be fully accessible. That was exactly the case when Ignition72 was brought in to support Louisiana Economic Development (LED) in making all 16 of its websites accessible.

That was exactly the case when our partner, Mesh in Baton Rouge teamed up with Ignition72 to support Louisiana Economic Development (LED) in making all 16 of its websites fully Accessible.

LED set out to do more than meet a requirement. They chose to build a stronger digital experience for everyone who visits their websites, and they chose Ignition72 as a subcontractor to help lead that effort.

Taking on a Complex Accessibility Challenge

The assignment was ambitious from the start. LED needed to bring 16 different websites into alignment with accessibility standards, all within a tight timeline tied to a U.S. Department of Justice deadline of April 24, 2026. Ignition72 began the project on February 14, leaving very little time for a project of this size and complexity.

What made the work even more challenging was the technology landscape. These 16 websites were spread across several different content management systems and platforms, including Phenom, WordPress, ASP.NET, Webflow, and Tri-core, each with its own structure, limitations, and remediation requirements. Solving accessibility issues in one platform did not automatically translate to another.

Choosing a Higher Standard

WCAG 2.1 AA is the current standard of the Department of Justice. LED chose to go further by targeting WCAG 2.2 AA. That decision said a great deal about LED’s priorities. Rather than aiming for the minimum, they chose a more current and forward-looking standard that would better serve users and support long-term accessibility. It also raised the bar for the work, requiring deeper review and more rigorous remediation across every site.

WCAG 2.2 AA included several additional requirements that help every person, regardless of ability, to use the entire website with ease:

• Consistent Help: Help mechanisms (contact, self-help, chat, etc.) appear in the same relative order across pages.
• Redundant Entry: Do not require users to re-enter the same information in the same session through auto-population or allowing selection of previously entered information.
• Focus Not Obscured: When an element receives keyboard focus, at least part of it must remain visible, and unhidden by modals, sticky headers, etc.
• Dragging Movements: Provide a single-pointer alternative (no dragging) for any drag action, unless dragging is necessary.
• Target Size (minimum): Interactive targets must be at least 24 x 24 pixels.
• Accessible Authentication: Do not require cognitive function tests (memorizing passwords or solving puzzles) unless an alternative or assistance mechanism is provided.

Starting with a Full Audit

Ignition72’s first step was to audit each of the 16 websites in detail. These audits did far more than identify problems. For every site, we documented each accessibility issue, explained how it should be remediated, assigned priority levels to the errors, and estimated the time needed to complete the fixes.

This gave LED a clear and actionable roadmap. Instead of facing accessibility as an overwhelming list of unknowns, they had a structured plan that made the scope of work understandable and manageable. The audit phase also revealed just how significant the remediation effort would be. Because the sites lived in so many different systems, identifying the right fix was only the beginning.

Collaboration That Drove Results

Once the audits were complete, Ignition72 worked closely with Mesh and LED staff members to remediate each website. We addressed issues, navigated the unique requirements of each platform, and kept the work moving despite the compressed timeline. The pace was intense, but the shared commitment to accessibility kept the project on track.

Then, just as the final accessibility remediation work was nearing completion, the DOJ changed the deadline from April 24, 2026 to April 24, 2027.  For many organizations, that kind of extension might have shifted priorities or slowed momentum. LED chose a different path.

Staying the Course

Even with an extra year suddenly available, LED did not treat accessibility as something to postpone. They stayed committed to the original effort, continued the remediation process, and saw the work through.

As a result, all 16 websites were remediated, and the work did not stop there. Ongoing accessibility efforts are continuing so LED’s developers can help ensure the sites remain accessible into the future.

That final point matters. Accessibility is not a one-time project that ends when a deadline is met. Websites evolve, content changes, and new features are introduced. Long-term success depends on building accessibility into everyday processes, so it remains part of how websites are maintained and improved over time.

What This Project Achieved

This project was about more than fixing errors. It created a foundation for sustainable accessibility across a large and varied digital ecosystem.

Ignition72 helped LED:

• Audit and assess 16 separate websites
• Create detailed remediation plans for each site
• Prioritize issues based on impact and effort
• Navigate accessibility fixes across multiple CMS platforms
• Collaborate with internal teams to implement changes
• Complete remediation across all websites
• Support ongoing accessibility practices for the future

A Stronger Digital Experience for Everyone

Today, 1 in 4 U.S. adults live with some form of disability and 61 million Americans have a disability affecting daily life. These conditions prevent millions of people from being able to fully use websites. The work Ignition72 completed with Louisiana Economic Development shows what is possible when an organization treats accessibility as a priority rather than a deadline.

Despite a short timeline, a highly complex technical environment, and the scale of managing 16 websites at once, LED remained committed to doing the work the right way. By aiming for WCAG 2.2 AA, partnering closely throughout the process, and continuing accessibility efforts beyond remediation, they positioned their digital presence to better serve all users.

That is what meaningful accessibility looks like: not just compliance, but commitment.