Illinois ADA Website Compliance Guide

🏙️ ILLINOIS: COOK COUNTY LITIGATION HUB

5,502 Government Entities including 1,299 cities and 3,249 special districts face the April 2026 deadline - second-largest compliance challenge in the US.

🎯 Chicago Metro Enforcement: Cook County's $85,000 settlement and Chicago Public Schools' $72,000 settlement establish precedent for high-value government cases.

⚖️ Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA): State law allows private lawsuits with attorney fees and damages - more aggressive than federal ADA enforcement alone. Section 5/1-103 specifically covers disability discrimination.

📊 Special District Vulnerability: 3,249 special districts (libraries, park districts, transit authorities) face compliance requirements but often lack dedicated IT resources.

💼 Economic Impact: Serving 12.6 million residents including 1.5 million with disabilities. Chicago's status as major business hub increases visibility and lawsuit risk.

⏰ Strategic Urgency: Illinois entities should prioritize early compliance given proven enforcement activity and state law damage provisions beyond federal requirements.