PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HeinOnline Advances Accessibility with WCAG 2.2 AA Standards
Strengthening Usability, Navigation, and Inclusive Research Access Across the Platform
April 13, 2026
April 2026. HeinOnline, a product of William S. Hein & Co., Inc., announces that the platform now meets WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to inclusive research access.
HeinOnline previously met WCAG 2.0 A standards and has steadily advanced its accessibility initiatives in recent years. With this update, and in alignment with ADA Title II standards, HeinOnline has progressed beyond WCAG 2.1 AA to meet the most current AA standard available: WCAG 2.2 AA.
Rather than targeting minimum compliance, the initiative focused on strengthening navigation consistency, improving visibility of focus, and enhancing usability for individuals with cognitive and motor disabilities.
What This Initiative Included
This project centered on reviewing HeinOnline’s core pages and global interface elements, the areas most frequently used by researchers.
Updates included:
Remediation of high-traffic pages to meet WCAG 2.2 AA success criteria
Resolution of identified A and AA accessibility issues through structured testing and validation
Comprehensive internal review to ensure functionality, accessibility, and platform stability
Completion of an updated Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) reflecting WCAG 2.2 AA conformance
Updates to HeinOnline’s Accessibility & Accommodations page
These enhancements build on accessibility improvements introduced in the 2025 interface update, including stronger color contrast, improved readability through typography, and expanded keyboard-friendly navigation.
Accessibility: What Comes Next
Accessibility remains an ongoing commitment at HeinOnline.
Accessibility review is integrated into the development process for new databases, features, and interface enhancements. Regular testing and monitoring ensure continued conformance with WCAG 2.2 AA standards as the platform evolves.
Accessibility Resources
Institutions requiring formal accessibility documentation may access the updated VPAT.
For additional information about accessibility features or accommodation requests, visit the Accessibility & Accommodations page.
About HeinOnline and William S. Hein & Co., Inc.
HeinOnline is a product of William S. Hein & Co., Inc., a leading publishing company that has been serving the law library community for 100 years. HeinOnline is a premier online research database that provides comprehensive coverage from the inception of more than 3,400 multidisciplinary periodicals, essential government documents, international treaties and trials, case law, and much more. Composed of image-based PDFs and available at an affordable price, the wealth of material allows academic institutions, government agencies, law firms, court systems, corporations, and other organizations access to authoritative, true-to-print digital material without the hassle or cost of using multiple research databases. Furthermore, subscriptions to HeinOnline consistently increase in value without added cost as HeinOnline adds daily, weekly, and monthly content while continuously incorporating new artificial intelligence tools for easier research. More information about HeinOnline and William S. Hein & Co., Inc. is available here: home.heinonline.org.
Contact Information:
HeinOnline
Ben Boron
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
William S. Hein & Co., Inc. & HeinOnline
2350 North Forest Road, Getzville, NY 14068
bboron@wshein.com
716.882.2600