Latest posts by Swetha Parasuraman (see all)
Local Governments are waking up to the fact that the accessibility of website content has tangible benefits for citizens with disabilities.
Since the ADA was passed in 1990, local governments have made sure that their government buildings are accessible to citizens with disabilities. But many officials are realizing that ADA and Section 508 also apply to the information they make available on their websites for the sake of transparency.
New York City became the first major municipality in the United States to adopt the website accessibility legislation (Intro. 683-A) mandating accessibility standards for all government websites.
Colorado House Bill 1110 mandates that all that state and local government websites adhere to the “most recent” version of WCAG by July 1, 2024.
ADA requires local governments to ensure all of their digital content is accessible by citizens with visual, auditory, and other physical limitations and disabilities.
Local government websites must be compatible with common forms of assistive technology such as screen readers, OCR software, and voice recognition tools.
Visually impaired users use screen readers to read the alt text for images.
Section 508 and WCAG guidelines help government website designers ensure they are continually building compliant websites.
Since 2011, hundreds of local and state government entities have been sued on the grounds of having inaccessible websites. The fines can be up to 75,000 dollars for the first violation and 150,000 dollars for any subsequent violation.
Local governments should adhere to Section 508 because every level and form of government provides services to all people, including people with disabilities.
ADA requires local governments to ensure all of their digital content is accessible by citizens with visual, auditory, and other physical limitations and disabilities.
The United States Department of Justice reached a settlement with these two cities to operate their programs, services, or activities so that they are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
In 2003, the U.S. Department of Justice (which enforces the ADA) released an online guide for state and local governments https://bit.ly/3KI0ANW. The Department recommends agencies develop an action plan to improve web accessibility.
Local governments must hasten to implement accessibility into their websites to ensure equal access to citizens of all abilities. According to a survey by the National Institute of health, one in five Americans, about 53 million people have a disability of some kind. Ensuring equal access to information is the primary responsibility of those at the seat of power.
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