Digital Accessibility
7.7 million Americans have visual disabilities - and they need your online services more than ever.
How do they view your website?
We help you get compliant and stay compliant with local and national web accessibility guidelines.
Digital Accessibility Remediation for Public Sector Entities
Meet requirements. Beat expectations.
Understand Common Accessibility Challenges
The deadline for meeting accessibility guidelines in California public agencies was July 1st, 2019. If you're not compliant today, chances are you're hustling to catch up by the new deadline of July 1st, 2021. We're familiar with the challenges related to making public services and content accessible to citizens with disabilities and have the expertise to address these challenges efficiently with a phased approach. We share your goal of serving everybody in the community and are here to partner. The common accessibility challenges are as follows, sound familiar?
- Complying with specific government codes to meet and exceed minimum accessibility requirements.
- Meeting reasonable accommodation.
- Making documents and websites as usable as possible to assistive technologies.
- Developing standards based on the unique needs of your agency.
- Creating an accessible style guide as a guideline to maintain accessibility goals.
- Creating a remediation process that fits the unique needs of your agency and community.
Evaluate Accessibility Compliance
Every department is unique and serves a purpose different from any other. Therefore, it's necessary to create accessibility standards that are specific to serving the needs of your citizens and communities that use your services. Using WCAG and Section 508 as minimum guidelines give us our direction, and we add value from there.
- We are familiar with your government codes and we know how to implement changes.
- We want to be part of your cultural change that will make accessibility a second nature.
- We understand the required standard and quality. Our services are geared toward helping and serving the public.
Remediate Any Accessibility Violations
Through state experience working with the Department of Tech & Department of Rehabilitation on accessibility remediation, we have the processes and know-how to exceed the minimum guidelines so your citizens and customers have equal and open access to information. The remediation process is where you take action and problem solve. It includes:
- Make accessibility a standard through the development and use of style guides.
- Remediate documents and web pages through efficient processes that involve experts to guide the way.
Maintain Compliance As New Standards Arrive
Once your department has achieved compliance, you'll need to stay compliant by maintaining the drive to serve your constituents. This involves building accessibility habits so they become second nature to those who create documents and webpages. These habits can be developed using the following steps:
- Update the style guide after using it for remediation as necessary changes will become apparent once you've been working with it.
- Collaborate with document and web developers on best practices through using brainstorming tools.
- Provide training sessions, videos, and documentation for reference within your agency.
- Give access to statewide accessibility forums to share best practices between departments.
Laws and Guidelines
Digital Accessibility laws vary by state but some have adopted federal law Section 508, which requires all federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Federal Law:
Section 508
All people, regardless of disabilities, have civil rights in the United States of America, and should be on the same priority level as those who do not have a disability. The world has become digitized and should be made accessible so everyone can have an equal opportunity to access it.
Section 508 requirements, comprised of public-facing electronic content and agency official communication (e.g., internal forms, templates, and Intranet content).
CA Law:
AB 434 and WCAG
January 2018, that the State of California created a law (AB 434) requiring all state agencies and state entities to make their public website digitally accessible by July 1, 2019. Therefore, as a California state agency or entity, you are required to meet the AB 434 certification deadline every two years now and are now aware of the Section 508 requirements which comprise of, not only Public-Facing electronic content, but Agency Official Communication (e.g., internal forms, templates, and Intranet content).
Let's redefine accessible.
Learn what current guidance your agency should be following and how to prepare to achieve and maintain compliance.
