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Web Accessibility Plan
Introduction:
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability in places of public accommodation. The Department of Justice (DOJ), which enforces the ADA, has interpreted this to include access to online technology.
Accessibility Statement:
At the City of Pueblo, we aim to ensure equal access to our programs, services, and activities for all individuals. We recognize that our website applications serve as a vital communication channel for the citizens of Pueblo and beyond. We are committed to inclusivity and actively accommodate citizens with disabilities who utilize assistive technologies such as screen readers and other software tools.
This City of Pueblo Digital Accessibility Plan (Plan) outlines our approach to make the digital content and services inclusive to our constituents. The Plan applies to all digital content and services provided by the City of Pueblo, including websites, mobile applications, online documents, forms, social media content, and multimedia
We adhere to the following:
- WCAG 2.1 Colorado HB-21-1110, HB-24-1454 AA level and Federal 2.2 AA level.
- Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
- ADA American Disabilities Act Title II
The Objective of this Plan:
To ensure that our digital front-end sites, and all digital content are inclusive and meet current Colorado accessibility standards.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Department of Information Technology’s (IT) Media Systems Division oversees implementation and stays up to date on accessibility standards.
Overview of Compliance Efforts:
The Department of Information Technology has established accessibility policies and standards. Additionally, we have provided training for content creators, implemented screen readers, and accessibility tools.
Checklists for the Vendor's Content Creators:
We have created checklists for vendors, content creators, and social media contributors.
Testing and Tools:
To ensure accessibility, we use various testing tools to test city-wide applications and digital documents. Automated and manual testing tools, assistive technologies, screen readers, layover technology, and digital document remediation tools are in place. Our web accessibility tools include WAVE, Lighthouse, and Monsido. The screen readers we use are NVDA and IOS Voiceover. For document accessibility, we use CommonLook, CommonLook Clarity Scan solutions, and layover technology from Audio Eye.
Training:
We have conducted city-wide departmental training for social media contributors and web content creators. Media divisions monitor the content for a code review before it is published to the public.
Communication:
We have added accessibility feedback forms on our site, where users can quickly contact the City’s accessibility team to address their concerns.
Steps to Resolve Issues:
Step 1: The accessibility team will review the concerns.
Step 2: The City's accessibility team will send an email or preferred method of contact to provide details on how the issues will be addressed.
Audit:
- We developed a Web Accessibility Tracker Report that provides detailed information on accessibility issues in city-wide digital applications.
- We implemented a solution that scans digital documents quarterly to provide information on non-compliant documents.
Accessibility Maturity level:
The City of Pueblo is at the following accessibility maturity level for 2024.
Check One | Stage | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
Inactive | No awareness and recognition of need. At this stage organizations are inventorying their technology, have begun to make investments, etc.… | |
Launch | Recognized need organization wide. Planning initiated, but activities not well organized. | |
✓ | Integrate | Roadmap including timeline is in place, overall organizational approach defined and well organized. |
✓ | Optimize | Incorporated into the whole organization, consistently evaluated, and actions taken on assessment outcomes. |
Based on the Accessibility Maturity level, we are positioned between the integrate and optimize stages. Here is our breakdown of our progress:
Integrate:
We are working with third-party vendors to develop the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), how they will support us and their road map for continuous support in making our digital application accessible.
Optimize:
- The City of Pueblo has implemented policies and standards.
- Provided training and used various testing tools and technologies.
- Conducted manual and automated testing by using assistive technologies on all applications and city’s website.
- PDF documents have been remediated, and a scanned solution has been implemented for continuous monitoring and overall compliance.
- Providing continuous support and training to the internal web and social media contributors
- Developed a web accessibility tracker report and document remediated tracker to keep track of accessibility issues.
These initiatives show our proactive approach to improving accessibility across all digital platforms.
Organizational Measures:
By July 2025, our goal is to fully comply with Colorado HB 21-1110 and HB 24-1454 using the methodology and road map shown below.
- Regularly review our pages and applications for accessibility issues.
- Collaborate with vendors to address and resolve these concerns.
- Remediate external and internal documents.
- Provide ongoing training and support to the city departments.
CITY’S WEBSITE AND OTHER CITY-WIDE APPLICATIONS
- We have revised the policies to ensure web pages are compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA standards by implementing more centralized approval process.
- Citizens can address any accessibility concerns or grievances by submitting the accessibility feedback form, reporting an issue with Audio Eye support, and communicating directly with the City’s digital accessibility team.
VENDOR ENGAGEMENT
- We are actively collaborating with vendors to address accessibility issues, acquire application VPAT’s (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates), to ensure continuous support towards compliance to meet with Colorado HB 24-1454.
- We have attached a detailed report for each application the city utilizes. The report includes the application name, vendor details, and accessibility status.
SOLUTION INVESTMENT
- We are exploring AI solutions to lessen the burden and enhance efficiency.
- Working with Civic Optimize form solution to make non fillable and fillable pdf forms in an accessible format.
TRAINING
- We have attended the CivicPlus accessibility conference to learn more about Colorado HB 24-1454.
- Stay up to date with Colorado monthly accessibility newsletters and with other municipalities.
- Continue to research on accessibility guidelines, best practices on unfamiliar areas specific use cases.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- We are monitoring content from our city-wide social media platforms created from their respective departments.
- Providing continuous support to our content creators when necessary.
We are committed to inclusivity and actively accommodate citizens with disabilities who utilize assistive technologies such as screen readers and other software tools.
The City of Pueblo is continuously working towards Colorado HB 24-1454 to ensure our city’s web applications are compliant and accessible. This quarterly report provides insight on the efforts the city has taken to meet web content accessibility guidelines as per HB 24-1454. We have implemented new solutions and provide alternatives to make content more accessible.
CITY’S WEBSITE AND OTHER CITY-WIDE APPLICATIONS
- We have replaced the city’s chatbot with a new model that has enhanced capabilities, including the ability to read chatbot responses aloud.
- We have implemented new form solutions (Civic Optimize and Granicus Boards and Commissions) that provide a more accessible format for citizens to complete forms online.
- Collaborating with city departments to address inaccessible content and develop alternative solutions.
- We are continuously working on PDF remediation and have scanned 645 current documents, not including those in the archives.
VENDOR ENGAGEMENT
- We are actively collaborating with vendors to address accessibility issues and to acquire Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs), to ensure continuous support towards compliance to meet with Colorado HB 24-1454.
- We have received VPAT’s from Arc GIS, Police to citizen, City’s website, Civic Clerk, and waiting for VPAT’s from other vendors.
SOLUTION INVESTMENT
- We are exploring AI solutions to lessen the burden and enhance efficiency.
TRAINING
- Stay informed with monthly accessibility newsletters from Colorado and other municipalities.
- Continue researching best practices and guidelines in unfamiliar areas and specific use cases.
- Provide training for content providers and internal staff as needed.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- We are monitoring content from our city-wide social media platforms created by their respective departments.
- Providing continuous support to our content creators when necessary.
We are committed to inclusivity and actively accommodate citizens with disabilities who utilize assistive technologies such as screen readers and other software tools.
The City of Pueblo is continuously working towards Colorado HB 24-1454 to ensure our city’s web applications are compliant and accessible. This quarterly report provides insight on the efforts the city has been taking to meet web content accessibility guidelines as per HB 24-1454. Through implementation of solutions and continuous work, we have seen significant improvements towards our accessibility compliance.
CITY’S WEBSITE AND OTHER CITY-WIDE APPLICATIONS
- We have implemented an alternative format to the Transit schedules and provided instructions for forms that require in-person submission and payments.
- The City’s website compliance score from Audio Eye is above 90%. Using our PDF CommonLook clarity scan report, 645 documents have met the 2.1 AA compliance level, not including archived documents.
- We have converted and published several departmental forms to our new form solution, Civic Optimize, and are currently reviewing a backlog of forms before making them available to the public.
- The city has started utilizing a podcast called “The Mayor’s Mixtape” across various platforms. We have implemented a solution that meets the WCAG 2.2 criteria for pre-recorded audio-only content.
VENDOR ENGAGEMENT
- We are actively collaborating with vendors to address accessibility issues and to acquire Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs), to ensure continuous support towards compliance to meet with Colorado HB 24-1454.
- Addressed the city’s website home page and calendar accessibility issues with the account manager They are working to resolve these issues, although they do not yet have a timeline for when the fixes will be implemented.
- We are working with vendors on solutions that we will implement this year to ensure are compliant at launch.
SOLUTION INVESTMENT
- We are exploring AI solutions to lessen the burden and enhance efficiency.
TRAINING
- Stay informed with monthly accessibility newsletters from Colorado and other municipalities.
- Continue researching best practices and guidelines in unfamiliar areas and specific use cases.
- Provide training for content providers and internal staff as needed.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- We are monitoring content from our city-wide social media platforms created by their respective departments.
- Providing continuous support to our content creators when necessary.
We are committed to inclusivity and actively accommodate citizens with disabilities who utilize assistive technologies such as screen readers and other software tools.
The City of Pueblo is continuously working towards Colorado HB 24-1454 to ensure our city’s web applications are compliant and accessible. This quarterly report provides insight on the efforts the city has been taking to meet web content accessibility guidelines as per HB 24-1454. Through implementation of solutions and continuous work, we have seen significant improvements towards our accessibility compliance.
CITY’S WEBSITE AND OTHER CITY-WIDE APPLICATIONS
- We have added submission instructions to non-fillable forms on the City’s website. We are conducting a manual audit of PDF documents available across all city-wide applications.
- Continuing the remediation of new and regularly updated documents.
- Collaborating with other city departments to ensure their forms are accessible and usable within the organization.
- Conduct routine manual and automated testing on each web application to ensure accessibility through redundancy.
VENDOR ENGAGEMENT
- We are actively collaborating with vendors to address accessibility issues and to acquire Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs), to ensure continuous support towards compliance to meet with Colorado HB 24-1454.
- Addressed the city’s website home page and calendar accessibility issues with the account manager They are working to resolve these issues, although they do not yet have a timeline for when the fixes will be implemented.
- We are working with vendors on solutions that we will implement this year to ensure are compliant at launch.
SOLUTION INVESTMENT
- We are exploring AI solutions to lessen the burden and enhance efficiency.
TRAINING
- Stay informed with monthly accessibility newsletters from Colorado and other municipalities.
- Continue researching best practices and guidelines in unfamiliar areas and specific use cases.
- Provide training for content providers and internal staff as needed.
SOCIAL MEDIA
- We are monitoring content from our city-wide social media platforms created by their respective departments.
- Providing continuous support to our content creators when necessary.
We are committed to inclusivity and actively accommodate citizens with disabilities who utilize assistive technologies such as screen readers and other software tools.
Links:
Appendix A - WCAG 2.1 AA Vendors Accessibility Checklist
Appendix B - PDF Accessibility Checklist
Appendix C - Content Providers Checklist
Appendix D - Social Media Accessibility Guidelines
Contact Us:
Department of Information Technology
200 S. Main St.
Pueblo CO. 81004
719-553-2400