Accessibility at Saguache County Government

Saguache County Government (SCG) is committed to providing all Coloradans and Saguache County residents with equitable access to our services. That includes working to ensure the information on our website is fully accessible. Our work is part of a broader effort by the State of Colorado to make all State services inclusive and accessible to all.

We welcome comments on how to improve our websites' accessibility for users with disabilities, and we are committed to providing a timely response to reports of inaccessible information or requests for a reasonable accommodation or modification. 

1. Introduction & Purpose

   Saguache County is committed to ensuring digital equity and access for all individuals, including those with disabilities. As mandated by Colorado House Bill 21-1110 (HB21-1110), all state and local government entities must conform to digital accessibility standards by July 1, 2025. This legislation requires digital content to meet or exceed the standards set forth in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.
   This Digital Accessibility Transition Plan outlines the steps Saguache County will take to assess, improve, and maintain the accessibility of its digital content and services. It serves as a roadmap to ensure compliance with HB21-1110 and reaffirms the County's dedication to inclusivity, transparency, and equitable access to information and services.

2. Scope

   This plan applies to all digital assets managed or published by Saguache County, including:
   Public websites (e.g., www.saguachecounty.colorado.gov)
   Internal systems and employee portals
   Social media accounts managed by the County
   Digital documents (PDFs, Word files, Excel spreadsheets, etc.)
   Online forms, services, and applications
   Third-party software or tools used for County operations
   The scope also includes digital content created, modified, or purchased on behalf of the County, regardless of hosting platform.

3. Accessibility Standards

   Saguache County is aligning its digital accessibility efforts with the following standards and guidelines:
   WCAG 2.1 Level AA, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which provides internationally recognized standards for web accessibility
   Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which mandates that federal agencies make their electronic and information technology accessible
   HB21-1110, which integrates WCAG standards into Colorado law and establishes compliance requirements for all state and local governments
   By following these standards, the County aims to provide equal access to digital information and functionality for individuals with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and neurological disabilities.

4. Current Accessibility Assessment

   Saguache County is currently conducting a comprehensive assessment of its digital landscape with the assistance of Perspective Tester, a company that employs individuals with disabilities to assist with ADA remediation. Perspective Tester is responsible for performing accessibility testing and remediation for the County website. Remediation efforts for County documents are being carried out by Saguache County IT staff using PREP (PDF Remediation and Enhancement Process).
   Initial findings indicate several areas for improvement:
   Numerous PDF documents lack tags and reading order, making them inaccessible to screen readers
   Insufficient color contrast on website buttons and headers
   Missing alt text on images
   Inadequate form labeling, causing confusion for assistive technology users
   These findings serve as the foundation for the County's prioritization strategy and remediation roadmap.

5. Remediation Plan

   Saguache County will address identified accessibility barriers in phases, prioritizing public-facing services and high-traffic content. The County will:
   Replace or remediate all inaccessible PDFs with accessible formats (tagged PDFs, HTML alternatives, or structured Word documents)
   Revise web templates and stylesheets to improve color contrast, heading structure, and keyboard navigation
   Ensure all images include meaningful alternative text
   Use proper semantic HTML and ARIA roles for navigation, forms, and interactive elements
   Develop and enforce an accessible content publishing workflow across all departments
   Content creators and editors will receive guidance to ensure new content is born accessible.

6. Implementation Timeline

   Milestone
   Deadline
   Complete county-wide digital accessibility audit
   August 31, 2024
   Conduct county staff training on accessibility
   September–October 2024
   Begin remediation of critical digital content
   November 1, 2024
   Implement accessible procurement policy
   December 15, 2024
   Final round of content review and testing
   May 15, 2025
   Achieve full compliance with HB21-1110
   July 1, 2025
   The County will monitor progress at each milestone and provide regular updates to stakeholders.

7. Roles & Responsibilities Accessibility Coordinator

   Jessica Gore and Summer Quintana Rapp, Saguache County's designated Accessibility Coordinators, will oversee all digital accessibility efforts. Their responsibilities include:
   Managing and updating the transition plan
   Coordinating remediation tasks and staff assignments
   Conducting ongoing audits and quality assurance
   Acting as the primary liaison for accessibility-related inquiries
   Department Leads
   Each department head is required to work with the IT department to ensure that any documents posted to the website are compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA standards. While the County is not requiring each department to appoint a specific accessibility liaison at this time, this approach may be considered in the future to further enhance decentralized accountability and coordination.
   Collaboration between IT, communications, and departmental staff remains essential for successful implementation.

8. Training & Education

   To foster a culture of accessibility, Saguache County will conduct training for:
   Content editors and communications staff: Focused on accessible document creation, image descriptions, and content structure
   IT and web development staff: Emphasizing semantic code, ARIA roles, and screen reader testing
   Procurement staff: Training on evaluating vendor compliance with accessibility standards
   Training materials and guidance documents will be developed internally and supplemented with resources from the Colorado Office of Information Technology.

9. Procurement & Development Policy

   Saguache County will ensure all future digital tools, systems, and contracts comply with accessibility requirements. This includes:
   Requiring WCAG 2.1 AA conformance documentation in RFPs and vendor proposals
   Including accessibility terms and warranties in procurement contracts
   Reviewing new tools and software for accessibility prior to purchase
   Prioritizing vendors who offer accessible and inclusive solutions

10. Monitoring, Maintenance & Feedback

    After achieving compliance, Saguache County will maintain accessibility through ongoing monitoring, testing, and updates. Steps include:
    Quarterly accessibility audits of websites and core systems
    Prompt remediation of any new issues identified
    Periodic user testing, including participation from users of assistive technology
    A public feedback form to allow users to report accessibility barriers and request accommodations
    Accessibility concerns will be logged, tracked, and addressed in a timely manner, with a goal of resolving critical issues within ten business days.

11. Contact Information

    For questions, feedback, or to request accommodations, please contact:
    Jessica Gore and Summer Quintana Rapp
    Accessibility Coordinators, Saguache County
    Email: saguacheada@saguachecounty-co.gov
    Website: www.saguachecounty.colorado.gov

OR

Fill out our SCG Website Accessibility and Support Form
 

The following resources are available from Saguache County Government and the State of Colorado.

• Saguache County ADA Coordinators: Email Saguache County ADA coordinators at saguacheada@saguachecounty-co.gov OR fill out our SCG Website Accessibility and Support Form.
• The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing Technnology's (CCDHHDB): The CCDHHDB provides programs and services for accessibility, communication, technology and education. Explore the CCDHHDB website for information about services, provider directories and more.
• Relay Colorado: Relay Colorado is a statewide service that connects standard (voice) telephone users with deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, speech-disabled or late-deafened people who use Teletypewriter (TTYs) or Voice Carry-Over (VCO) phones. For more information, visit the Relay Colorado website.
• Aira: The State of Colorado offers assistance to blind and low-vision Coloradans through a partnership with Aira, an app that provides live, on-demand visual interpreting through human-to-human assistance. Coloradans get free access for up to 30 minutes per session while navigating state locations and digital services, reducing barriers to services and creating a more welcoming Colorado for all. For more information, visit the Office of Information Technnology's Aira page.