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City of Fort Collins
 

Legal Disclaimers

Legal Disclaimers

home city services Legal Disclaimers Digital Accessibility Progress Reporting

Report a Digital Accessibility Problem#

If you would like to report an accessibility problem with the City of Fort Collins website, please use the form below. Be sure to specify the web page or file being referenced in reporting the accessibility issue. You may also print and mail, email or deliver the completed form and send to City of Fort Collins, Attn: ADA Coordinator, 300 Laporte Avenue, Building A, Fort Collins 80521, or you may visit our office in person for a printed form. 

Report a Digital Accessibility Problem

Accessibility Standards Applied#

The City of Fort Collins has developed accessibility technical standards with the intent of providing enterprise standard configurations for technologies which provide service to those with disabilities, in accordance with the technical standards provided by:

Other Accessibility Considerations

Although our goal is WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance, we may also apply some Level AAA Success Criteria or WCAG 2.2 Level AA conformance criteria as appropriate to make digital content more usable.

Our Efforts: Progress-to-Date Report#

The City of Fort Collins is committed to providing equitable access to all Coloradans. Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards the day when all City services, programs, and activities are accessible, providing equal access to information and services to all Coloradans.

To that end, the City of Fort Collins is creating a plan to prioritize, evaluate, remediate, and continuously improve every digital touchpoint within our services, programs, and activities. Below, you will find just some of the measures that the City of Fort Collins is undertaking.

2024 Q1-Q2 Progress to Report#

All initiatives listed below have been started and are in progress:

  • LEOCS meets with ARC of Larimer County, a community agency to help guide web accessibility mapping.
  • Digital Accessibility Team including CAO, CPIO, IT, Operation Services, Purchasing, Equity Office, CMO.
  • Review of City policies by Equity and Inclusion Officer and LEOCS.
  • New members of the Disability Advisory Board were selected and appointed.
  • Ongoing training on topics such as Title VI and Digital Accessibility.
  • Ongoing Digital Accessibility Team Meetings to discuss progress with HB 21-1110.
  • Onboarding meeting for introductions to Nelnet, hired consultant to address Digital Accessibility requirements.
  • Communications staff began trainings regarding PDF accessibility; trained staff began coaching other staff on best practices.
  • FAQ document created for staff to understand requirements, next steps, and responsibilities.
  • Tech/software inventory completed by Service Areas. Results shared with Nelnet.
  • Under the City website legal disclaimer page, updated Reasonable Accommodation Request, ADA/Accessibility Complaint Form, Digital Accessibility Complaint Form, and Title VI Complaint Form on FCGov.com.
  • Meeting with ADOBE company, training for staff – have also met with other vendors to inform them of accessibility requirements and expectations. For example, the procurement of a new website vendor (Granicus) and parameters around what will be required of the new site, specific to FOCO and Colorado law.
  • Team members attending the ADA Symposium
  • Staff Training session planned for Q3-4.
  • Purchasing Accessibility Consultant initiated.
  • Provided an overview of HB 21-1110, the OIT adopted rules, and best practices to management staff.
  • LEOCS contact information added to City website.
  • Evaluate contracts from peer cities for hiring a consultant to assist the City in meeting accessibility requirements:
    • Leverage peer cities for RFP search.
    • Consultant selection and scope of work; contract signing in June.
      • Consultant will provide a Digital Accessibility Roadmap to complete a comprehensive analysis of the City's current state of digital ICTaccessibility, recommendations for remediation, and an evaluation of the level of effort required to evaluate compliance.
  • Developed enhanced City intranet resources and guidelines pertaining to accessibility, e.g. graphics and design-related elements, digital documents (PDFs, etc.), website requirements (WCAG), IVR (TTY/TDD) resources/vendors.
  • Internal Sharepoint page created to help guide City staff on best practices learned regarding accessibility and HB 21-1110, offer resources and guidance on questions around accessibility and began a framework for staff to follow to best meet the expectations of HB 21-1110.

2023 Progress to Report#

  • Continued cross-department meetings to create an outline of workstreams.
  • Participated in learning State rulemaking for HB21-1110.
  • Meetings with peer cities of Colorado Springs and Englewood for peer learning.
  • On-going research and training on ADA work.
  • Purchasing added clearer language on technology accessibility compliance in contracts.
  • Expanded color accessibility review process to sub-brands within the organization to meet ADA standards (Connexion, Gardens, Natural Areas, Lincoln Center); updated palettes and brand guidelines; offered training.
  • Lead Equal Opportunity Compliance Specialist position split into 2 FTEs to give priority and focus. Positions now include:
    • Lead Equal Opportunity Compliance Specialist (LEOCS) was hired in November 2023 and started in December 2023. Jan Reece; 970-416-4254; adacoordinator@fcgov.com

2022 Progress to Report#

  • Team meetings to learn about HB21-1110 and start to identify department roles.
  • Meetings included City Attorney’s Office (CAO), Communications and Public Information Office (CPIO), Information Technology (IT), Operations Services, Purchasing, Equity Office, City Manager’s Office (CMO).
  • Research on HB21-1110 and peer cities approach.
  • Prior Lead Equal Opportunity Compliance & Investigator Specialist started training in Digital Accessibility.
  • Purchasing to include clearer language on ADA compliance in contracts.
  • Worked with Old Town Media to review website content; web pages are in compliance with WCAG 2.1
  • Reworked the City brand guidelines and color palette to meet contrast accessibility requirements.
  • Educated communications staff and supplied a color reference Do’s and Don'ts guide.
  • Developed an internal SharePoint site to educate the organization on the existing accessibility laws and best practices around Universal Design.

Progress & Updates#

The Progress to Date Report is a living document. The City will review this report quarterly. Examples of events that would require a review and update to this document include but are not limited to:

  • changes to the Complaint or Accessibility Request processes.
  • when a new individual or organization is made responsible for ADA Coordination tasks.

Updates include reporting on the progress of remediation milestones and any changes to the processes described. This report will also be updated to reflect any changes to relevant laws, regulations, and standards.

Update History#

Date Version Description Approver (Role & Department)
06/30/2024 1.0 Initial release  
       
       

Active use: The rules apply to all information and communication technology (ICT) that:

  • Is in active use on or after July 1, 2024, and
  • Is newly created, developed, acquired, or purchased on or after July 1, 2024.

Active use means:

  • Regularly used by members of the public to apply for, gain access to, or participate in a public entity's services, programs, or activities, and
  • Currently used by employees to perform their job duties. ICT in active use includes the authorized, official version or versions, not previous versions that may still be available, archives, working products, or drafts.

Archived web content Web content that meets all three of the following criteria:

  • Maintained exclusively for reference, research, or recordkeeping.
  • Not altered or updated after the date of archiving.
  • Organized and stored in a dedicated area or areas clearly identified as being archived.

Digital content Information or data that is produced and supplied in digital form including but not limited to web sites, videos, and electronic documents.

Information and communication technology (ICT): A wide range of commonly used ICT must be accessible, including:

  • Software, applications, and websites including content accessed from the internet and on private networks or intranets.
  • Multimedia content like images, video and audio
  • Documents that are posted to the internet (e.g., Google formats, PDF, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, etc.)
  • Computer software and hardware including desktop systems and mobile systems such as laptops and other mobile computers.
  • Desktop and mobile telephones and other telecommunications products that interact with users in real time.

Where hardware has an interface to interact with a person, like a kiosk, then the rules refer to hardware standards as specified by US Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Chapter 4: Hardware (U.S. Access Board).

  • Information kiosks and booths that provide information or user interactions in public places such as government buildings.
  • Multifunction machines that scan, fax, print, etc.
  • On-premises equipment like servers and routers

Some hardware may contain embedded ICT as an important part of the product, but the primary function of the equipment isn't ICT. The rules do not apply to this kind of hardware. A few examples include:

  • An air conditioning system that has a self-monitoring thermostat embedded in the unit.
  • Medical equipment where information technology is integral to its operation, such as x-ray machines and other diagnostic equipment.

Lead Equal Opportunity Compliance Specialist (LEOCS) - An individual designated to coordinate and implement ADA compliance activities.

Reasonable accommodation is defined in the rules as a modification or adjustment to a program, service, activity, job, or the work environment that will enable an individual with a disability to participate in the program, service, activity, application process, or perform essential job functions.

Reasonable modification is defined in the rules as a modification in policies, practices, or procedures when the modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination based on disability.

Undue burden is considered an action that requires significant financial, technical, or administrative difficulty or expense.