6 considerations for states’ digital accessibility roadmaps

The Department of Justice’s final rule regarding state government website accessibility went into effect in June. For states navigating these new requirements, now is the time to develop a thoughtful strategy and roadmap.

The U.S. Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer agrees. Its December 2023 memorandum on Strengthening Digital Accessibility and the Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act recommends that government agencies “develop an internal digital accessibility strategic roadmap and align it to agency-wide strategic planning efforts … and budget formulation efforts.”

In other words, you need a plan for establishing and maintaining digital accessibility. A thoughtfully designed roadmap serves as your digital accessibility blueprint. It guides you through evolving digital landscapes and the emergence of new accessibility requirements. And it aligns to your agency’s strategic plan and budget.

A clear vision and current evaluation

Where to begin? Start with establishing a clear vision and evaluation of your current state of digital accessibility. If your digital assets have already been audited, you likely know any areas in need of improvement. If not, connect with experts who can perform accessibility reviews and identify areas for remediation. This gives you a baseline. 

From there, your roadmap should include these core elements:

• Goals: Set measurable goals for digital accessibility within your agency or department. In addition to ensuring compliance with standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and state-level accessibility laws and policies, identify other challenges and opportunities that may need closer attention.

• Stakeholder engagement: Engage with government agencies, nonprofits and vendors who specialize in digital accessibility. Reach out to advocacy groups and individuals with disabilities to foster inclusivity and ensure diverse perspectives are considered and reflected in your roadmap.

• Resource allocation: Given the constraints of finite resources, effective allocation is essential. Turn to experts who can take your roadmap and immediately address any areas of need. Or be proactive and get your digital assets in order so you can face future audits with confidence and avoid financial penalties for non-compliance.
• Training and capacity building: Consider forming partnerships with vendors that bring accessibility expertise and can both perform work and provide training to your staff. Start making accessibility a full lifecycle priority rather than an activity held off until the end of the development lifecycle. Be forward-looking and prioritize inclusive design training so your team can build only accessible digital assets from now on.

• Implementation plan: This is where the rubber meets the road. Outline the steps for implementing accessibility improvements across your digital platforms and services. Include specific tasks, timelines, responsibilities, and mechanisms for monitoring progress. If you need the support of an external vendor, your implementation plan can also serve as the foundation of your procurement efforts.

• Monitoring and evaluation: Even when you have fully accessible digital assets, your work is not done. Continuous monitoring and evaluation remain important as digital landscapes evolve and updated accessibility requirements emerge. Regular reviews keep your agency or department on the right track. 

Nuanced considerations for state agencies

Beyond these core elements of a digital accessibility roadmap, the U.S. General Services Administration, which is responsible for helping federal agencies comply with accessibility requirements, offers a digital accessibility checklist. State agencies can use this as a guide to identify and manage risks, gain support and implement changes to agency policies, processes and technologies to become fully accessible.

Within the GSA’s checklist, there are more nuanced considerations for ensuring digital accessibility within the government ecosystem. 

This includes defining agency controls, creating an audit plan, developing policy requirements for defining, budgeting, and implementing alternative means for non-compliant solutions, and setting a risk management process to inform accessibility discussions with management. 

GSA also recommends that agencies “review and revise accessibility policy and standards to keep pace with regulatory, organizational, agency process, and technology changes” and complete this work in parallel with your existing agency technology roadmaps.

A first step toward full digital accessibility

While a roadmap helps governments stay on the right path, the starting point is going to vary by agency or program. If your digital assets are all fully accessible, a roadmap keeps digital accessibility as a priority. 

If your digital assets have been audited and deficiencies identified, a roadmap outlines your journey to remediation and future compliance. If you are just getting started on your digital accessibility journey, a roadmap will serve as a valuable tool for navigating the complexities of digital accessibility. 

The time for digital inclusion is now. A roadmap will help state governments pave the way for a future where digital services are not just accessible but also act as a bridge to a more inclusive and equitable society.

Robert Knapp is the executive managing director for digital government solutions, U.S. Services, at Maximus.