The Department of Justice delayed enforcement of the federal ADA website accessibility requirements, but risks of inaction remain, according to a webinar hosted by the Public Technology Institute. During the May 7 event, When Enforcement is Delayed but Risk Isn’t: ADA Website Readiness Explained, accessibility advocates describe what the deferral means, and why organizations must act now instead of waiting. The speakers emphasize several key reasons for acting now; these include legal exposure, user complaints and operational challenges. Specifically, for example, they point to putting your reputation and public trust on the line. They advocate for proactively addressing issues and working with users who report problems to help maintain credibility. Host Darryl Polk, Director of Education, PTI – Public Technology Institute, says common issues with government websites include colors and fonts, along with alt text. Kimberly Conroy, IT Project Manager for Franklin County, OH Clerk of Courts, explained that to address some of these challenges, her organization built accessibility into their style guides.
U.S. regulatory leaders face a challenge: the public largely does not understand licensing boards or their role, according to a May 12 podcast from the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation. Research and outreach show most people remain unfamiliar with boards, with fewer than 10% highly aware and many unable to describe their function. The gap leads to confusion about who protects public safety and limits engagement in board service. Yet when informed, public perception shifts strongly positive. In Episode 101, “Who Knows What We Do? Public Understanding and Recruitment in Professional Regulation,” guests suggest that regulators prioritize clear messaging, community outreach and “elevator pitches” to explain how boards protect the public. Rich Woolf with the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and the Healthcare Regulatory Research Institute offered the example of a physical therapy board member posting a video to LinkedIn, explaining why he joined the board and how to join, as one way to engage the public.
Ohio CIO Katrina Flory goes beyond technology upgrades to focus on four keys to modernization that help “set up the technology for success.” The first key, she details in the May 7 Government Technology article, focuses on evolving road maps. She explained that in Ohio, the CIOs and tech leads across 25 Ohio agencies see innovation as continuous. “So, each year,” Flory says, “we share our program road maps and invite our agency partners to weigh in throughout the process — even after it’s complete.” Her next key: communications as innovation infrastructure, focusing on organized engagement and continuous communication. One initiative, for example, brings cross-agency groups of over 40 technologists and administrators together biweekly. She said she aims to create an environment where people “bring ideas, debate and learn from one another…” Other keys to modernization that she highlights include: if you build it will they come and focus on the end user.
Renee Moseley joined GL Solutions in 2016 with an educational and professional background in research and writing, along with software documentation. At GL Solutions she produces informative content to help regulatory agencies stay current on news and information that supports their success.
