What Colorado Agencies Need to Know About New Digital Accessibility Law
Colorado’s new digital accessibility law, which was passed on July 1, 2021, and is now in effect, sets a precedent for other states when it comes to making web accessibility a state law. Colorado’s new law, House Bill 21-1100, mandates that state agencies and government entities have websites that are accessible to every user, including individuals with disabilities, underscoring the importance of digital inclusion.
In this article, EcomBack discusses House Bill 21-1110, its implications for local agencies and government entities, and information about how to comply with the law.
What is House Bill 21-1110?
House Bill 21-1110 orders both state and local government websites to adhere to web accessibility standards. This bill incorporates specific protections from the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into state law and utilizes the most recent version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines— WCAG 2.2 Level AA.
Who has to comply with HB 21-1110?
House Bill 21-1110 applies to all state and local government agencies in Colorado, including state departments and divisions providing public services, and county, city, or town governments offering services to their communities. The Bill doesn’t impact private businesses.
What is the deadline?
As of this writing, the deadline for HB 21-1110 compliance has already passed, which was on July 1, 2024.
However, a recent act now offers a one-year grace period for qualified entities until July 2025. To qualify for the extension, there needs to be proof of “good faith efforts” toward web accessibility, such as creating detailed quarterly progress reports that demonstrate actions taken to comply with the Bill. This grace period is designed to give entities that are making significant efforts to comply with the law some additional time to complete their accessibility improvements.
How to Comply with Colorado’s Web Accessibility Law
House Bill 21-1110, like other web accessibility laws, adopts the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as its compliance standard. This is widely regarded as the global standard for accessibility.
According to WCAG, the design of a website and its content must meet criteria based on four principles:
- Perceivable: Regardless of a user’s sensory abilities, they should be able to perceive content appearing on a website.
- Operable: Websites must be navigable using only a keyboard, screen reader, or other non-mouse alternatives.
- Understandable: Everything on the website should be easy to understand. Avoid technical terms, jargon, and complex instructions.
- Robust: Websites need to be compatible with assistive technology like screen readers.
Other key things to remember about digital accessibility is that websites should always have the following items:
- Captions and audio descriptions for videos
- Text alternatives for non-written content
- High contrast between text sections and their backgrounds
- Clear and concise headings and labels
- Ability to resize text to 200%
- Both screen orientations (landscape and portrait) are available
- Consistent menus, icons, and buttons
- The website is always responsive
The Negative Effects of Colorado’s Digital Accessibility Law
For some local special districts, the maintenance fees for keeping websites accessible may be too steep, potentially harming users instead of helping them. The North Sterling Irrigiation Co., which distributes water in Colorado, shut down its website earlier this month because it was too expensive to redesign and bring it into compliance under HB 21-1110. This specific website shutdown prevents all users from accessing important information about ditch flow rates, the district’s history, and so on.
Depending on the size of the website, remediation can cost thousands of dollars, especially if hundreds of documents need to be converted into audible form. However, while web accessibility can be costly for websites with smaller budgets, the consequences of having a non-compliant website could be more detrimental.
Non-compliance Can Result in Expensive Consequences
Colorado’s new law about digital accessibility makes it easier for people to sue websites that don’t meet accessibility standards. Now, these lawsuits can be filed in state courts, not just federal ones. If a website fails to conform, it not only prevents members of disability communities from engaging with state and federal online services but also results in a court order, monetary damages, and a fine of $3,500 per violation.
Discover EcomBack’s Web Accessibility Services
Colorado state agencies and government entities should consider using the services of reputable professionals such as EcomBack to avoid potential legal issues. As a member of the W3C and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, EcomBack conducts thorough website audits to identify any obstacles to web accessibility. We then address these issues to ensure an inclusive user experience for all website visitors.
Embark on a journey to an accessible and inclusive website today! Reach out to us for more information.
