Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule

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Today many government entities offer a variety of services online through websites and mobile apps.  This can include ordering a dog license, watching a council meeting, or requesting a trash pickup.  While these online services are a convenience for both the government and its citizens, it is important that all citizens are able to use them.  

For example, if your website has images, is there “alt text” that can share the meaning of the image to people who are blind and use screen readers? 

How is the color contrast and text size on your website or app?

If you have video and audio recordings, do they have captions and/or transcripts?

To ensure that people with disabilities can access the services provided by state and local government websites and mobile apps, in April 2024 the U.S. Department of Justice published the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule.  This rule specifies the technical requirements that state and local governments must follow for their websites and apps.  It also establishes timelines for complying with the requirements:

  • State or local governments with a population of 50,000 or more persons: Compliance deadline: April 24, 2026
  • State or local governments with a population of 0 to 49,999 persons: Compliance deadline: April 26, 2027

More information is available on the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) website https://www.ada.gov/resources/web-rule-first-steps/.  Also, watch the Ohio Electronic Records Committee’s blog for additional posts about the rule.     

Celebrate Electronic Records Day October 10!

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Please join the Council of State Archivists to celebrate Electronic Records Day October 10. Electronic Records Day is an opportunity to raise awareness among government agencies, related professional organizations, the general public and other stakeholders about the crucial role electronic records play in our world and the need to manage and preserve them. More information and resources are available at the Council of State Archivists’ website. Also, when looking for resources to share with stakeholders, don’t forget about the OhioERC’s tip sheets!

Updated Ohio ERC Publications Available- Social Media Engagement for Ohio Public Agencies

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The Ohio Electronic Records Committee (OhioERC) continues to update our publications, and we are pleased to announce two new updates to our social media guidelines for Ohio public agencies:

Social Media: The Records Management Challenge

Government agencies are increasing their use of social media to provide improved services, enable citizen interaction and increase overall transparency. These guidelines are intended to assist local government and state agencies in understanding the challenges related to social media implementation and how to mitigate risks associated with social media use.

Plan for Social Media Engagement

Social media can provide opportunities for communication and interaction with public, but entering this space also requires a commitment of time and resources to maintain relevance and cultivate relationships on these platforms. Government entities are encouraged to set clear goals and objectives for utilizing social media. This sample plan can be used to help define social media strategy and identify primary stakeholders in your agency to ensure agency goals and objectives are aligned in your social media engagement plan.

Both resources can be found HERE

OhioERC will continue to review and revise existing publications as well as work with our audience to identify topics and create new resources for officials in Ohio public agencies tasked with information resource management.

COMING SOON: “File Naming Conventions for Ohio Public Agencies” Training Module