Tempe officials working to make digital services more accessible

Tempe residents could soon notice changes when they navigate the city’s website, apply for jobs or read public meeting agendas as officials work to make digital services more accessible before the federal deadline in 2027.

The City of Tempe is reviewing thousands of online documents and hundreds of software applications after the U.S. Department of Justice required states and local governments to comply with the web content accessibility guidelines. Although the accessibility standards have existed for years, the federal government made compliance mandatory in 2024 and later extended the deadline for larger governments to April 2027 to give cities more time to prepare.

The review includes more than just the city’s website. It also includes online job applications, mobile applications, social media content and digital forms used by residents every day. The city is also training employees to create accessible documents and requiring future software vendors to meet federal accessibility standards.

Andrea Vasile, Tempe’s IT manager, said the city has already begun a yearslong effort to review and update nearly every digital service it provides, which includes reviewing more than 28,000 online documents and over 300 software applications.

“We’re really committed to advancing accessibility across every city digital services,” Vasile said. “It’s one thing to fix right now, but we need to ensure that the things we introduce remain compliant.”

The city is working with an accessibility consulting firm to identify barriers and test digital services. Vasile said the older software systems and thousands of fillable PDF documents are among the most difficult parts of the project because many must be rebuilt to meet the new standards.

Accessibility improvements will not stop with the city’s websites and software. Public Information Officer Pat Shannahan said the city is also working to make its communications more accessible through features such as image descriptions, captioned videos, and improved color contrast across social media and digital platforms.

“We can’t reach everybody on our own,” Shannahan said, encouraging commissioners to share city posts with residents who may benefit from accessibility information.

A recent meeting of the Tempe Mayor’s Commission on Disability Concerns highlighted why officials view accessibility as more than a technology project. During public comment, Arizona State University doctoral student Fredo Guan described how accessibility barriers continue to affect his daily life.

Guan, who said he has autism spectrum disorder, told commissioners that loud modified vehicles in Tempe can trigger severe sensory reactions that interfere with his ability to safely travel around the city.

“I think it’s a nuisance to a lot of people. But for me, I think a lot of people who have similar sensory struggles, it can be, to some extent, disabling,” Guan said.

Although Guan’s concerns focused on sensory accessibility rather than digital services, his comment reflected the commission’s broader mission of identifying barriers that prevent residents with disabilities from fully participating in their community.

Much of Tempe’s accessibility work will happen behind the scenes, but residents are expected to gradually see more accessible websites, online forms, public documents and digital services over the next several years. While the project began in response to a federal mandate, its long-term success will be measured by whether every resident can access city services without barriers.

Tempe Mayor’s Commission on Disability Concerns typically meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at the Tempe Transportation Center, Second Floor, Don Cassano Community Room, 200 E. Fifth St., Tempe, AZ 85281 or virtually on Microsoft Teams. Go to tempe.gov.

Ella Westberg is a student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, https://www.yourvalley.net/civility-checklist/.