Web & Mobile App Accessibility

Americans with Disabilities Act Title II Regulations

Web and Mobile App Accessibility Fact Sheet

ADA Website and Mobile App Accessibility Compliance Policies & Procedures

Responsible Official

• The [Department/Office/Bureau]’s [title of the head of the Department/Office/Bureau] is responsible for ensuring the [Department/Office/Bureau]’s compliance with these policies and procedures. 

Policies

• [Department/Office/Bureau Name] complies with the ADA Title II Web & Mobile App Accessibility requirements, and City of Los Angeles IT Policies & Guidelines applicable to the accessibility of websites and mobile apps (including but not limited to the City of Los Angeles Web Policy & Standards, ITA Social Media Policy, and ITA Mobile App Policy).

• All [Department/Office/Bureau Name] staff and contractors are responsible for performing their work in compliance with the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility requirements, including complying with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and Level AA.

• All exceptions to full compliance with the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility requirements are reviewed and approved by the [Department/Office/Bureau]’s [title of the head of the Department/Office/Bureau], or their designee, and documented in the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility Compliance Exception Log.

• These policies and procedures are reviewed annually by the [Department/Office/Bureau]’s [title of the head of the Department/Office/Bureau], or their designee, and updated as needed to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Procedures

• Lead Staff

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for coordinating the [Department/Office/Bureau Name]’s compliance with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility. The name of this lead staff, and any change to the lead staff, is reported through the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility Lead Staff Form.

• Accountability 

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for ensuring all [Department/Office/Bureau Name] websites are developed and maintained in compliance with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility. 

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for ensuring all [Department/Office/Bureau Name] mobile apps are developed and maintained in compliance with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility. 

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for ensuring all [Department/Office/Bureau Name] created design and brand standards/guidelines are developed and maintained in compliance with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility. 

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for reviewing and approving website, mobile app, and social media content for compliance before it is posted to the [Department/Office/Bureau Name]’s websites, mobile apps, and/or social media.

• Content Development, Review, and Approval Procedures 

  • [Detail or add link to website, mobile app, and social media content development/review/approval workflow].

  • When a contractor is responsible for creating web and/or mobile app content, [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for ensuring the contractor verifies the content complies with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility before posting it online or providing it to [Department/Office/Bureau Name]’s staff to post online.

• Compliance Monitoring

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for reviewing accessibility testing results and ensuring errors are promptly corrected, including performing manual testing as needed. 

  • When a contractor is responsible for managing a [Department/Office/Bureau Name] website or mobile app, [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for ensuring the contractor is performing accessibility testing, reviewing accessibility testing results, and ensuring errors are promptly corrected, including performing manual testing as needed. 

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] may remove any content that does not comply with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility. Two days prior to removal, [Responsible Staff Name or Position] will provide notification of removal to the supervisor of the program or service that the content is related to. To prevent removal, the program supervisor may:

    • Replace the content with an accessible version; or

    • Follow [Department/Office/Bureau Name] procedures for obtaining a compliance exception for the content.

• Compliance Exceptions

  • [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for maintaining the Compliance Exception Procedures and the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility Compliance Exception Log.

  • Compliance Exception Procedures

    • [Detail or add link to compliance exception review/approval workflow].

• Staff Training

  • [Department/Office/Bureau Name] staff with the following responsibilities attend training necessary to perform their work in compliance with the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility requirements, as assigned by their supervisor:  

• Website development and management

• Mobile app development and management

• Development and/or editing of content posted to [Department/Office/Bureau Name] websites, mobile apps, and/or social media accounts

• Monitoring of contracted vendors that provide website and/or mobile app development and/or management

• Monitoring of contracted vendors that provide website, mobile app, and/or social media content development and/or management services as any part of their scope of work

• [insert others, as needed]

• Disability Accommodations & Complaints

• Upon request by a person with a disability, the [Department/Office/Bureau Name] will provide web and mobile app materials in alternative formats (i.e. braille). 

• [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for coordinating the provision of materials in alternative formats.

• [Responsible Staff Name or Position] is responsible for receiving, responding to, and resolving complaints about ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility Compliance.

• Public Information about ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility

• [Department/Office/Bureau Name] provides a link titled “Citywide Accessibility” on:

  • Each webpage (footer or other consistent location)

  • Each mobile app (in an area readily accessible to users)

  • Each social media account in the profile or bio section of the account. 

• The link shall direct to the Citywide Accessibility Webpage, which includes the Citywide ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility Statement. 

• Support

• Questions or technical support requests from [Department/Office/Bureau Name] personnel or contractors about the technical requirements of the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility requirements should be directed to [Lead staff name or position]. If [Department/Office/Bureau Name]’s existing personnel cannot provide the information or technical support needed, the [Responsible Staff Name or Position] may contact ITA by submitting a ServiceNow quick ticket. 

• Questions from [Department/Office/Bureau Name] personnel or contractors about how the ADA Web & Mobile App Accessibility requirements apply to [Department/Office/Bureau Name]’s websites and mobile apps should be directed to [Lead staff name or position]. [Lead staff name or position] may contact the Department on Disability and/or the City Attorney’s office for assistance responding to questions.

Introduction to ADA Requirements for Web and Mobile App Accessibility

Archived Training Resources: Watch the Recorded Video | Download the Slide Deck PDF

This training session provides an introduction to the Department of Justice's Final Rule on Web and Mobile App Accessibility under ADA Title II. It covers the newly established technical standards, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level A and AA, and the responsibilities of public entities to ensure their web content and mobile apps are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the rule’s requirements, the compliance timeline, and the implications of non-compliance.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how the rule ensures accessibility for people with disabilities by setting clear standards for web content and mobile apps provided by state and local governments.

• Understand the compliance dates for different government sizes and what ongoing obligations public entities have leading up to these deadlines.

• Identify the five key exceptions to compliance and understand how they provide flexibility while maintaining essential accessibility obligations.

Recommended Attendees

• Staff who create content that is posted to the web or mobile apps.

• Department level lead staff responsible for coordinating compliance with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility.

• Technical staff responsible for understanding WCAG 2.1 and fixing compliance issues.

• Contract compliance staff responsible for ensuring vendors comply with WCAG 2.1.

Best Practices for Creating Accessible Documents

Archived Training Resources: Watch the Recorded Video | Download the Slide Deck PDF

This training highlights key best practices of creating accessible documents that comply with web and mobile app accessibility requirements and are accessible  to people of all abilities, including those who use assistive technology to access digital content.

Learning Objectives

• • Use built-in headings and styles to make documents easier to navigate

  • Add alternative text descriptions to visuals and tables

  • Create accessible hyperlinks, text, and tables

  • Use built in Accessibility Checkers to identify and fix potential accessibility issues

  • Save files as an accessible PDF document

Recommended Attendees

• Staff who create word processing, presentation, PDF, or spreadsheet files that are posted to the web or mobile apps

• Lead staff responsible for coordinating compliance with ADA web and mobile app accessibility requirements

• Technical staff responsible for understanding WCAG 2.1 and fixing compliance issues

Social Media Accessibility

Archived Training Resources: Watch the Recorded Video | Download the Slide Deck PDF

This training session focuses on best practices for making social media content accessible to individuals with disabilities. Participants will learn how to create and share content that meets accessibility requirements, ensuring that all users can engage with social media posts.

Learning Objectives

• Learn why accessibility is critical for social media and how it impacts users with disabilities.

• Discover practical tips and techniques for creating accessible social media posts, including the use of alternative text, captions, and proper color contrast.

• Become familiar with accessibility tools and settings available on popular social media platforms.

• Understand how to align social media content with the ADA web and mobile app accessibility requirements and WCAG 2.1 standards, ensuring your posts are compliant.

Recommended Attendees

• Public Information Officers

• Staff who create content for social media

• Staff who manage and post on City social media accounts

• Lead staff responsible for coordinating compliance with the ADA requirements for web and mobile app accessibility

Third Party On-Demand Trainings

This list is not exhaustive of all available on-demand trainings.

• WebAIM Online Document Accessibility Course 

  • This independent-study online training covers principles and processes for creating and evaluating accessible content in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, and using Adobe Acrobat to optimize the accessibility of PDFs exported from accessible Word and Powerpoint files. 

• Section508.gov Training and Resources 

  • Section508.gov offers comprehensive resources and training materials on Section 508 compliance. This includes webinars, toolkits, and guides for ensuring federal websites and digital content meet accessibility standards.

• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

  • The W3C offers a range of tutorials on how to meet WCAG 2.1 standards. These tutorials are detailed and cover various topics, including page structure, text alternatives, multimedia, and more.

• ADA National Network

  • The ADA National Network offers various training sessions, webinars, and resources on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including topics related to digital accessibility and compliance with WCAG 2.1 and Section 508.

• Great Lakes ADA Center

  • AccessibilityOnline represents a collaborative training program between the ADA National Network and the US Access Board. The AccessibilityOnline Webinar Series is free and offers real-time captioning in all sessions. Sessions are held on a monthly basis and cover a variety of topics concerning accessibility to the built environment, information and communication technologies, and transportation.

• WebAIM

  • WebAIM offers both live and recorded training sessions on WCAG 2.1, Section 508, and general web accessibility principles. Their trainings are designed to be practical and easy to understand.

• Pope Tech

  • Pope Tech offers training resources focused on using their web accessibility platform to ensure WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance. Their training includes webinars, video tutorials, and hands-on guides for making websites accessible.

• IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals)

  • IAAP offers on-demand training on various aspects of digital accessibility, including WCAG 2.1 and Section 508. Their courses are designed to help professionals achieve certifications like CPACC, WAS, and CPWA.

• Accessible.org

  • Section 508 Compliance Training: Accessible.org provides on-demand courses focused on Section 508 compliance and WCAG 2.1. Their training is designed for different audiences, from content creators to IT professionals.

• Accessible Social 

  • Accessible Social provides resources and best practices specifically for creating accessible social media content. Their training includes tips, guidelines, and tools to ensure that social media posts are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

• Microsoft Accessibility Training and Resources

  • Focuses on filling gaps in accessibility knowledge with the goal of bringing awareness, increasing discoverability, and helping to build a more accessible workplace across the globe. 

• Google - Web Accessibility for Web Developers

  • Offers free resources and training tailored specifically for web developers, focusing on building accessible websites and applications using Google technologies.

Staff interested in becoming certified in digital accessibility may enroll in one of the following third party provided on-demand certification programs:

• EdX W3C Introduction to Web Accessibility - FREE

  • Get a strong foundation in digital accessibility to make your websites and apps work well for people with disabilities, meet international standards, and provide a better user experience for everyone.

• Texas Digital Learning Association – Digital Accessibility Certificate Program - Low Cost

  • Through expert-led training, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of legal requirements, court rulings, Universal Design for Learning principles, and proven techniques for creating truly accessible digital materials.

• IAAP (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) - Low Cost

  • IAAP offers certifications on various aspects of digital accessibility, including WCAG 2.1 and Section 508. Their courses are designed to help professionals achieve certifications like CPACC, WAS, and CPWA.

The Department on Disability provides in-house document remediation services. We will take your existing files such as JPGs, PNGs, Word, PDF, PowerPoint, or Excel and re-format, repair, and/or re-tag them as needed to make them compliant with accessibility standards. In most this does not result in any visible changes to the document.

Requests for document remediation must be submitted using the Document Remediation Request Form. 

If the Department on Disability team is unable to remediate your document in house due to the document complexity, length, or turnaround time, we will refer you to document remediation vendors.

Resources

Converting Documents to PDF

• PDF Accessibility - Converting Documents to PDF (WebAIM)

• Using Acrobat Professional for Accessibility - Setup and Tools (WebAIM)

• Accessing PDF Documents with Assistive Technology - A Screen Reader User's Guide (Adobe)

Adobe Acrobat

• Adobe Acrobat Accessibility (Adobe)

• Rob Haverty Acrobat DC and Reader DC Blog (Adobe)

• Acrobat Pro Accessibility Guide: Best Practices for PDF Accessibility (Adobe)

• Adobe Acrobat DC Accessibility Features (Adobe)

• Using the Acrobat Pro DC Accessibility Checker (Adobe)

• Create and verify PDF accessibility (Adobe)

• Acrobat Pro DC PDF Accessibility Repair Workflow (Adobe)

• Acrobat DC: Creating Accessible PDFs (Lynda.com)

• Creating Accessible PDFs with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (YouTube Video - Closed Captions Available)

Adobe InDesign

• Creating Accessible PDF Documents with Adobe InDesign (Adobe)

• Adobe InDesign Design Guidelines and Resources (Adobe)

• Adobe InDesign Accessibility (PennState)

• Video Tutorial on Creating a More Accessible PDF in Adobe InDesign (YouTube Video)

• Creating Accessible Documents with Adobe InDesign (Accessible Technology Recorded Webinar)

Google Docs

• Accessibility for Docs editors

• Comment and collaborate with a screen reader

• Edit documents with a screen reader

• Use a Braille display to read and enter text

• Type with your voice

• Keyboard shortcuts for Google Docs

• Video: Get started with Google Docs using a screen reader (18.9 minutes)

Google Sheets

• Accessibility for Docs editors

• Comment and collaborate with a screen reader

• Edit spreadsheets with a screen reader

• Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets

• Video: Get started with Google Sheets using a screen reader (26.3 minutes)

Google Slides

• Google Slides Accessibility

• Make your document or presentation more accessible to all

• Accessibility for Docs editors

• Comment and collaborate with a screen reader

• Edit presentations with a screen reader

• Use a Braille display to read and enter text

• Present slides with captions

• Keyboard shortcuts for Google Slides

• Video: Get started with Google Slides using a screen reader (16 minutes)

Creating Accessible Word Documents

• Accessibility Workflow for Word (PDF 727 KB)

• Microsoft Word 2016 Checklist (PDF - 69 KB)

• Microsoft Word Techniques (WebAIM)

• Word 365 and 2019 for Mac Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Word 365 and 2019 for Windows Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Word 2016 for Mac Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Word 2016 for Windows Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Microsoft Word 2013 for Windows Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Microsoft Word 2010 for Windows Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Word 2011 for Mac Tutorial (WebAIM)

• Microsoft Video Tutorial Creating More Accessible Word Documents

Creating Accessible PowerPoint Presentations

• Microsoft PowerPoint Techniques (WebAIM)

• Reviewing and Repairing Accessibility in Acrobat (WebAIM)

• Colour Contrast Analyser (Paciello Group) - helps you determine the legibility of text and the contrast of visual elements, such as graphical controls and visual indicators. 

Creating Accessible Excel Spreadsheets

• Make your Excel documents accessible to people with disabilities (Microsoft)

• Creating Accessible Excel Sheets for Windows (PDF - CSU Northridge Universal Design Center)

• Creating Accessible Excel Sheets For Mac (PDF - CSU Northridge Universal Design Center)

• Excel 2013 & 2016: Creating an Accessible Excel Spreadsheet, Part 1 (YouTube Video)

• Excel 2013 & 2016: Creating an Accessible Excel Spreadsheet, Part 2 (YouTube Video)

• Excel 2013 & 2016: Accessible Excel Forms, Part 1 (YouTube Video)

• Excel 2013 & 2016: Accessible Excel Forms, Part 2 (YouTube Video)

Please visit the ITA webpage for information about ITA web and mobile app accessibility resources. 

ITA Trainings

• Accessible Websites and Inclusive Content, Informational Training in conjunction with City of Los Angeles Information Technology Agency (Presentation Slides)

• Introduction to Acrobat Pro Accessibility, Informational Training in conjunction with Adobe (Presentation Slides)