City work group launches digital accessibility roadmap, public expo and survey set for June 28

Troy Black, administrative specialist in the mayor's office, briefed the Budget, Finance, Economic & Development Committee on June 24 on Lexington's Digital Accessibility Work Group and its plan to develop a local roadmap for digital accessibility.

Black said the work group was formed after outreach from a legislative aide and a national expert and includes partners from the mayor's office, Economic Development, Fayette County Public Schools, Internet service providers and nonprofits such as Awesome Inc and the Technology Association of the Bluegrass. "Our plan is to come back to the council in September to present and give feedback on a digital accessibility draft roadmap for Lexington," Black said.

The presentation summarized federal and state context (the Digital Equity Act and Kentucky's 2024 Digital Equity Plan), the group's timeline and public engagement. The work group launched in August 2024; it has held meetings at the Senior Center, a public library branch and a Davis Bottoms workforce center. Black said the public input survey will be launched at a Digital Accessibility Expo on Saturday, June 28 (10 a.m.–2 p.m., Lexington Senior Center, 195 Life Lane) and remain open at least four weeks on the city's Engage Lexington page. Paper copies and other languages will be available on request.

Councilmembers asked about survey timing and outreach. Councilmember Lynch requested the survey link to distribute to constituents. Black and CIO Liz Rogers said the four-week window could be extended if public response is low. Rogers and other councilmembers said the state's digital equity funding focuses on workforce, education and health outcomes; Lexington's effort will emphasize navigation and access once residents have connectivity, rather than broadband availability (a separate state broadband program).

Councilmember Reynolds and others urged plain-language public messaging; the committee discussed using "Get Connected Lexington" to describe the program to residents. Several councilmembers and staff emphasized outreach to undervalued communities and making materials accessible in multiple languages.

Black invited councilmembers and the public to the June 28 expo and asked colleagues to publicize the Engage Lexington survey when it goes live. The work group will compile public input from the expo and survey and return to the council with a draft roadmap in September for feedback.