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Story County approves $7,500 assessment with Accessible Blue to meet DOJ web-accessibility guidance
Summary
The Story County Board approved a $7,500, six-month engagement with Accessible Blue to review and help remediate county digital content for ADA/web accessibility following Department of Justice guidance; the contract includes gap analysis, training and a final report, with 50% paid up front.
The Story County Board of Supervisors on March 31 approved hiring Accessible Blue for a six-month assessment and training engagement designed to help the county bring its websites and public-facing digital content into compliance with Department of Justice accessibility guidance.
Colin, a county staff member, told the board that the DOJ guidance from April 2024 applies to government entities serving populations larger than 50,000 and set an accessibility target date of April 24, 2026. Colin described the firm's proposal as a $7,500 fixed fee split across fiscal years, with 50% due at project start and the remainder at the end of the engagement. "They do a quick gap analysis on everything that we have out there and an overview," Colin said, adding that the work would include three training sessions and a final report that outlines remaining priorities.
Board members and department heads discussed operational implications. Colin said the consultant will provide guidance and a support line but that county employees will ultimately implement many changes: "The consultants don't come in and just say, 'okay, here's your package.' It's done. They tell us how to do it, and then we need to do it." He also said staff will discuss whether portions of the engagement should be conducted on-site or virtually based on departmental needs.
The board approved the proposal after a motion, with no public comments recorded. The contract is intended to produce a gap analysis, prioritized work plan and training so county departments can make their documents, forms and media more accessible.
What happens next: staff said the soft start date in the proposal is May 1; staff will coordinate scheduling and training with departments and report back as work proceeds.
