In Aug. 2024, the Statewide Equity Office released its annual Accessibility Report, highlighting significant progress in our State’s accessibility journey.
Background
Established in 2023, the Statewide Equity Office addresses inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility statewide. Its accessibility goals focus on equal access to all State buildings, systems, programs, and communications, in compliance with the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Through self-evaluations, assessments, and the development of the Access Maturity Model, the Statewide Equity Office has identified challenges and opportunities for improvement in ADA compliance and accessibility. The Access Maturity Model consists of five stages of maturity and dimensions:
- Notification and effective communication
- Knowledge and skills
- Support
- Community engagement
- Governance
This model is instrumental in guiding the Statewide Equity Office’s training initiatives and measuring statewide accessibility progress.
The Statewide Equity Office also runs a monthly Statewide Community of Practice for Accessibility, where community members and State employees collaborate to provide feedback on the equity office’s accessibility strategies and goals.
The Highlights
Overall, the 5% improvement in statewide accessibility in FY 2023-24 is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of State agencies in creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for all residents and visitors of Colorado. Major accomplishments in the statewide accessibility effort include:
- A 5% improvement in maturity against the Statewide Equity Office’s Access Maturity Model, showcasing a positive trajectory toward more inclusive and accessible government services.
- Deployment of the Statewide Accommodation Fund, providing $269,801.72 in accommodation reimbursements to support agency accommodation and modification efforts.
- The Statewide Equity Office’s accessibility team provided roughly 250 hours of consulting services, including policy development, technical guidance, and ADA transition plan-related collateral to assist agencies in improving accessibility.
- The Statewide Equity Office’s monthly ADA forums have engaged over 300 participants and provided valuable resources and tools to State ADA and accessibility professionals.
Up Next
Moving forward, the Statewide Equity Office aims to establish a Statewide ADA Transition Plan, deepen its focus on the knowledge and skills and support dimensions, expand the Statewide Accommodation Fund, strengthen governance and compliance practices, enhance training initiatives and resources, and boost the influence of the Statewide Community of Practice for Accessibility in improving accessibility efforts statewide.
By continuing to prioritize accessibility initiatives and aligning efforts with the Access Maturity Model, the State is poised to achieve even greater progress in the years to come.
Finally, the Statewide Equity Office extends a huge thank you to agency ADA coordinators and accessibility professionals for all of their hard work and dedication!
Questions
Have any questions about accessibility and your State agency/institution's legal obligations? Contact the Statewide Equity Office.