As a state agency or government entity, we know you care about all the people who live, work, and play in your communities. And we care about helping you remain true to your mission and goals.
Unfortunately, in this digital age, 90% of websites are inaccessible to people with disabilities. And with nearly 24% of Coloradans living with disabilities, the new Colorado State and Government Digital Accessibility law is important and a huge step for accessibility in the state.
That being said, we understand it is daunting and confusing to navigate. With the upcoming compliance deadlines, our team wants to step up and help your organization be successful! Let’s break down the new law.
We know you care about ensuring your government resources are inclusive, equitable, and available to all — The State of Colorado feels the same way. They saw a need for more accessible technology and developed HB21-1110: Colorado’s Accessibility Law for State Agencies and Local Government to start making progress.
HB21-1110 and The Office of Information Technology (OIT) have outlined rules that require state and local governments to:
Originally, the requirement deadline was July 1, 2024, but a grace period has been given to give organizations more time to make the transition.
*Technology includes hardware, software, and all public-facing and internal-facing programs. Examples include websites, applications, kiosks, digital signage, documents, video, audio, and third-party tools.
By July 1, 2025, everyone must either comply with the original HB21-1110 laws or the new HB24-1454 Grace Period rules, which state that organizations must:
Despite the complexities of this new law, there are easy, small steps every local or state government agency can be making to start their accessibility journey — and don’t forget, we’re here every step of the way!
You can start by becoming familiar with digital accessibility, what it is, and its current state. Consider sifting through AOR’s insight bank where we provide insight on where we are now as a nation as far as digital accessibility, talk about how you can harness the power of emerging technologies, and include a guide so you can more easily understand the history of digital accessibility.
Next, try reviewing current WCAG standards and other important accessibility laws.
Reference OIT’s Accessibility Guide to better manage and create accessible website content in Colorado, and familiarize yourself with HB21-1110 ahead of the July 2025 due date.
Finally, don’t do it all alone. Reach out to Colorado’s Office of Information Technology or chat with us at AOR. We’ve been in the digital accessibility space for many years and are on top of its rules, complexities, and important impact on our peers. Not only will our knowledge guide you in the right direction, but we also have a team of creatives and strategists who can work with you to ensure you comply with the laws and regulations.
Let’s get to work on developing a plan!