Teller County Digital Accessibility Progress

Last Updated: June 2025

Teller County is committed to ensuring its digital services are accessible and inclusive, in accordance with Colorado House Bill 21-1110 and the Colorado Technology Accessibility Rules (8 CCR 1501-11). This page provides a formal annual update on our digital accessibility efforts, key accomplishments, and areas of continued focus.

We remain dedicated to enhancing the accessibility of our website, documents, and digital platforms to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. Our team also regularly evaluates tools, workflows, and vendor partnerships to help ensure new technologies align with these accessibility goals.

Digital Accessibility Performance

Teller County’s most recent full website accessibility scan by Allyant yielded a 97% compliance score, reflecting substantial progress toward meeting WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. While this result demonstrates meaningful improvement, it also identifies specific areas that still require remediation. A copy of the latest scan report is attached for reference.

Accessibility scans are reviewed on a monthly basis, and results are used to guide remediation priorities. Identified issues are prioritized based on content visibility, frequency of access, and potential service impact.

Key Milestones

• June 2023 – Migration to Microsoft 365
  Teller County migrated internal staff to Microsoft 365 as part of its effort to improve digital accessibility. The platform includes built-in features such as screen reader compatibility, live captioning, and high-contrast settings that support a more inclusive user experience.

• July 2023 – Website Platform Update
  The County implemented a new website platform through a vendor offering integrated accessibility monitoring, automated compliance scans, and remediation tools to support ADA compliance.

• April 2024 – Deployment of CommonLook PDF/Word Tools
  Accessibility software tools (CommonLook PDF and CommonLook Office) were acquired to support PDF and Word document remediation in alignment with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.

• June 2024 – Internal Document Remediation Begins
  Staff began remediating new documents intended for public release using CommonLook tools - ensuring proper structure, heading levels, alt text, and tag hierarchy are applied prior to publication.

• June 2024 – Accessibility Statement Published
  Teller County published a comprehensive Accessibility Statement outlining its digital inclusion goals, conformance targets, contact procedures for accommodation requests, and reference to relevant statutes.

• May to December 2024 & February 2025 – Staff Accessibility Training
  A series of internal training sessions were conducted to strengthen accessibility practices, including WCAG compliance, document remediation, and techniques for creating inclusive digital content.

• August 2024 – Deployment of AudioEye Toolbar
  The AudioEye Visual Toolkit was added to the county website, enabling real-time accessibility enhancements such as font scaling, reading guides, color contrast adjustments, and screen reader compatibility.

• November 2024 – Launch of CommonLook Online
  Teller County introduced CommonLook’s automated document scanning and tagging tool to streamline initial remediation of PDF files and reduce manual workload for accessibility compliance.

• December 2024 – Purchase of Website Accessibility Scanning Tool
  A site-wide compliance scanning solution was implemented to detect accessibility violations, broken links, and structural issues. Monthly reports began in January 2025 and continue to assist with prioritization efforts.

• January 2025 – Migration to Civic Agenda for Meetings and Minutes
  Teller County transitioned to the Civic Agenda platform to improve accessibility and public access to meeting agendas, packets, and minutes.

• February 2025 – Mitigation and Vendor Testing Initiatives Begin
  Teller County launched structured efforts to resolve compliance issues flagged by the scanning software. Vendor accessibility testing (including VPAT requests) was initiated using Allyant and ProcureEnsure.

• April 2025 – Website Document Inventory and Ticketing System Update
  All documents currently posted on the Teller County website were inventoried and categorized by format, date, and remediation status. New internal procedures now include an ADA compliance checklist to be used when uploading documents.

• April 2025 – CommonLook License Renewal
  Licenses for CommonLook remediation tools were renewed to support ongoing remediation efforts and training across departments.

• May 2025 – Targeted Document Remediation Initiative 
  A focused remediation effort was launched to address high-impact accessibility issues in key PDF and Word documents. Priority was given to frequently accessed public files, with updates made to align with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards using CommonLook tools and structured quality assurance checks.

Focus Areas

• Remediating high-traffic web pages and PDF documents
  Priority is given to content accessed frequently by the public - especially items critical to services, deadlines, or compliance.

• Evaluating all third-party applications
  All third-party platforms and services are being reviewed for accessibility compliance. When needed, vendors are being asked to provide VPAT documentation and outline remediation plans to address any identified gaps.

• Ongoing training, policy development, and process improvements
  Staff receive accessibility training, and internal policies have been updated to include accessibility checkpoints within publishing and procurement workflows.

• Documenting compliance and accessibility decisions
  Scan results, vendor documentation, remediation plans, and accessibility statements are tracked internally to demonstrate good faith compliance efforts.

• Improving content structure and readability
  Content is being reviewed and refined to improve clarity, organization, and ease of understanding, ensuring a more consistent and user-friendly experience for all audiences.

• Monitoring evolving accessibility standards
  Teller County staff track regulatory updates and participate in OIT briefings to remain aligned with current rules and anticipated changes.

• Engaging in public transparency and feedback
  This page and other updates provide transparency, while an open feedback mechanism invites public input and accommodation requests.

Website Quality Assurance: Jan – Apr 2025

Scan data provided by Acquia and Google Analytics. This data is integrated into Teller County remediation priorities to assess document traffic and public impact.

Accessibility Strategy Overview

Document Remediation

• All newly published documents are reviewed and remediated for accessibility using CommonLook tools.

• Legacy documents are prioritized based on frequency of access, legal/public importance, and remediability.

• When a document cannot be remediated due to its original format or quality, an accessible alternative will be provided upon request.

Use of Tools and Vendor Support

• AudioEye provides real-time accessibility features for site visitors.

• CommonLook Online supports automated remediation and scanning of PDFs.

• Monthly accessibility scan data from Acquia is analyzed to identify trends, flag recurring issues, and assist with remediation strategies.

Accommodations and Alternate Access

• Users are encouraged to request accessible versions of any documents they cannot access.

• Alternate formats may include HTML versions, accessible PDFs, or direct communication.

• There is no charge for requesting accessible versions.

Looking Ahead

Q3 2025 Accessibility Progress Update
An updated progress report is scheduled for release in September 2025. This report will summarize recent remediation efforts, training milestones, and technology updates. It will also highlight upcoming areas of focus for the remainder of the year.

Expanded Staff Training
New accessibility training materials are being developed to support staff involved in publishing website content and public documents. These resources will provide practical guidance for creating accessible materials and help promote consistency in how accessibility standards are applied.

Adobe Accessibility Improvements
According to vendor feedback, full accessibility compliance for Adobe software products is projected by February 2027. We will continue to monitor these updates and adapt workflows accordingly to maintain alignment with accessibility standards.

Ongoing Transparency and Reporting
Quarterly updates will continue to be posted here to keep the public informed of our progress. These reports reflect our continued commitment to accountability and long-term digital accessibility.