Wasatch County’s newly redesigned website has reached the top spot on the Silattide Index for accessibility rankings among local U.S. government websites since its launch in September.
In an October evaluation, the county achieved a 98% overall accessibility score. The results showed 99.1% compliance at the A level, 98.3% at the AA level, and 95.7% at the AAA level.
The website redesign follows updates made in April 2024 by the Department of Justice regarding Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These regulations require state and local government web content and mobile apps to meet WCAG 2.1 level AA compliance standards.
Wasatch County IT Executive Don Wood stated that accessibility benefits everyone and noted that more laws are being adopted at the state level in neighboring Colorado and Arizona that require WCAG compliance beyond federal guidelines. Wood said the county is being proactive by setting internal standards, conducting regular audits, training staff, and engaging with the community.
Silktide evaluates web accessibility for both public and private sector websites globally using WCAG standards. While full AAA compliance is noted as rare and difficult, Silktide recommends aiming for AA compliance.
The transition to the new platform focuses on empowering residents through digital connection to data. This includes self-serve applications such as Property Watch, which alerts owners to potential fraud, and the Board of Equalization property value appeals system.
Wood stated the goal was to create a digital layer connecting citizens with their data and to build a platform that allows for back-office integration and automation. Future plans involve further redesigns and gathering community feedback to improve usability and prepare for future AI innovations.
