Digital Accessibility Statement

Applicable Standards & Legal Requirements

This accessibility statement covers City of Houston digital properties and applies to the following federal, state, and local requirements:

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d) — Requires federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to make electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Titles II & III — Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in state and local government services.
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA — The internationally recognized technical standard for web accessibility, published by the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative.
• Texas Government Code, Chapter 2054, Subchapter M — Requires state agencies to comply with accessibility standards for electronic and information resources.
• City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15 — Local non-discrimination ordinance covering public accommodations and government services.

The City voluntarily references the most current version of the WCAG 2.2 standard as a guide for continuous improvement, though compliance is measured against WCAG 2.1 AA.

Conformance Status by Digital Property

The following table summarizes the current conformance status of City of Houston digital properties. Conformance status is evaluated through a combination of automated scanning tools, manual expert review, and user testing with assistive technology users.

Known Limitations & Exceptions

The City of Houston is transparent about known accessibility barriers currently under remediation. The following categories of content may present challenges for users of assistive technology:

Content Under Active Remediation

• Legacy PDF Documents: Older PDF documents published prior to 2020 may lack proper tagging, reading order, or alternative text. We are systematically remediating high-priority documents. New documents published after January 2024 meet PDF/UA standards.
• Third-Party Video Content: Some embedded video content from external sources may lack closed captions. The City requests captioned versions or provides text transcripts where obtainable.
• Interactive Data Maps: Geographic information system (GIS) maps provide complex visual information that may not be fully accessible. Tabular data alternatives are provided wherever possible.
• Legacy Web Applications: Certain web applications built before 2018 are undergoing modernization. A remediation schedule is maintained by the Office of Technology and Innovation.
• Live Data Dashboards: Real-time data dashboards with auto-refreshing content are being updated to include pause controls and screen-reader-friendly status announcements.

Disproportionate Burden Exceptions

The City has not invoked the "disproportionate burden" exception under Section 508 for any public-facing digital service. All exceptions claimed are limited to the specific third-party contractor content noted above where the City does not control the source content.

Supported Assistive Technologies

City of Houston digital properties are designed and tested for compatibility with the following assistive technologies and browser combinations:

• Screen Readers: JAWS (latest 2 versions) with Chrome and Edge; NVDA (latest 2 versions) with Firefox and Chrome; VoiceOver with Safari on macOS and iOS; TalkBack with Chrome on Android.
• Voice Control: Dragon NaturallySpeaking / Dragon Professional with Chrome and Edge; Windows Speech Recognition; Apple Voice Control on macOS and iOS.
• Keyboard Navigation: All interactive elements are operable using a standard keyboard. Tab order follows logical reading sequence. Focus indicators meet WCAG 2.4.7 requirements.
• Screen Magnification: Content is designed to function at up to 400% zoom without loss of content or functionality, per WCAG 1.4.10 (Reflow).
• High Contrast Mode: City websites respect Windows High Contrast Mode and support forced-colors media query.
• Reduced Motion: Animated content respects the prefers-reduced-motion media query and can be paused or disabled.

Feedback & Accessibility Contact Information

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of City of Houston digital services. If you experience a barrier, please report it so we can address it promptly. We treat all accessibility complaints as high-priority service issues.

Enforcement Procedure

If you are not satisfied with our response to an accessibility complaint, or if you believe the City of Houston has failed to meet its obligations under Section 508 or the ADA, you have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate oversight authorities:

Federal Complaint Channels

• U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division: ADA.gov — For ADA Title II complaints against state and local governments.
• Access Board (U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board): access-board.gov — For Section 508 electronic information technology complaints.
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): For ADA employment-related accessibility discrimination.
• U.S. Department of Transportation: For accessibility complaints related to transportation services and information.

State Complaint Channels

• Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities: govemergency.texas.gov/disability
• Texas Workforce Commission, Civil Rights Division: For employment-related accessibility complaints under state law.

Third-Party Content & Contractor Obligations

Some City of Houston websites include links to external websites and content provided by third-party vendors, contractors, or partner agencies. The City of Houston is not responsible for the accessibility of external websites but will notify vendors of accessibility issues when identified.

All City of Houston technology contracts and procurements entered into after October 1, 2023, include Section 508 conformance requirements as mandatory technical specifications. Vendors are required to provide Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) using the VPAT format prior to contract award.

For accessibility issues with a specific third-party application used to access City services, please contact the ADA Coordinator's Office and we will work with the vendor on your behalf.

Policy Review & Revision Schedule

This Accessibility Statement is reviewed and updated on a regular schedule to reflect changes in technology standards, legal requirements, and the City's digital properties.

• Annual Full Review: Comprehensive review of all digital properties and update of conformance status table — conducted each January.
• Quarterly Updates: Status updates for properties undergoing active remediation — published each April, July, and October.
• Ad-Hoc Updates: Immediate updates upon discovery of significant accessibility barriers or changes in applicable law.
• User Testing: Annual usability testing with participants who use assistive technology, with results incorporated into the remediation roadmap.

For questions about this statement or the City's accessibility program, contact the ADA Coordinator's Office at ADACoordinator@houstontx.gov.