Park and recreation departments are vital for bringing communities together. Community events, activities, classes, leagues and other engagement opportunities empower residents to get physically active, learn new skills and socialize with neighbors. In the digital age, the easiest way for most residents to learn about and register for parks and recreation programming is to go online—but what happens if digital resources aren’t accessible?
To ensure all residents can sign up for classes, lessons, events and other essential recreation programs, park and rec departments must prioritize inclusive online experiences.
Understanding ADA Requirements
Approximately 26% of Americans are living with a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s around 61 million people. A significant segment of the population relies on assistive technology to interact with digital solutions. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), local governments must ensure their websites, digital tools and online services are compatible with assistive technology.
Park and rec professionals may primarily associate the ADA with accessibility guidelines for physical spaces, but the law extends to digital communications. In 1998, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act made it a requirement for all U.S. agencies to provide people with disabilities equal access to electronic information and data unless doing so would impose undue burden.
By law, all department websites, emails, online catalogs and PDFs must follow accessibility guidelines. When residents with visual, auditory and other physical challenges can’t access content and sign up for programs online, your department could face the legal and financial penalties associated with ADA noncompliance, or worse, damage your relationship and reputation among your residents.
Ignoring web accessibility is not an option. However, staying on top of ADA guidelines and evolving inclusivity standards with manual processes is not scalable and sustainable for communities of any size. To ensure that all residents can access old and new content on your website and participate equitably in your programming, you need the support of automated remediation tools and technology to help you identify and fix inadvertent errors that could hinder access for residents reliant on assistive technology.
Software solutions can give you time back from lengthy review processes and protect you from the consequences of non-compliance. Accessibility tools can continually scan recreation department websites for legal issues, allowing your department to focus on adding new content and presenting new opportunities to enrich your community.
Improving Digital Experiences
Aside from supporting ADA compliance, accessibility software can improve the digital experience for all residents. Consistent website scans can detect (and in some cases, automatically correct) issues that impact the digital experience for residents with disabilities. These issues include missing alt text or web pages that aren’t formatted to work with assistive technology. The software can also improve the overall quality of your website by flagging problems such as broken links and user experience issues.
When attempting to access services online, residents’ frustration with poor user experience can contribute to the perception that local government is difficult to interact with and inefficient. Seamless digital experiences have the opposite effect: They impress residents and build trust in your agency. This leads to an increase in resident satisfaction, participation in community programming, and ultimately more revenue for your parks and recreation department.
A tech stack that incorporates recreation management and web accessibility software empowers staff to save time administering events, classes, leagues and activities while ensuring that every resident can learn about them, sign up and pay fees. By automating recurring tasks and empowering residents to self-service their needs online, the software can help staff members find time for more strategic planning, advocacy and collaboration
Open Doors to Accessible Experiences
Implementing web accessibility and recreation management solutions offers key legal and financial advantages. By keeping park and rec websites up-to-date with accessibility guidelines, departments can ensure equitable access to their content and services, steering clear of potential fines and legal complications linked to ADA noncompliance. This adherence enhances legal compliance while boosting community involvement and revenue through more active program participation.
Beyond compliance, these solutions improve the overall online experience, making it easier for residents with disabilities to register for and engage in programming. This inclusivity fosters active community participation and underscores park staff’s commitment to making their communities more welcoming and livable for all residents.
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CivicPlus
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