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Q&A
Updating DOHMH digital materials for audiovisual accessibility
1:02:26
ยท
120 sec
Council Member Linda Lee inquires about the status of DOHMH digital materials' audiovisual accessibility. Deputy Commissioner Julie Friesen explains the ongoing efforts to improve digital accessibility across the agency.
- A digital inclusion officer is working on improving accessibility
- Current PDFs on the agency's website are being remediated for accessibility
- Remediation includes ensuring proper document structure, tagging for screen readers, using plain language, and providing alt text for images
- All new digital projects, including web pages and surveys, are being reviewed for accessibility
- Council Member Lee shares a personal experience highlighting the importance of digital accessibility in various formats
Linda Lee
1:02:26
Okay.
1:02:27
If you could keep us updated on that, that would be amazing as well.
1:02:30
And have all DOHMH digital materials been updated to improve audiovisual accessibility for people who experience impaired vision or hearing?
1:02:39
For example, ensuring that visual materials have been designed with accessibility in mind or ensuring that all images are accompanied by alternative descriptive text?
Julie Friesen
1:02:49
Yes, so we have a digital inclusion officer and I know that our communications people have been working very diligently over this past year to remediate current PDFs that are posted on the agency's website to ensure accessibility.
1:03:05
That's a work in progress but it should be done over the next short while.
1:03:11
And what remediation is, maybe you know this but I didn't, it includes ensuring proper document structure and tagging for compatibility with screen readers using plain language and ensuring alt text is provided for the images and visuals.
1:03:28
So that's being done now and all new digital projects including web pages, web tools, and surveys with external audiences for their use are being reviewed to ensure they're accessible.
Linda Lee
1:03:41
Got it.
1:03:42
Okay.
1:03:42
And I have to say, because there was one, I think two summers ago, I had an intern who was visually impaired in our office, and I have to say that was one of the most incredible learning experiences for me personally because I didn't realize also that even in our social media posts, if there's a document, if you attach PDFs versus an image file, that makes a huge difference when you're talking about that accessibility.
1:04:06
So I think even things like this would be great for us also on the council to continue to get educated on but it's good that you are all actually implementing this with your websites which is great.
1:04:18
Can you please describe DOHMH's specific plans to wait actually let me skip that one because you sort of answered that.
1:04:26
Has DOHMH taken any specific action to improve workplace inclusion for people with disabilities and how clear are processes for requesting accommodations?