RESOLUTION 2022-3: REGARDING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF WEBSITES SPONSERED AND/OR OPERATED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia offers a great deal of valuable information to the public
through internet websites; and


WHEREAS, persons who are blind, visually impaired, or have other disabilities should have the same
opportunity to benefit from contents of websites developed or operated by entities of the
Commonwealth of Virginia as persons who are not disabled; and


WHEREAS, for example, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) offers an extensive website containing
information designed for use by Virginians during this time of pandemic, including a data dashboard
demonstrating Coronavirus incidence and trends on a daily basis by county and independent city, as well
as much additional information of which none is accessible to individuals who are blind or visually
impaired; and


WHEREAS, most governmental and non-governmental websites offer assistance for accessibility issues
for persons with disabilities; and


WHEREAS, a search of the official website of the Commonwealth of Virginia shows no discussion of site
accessibility, no means to obtain assistance where a person with a disability has accessibility problems,
no means of filing an accessibility complaint, and no identifiable official who is authorized to provide
assistance; and


WHEREAS, the government of the Commonwealth of Virginia has an obligation under the Americans
with Disabilities Act and the Virginians with Disabilities Act to make its websites accessible and useable
to persons with disabilities: NOW THEREFORE


BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, on this 30 th day of October, 2022,
that the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia urge the Virginia Chief Data Officer to ensure that all
of the Commonwealth of Virginia governmental websites be made accessible and useable for blind
persons and others with disabilities in accordance with the most current Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia urges each state agency
designate a high-level official to ensure web site accessibility and that this individual’s name and contact
information be prominently displayed on each website with instructions regarding how to bring
accessibility issues to this individual’s attention; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia urges Virginia’s Chief Data
Officer to make web accessibility training a priority and offer it widely to information technology staff;
and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia urge the Virginia General
Assembly enact legislation to clearly define and ensure accessibility of Commonwealth websites for
persons with disabilities.