Overland Park Website Accessibility Ordinance
Overland Park, Kansas requires city-operated websites to be accessible to people with disabilities and to provide clear reporting and remediation pathways for barriers encountered online. This guide explains how the city handles accessibility standards for its web presence, who enforces compliance, how to report problems, and what to expect during review and appeal processes. It is intended for web teams, accessibility coordinators, third-party vendors, and members of the public who rely on accessible digital services.
Penalties & Enforcement
The City of Overland Park designates responsible offices for accessibility compliance, offers complaint channels, and follows applicable municipal and federal requirements. Specific monetary fines for web-accessibility noncompliance are not specified on the cited municipal pages.[2]
- Enforcer: the city ADA coordinator or designated department handles complaints and inspections; see the city contact page for the official coordinator and complaint form.[1]
- Inspection and complaint pathway: the city investigates reported barriers, documents findings, and issues remedial requests or corrective orders where applicable.
- Appeals: appeal or review routes are handled through the city process or by filing a federal complaint under the ADA; specific time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page.[2]
- Escalation and penalties: escalation steps such as notices, corrective deadlines, continuing orders, or referral to enforcement authorities may occur; exact fine amounts or per-day penalties are not specified on the cited page.[2]
- Non-monetary sanctions: typical outcomes include corrective action orders, temporary disabling of inaccessible features, contract sanctions for vendors, and referral to legal authorities or courts.
Applications & Forms
The city does not publish a dedicated "website accessibility permit" form; instead, accessibility concerns are reported via the ADA/contact page or the general city complaint portal as listed below.[1] Fees or formal application deadlines specific to web-accessibility remediation are not specified on the cited pages.[2]
Standards, Scope, and Responsibilities
Overland Park applies recognized accessibility principles to its public-facing sites and digital services. The city aims to follow accepted technical standards such as WCAG for content and interface design, and assigns responsibility to the web/IT team in coordination with the ADA coordinator or legal office. Third-party contractors hosting or managing city web content are subject to contract provisions requiring accessibility compliance.
- Scope: all official city domains and pages intended for public use, including online forms and documents.
- Vendor obligations: contracts typically require vendors to meet accessibility requirements and to remediate defects reported by the city.
- Documentation: accessible alternatives, captions, and text equivalents should accompany digital content when feasible.
Action Steps for Reporting and Compliance
- Step 1 - Identify the barrier and note the page URL, browser, and assistive technology used.
- Step 2 - Submit a report to the city ADA/contact page or the webmaster as listed in Resources.[1]
- Step 3 - The city logs the complaint, acknowledges receipt, and schedules a review.
- Step 4 - Remediation: the city or its vendor implements fixes and documents completion.
- Step 5 - If unresolved, parties may seek further review through city appeal procedures or federal ADA complaint channels.
FAQ
- Who enforces website accessibility for Overland Park?
- The city ADA coordinator and the designated IT or legal office handle enforcement and complaints; contact details are on the city accessibility/contact page.[1]
- Are there fines for inaccessible city websites?
- Monetary fines specific to city website accessibility are not specified on the cited municipal pages; enforcement focuses on corrective action and compliance measures.[2]
- How do I request an accessible format of a city document?
- Contact the ADA coordinator or the department that published the document; the city will provide alternative formats when feasible.
How-To
- Locate the inaccessible page and record the URL and nature of the barrier.
- Collect details: device used, browser and version, assistive technology, and screenshots where possible.
- Submit the report via the city ADA/contact page or the webmaster contact form.[1]
- Await city acknowledgement and follow any requested clarifying steps.
- If the issue is not resolved, request escalation as described by the city or consider filing a federal ADA complaint.
Key Takeaways
- Overland Park provides channels to report digital accessibility barriers and seeks remediation.
- Contact the ADA coordinator or webmaster for help and to request accessible formats.
Help and Support / Resources
- City ADA coordinator and accommodation information
- Overland Park Code of Ordinances (municipal code)
- City Technology / Web Services department
- City Attorney - legal and compliance inquiries