New Orleans WCAG Website Accessibility Policy
New Orleans, Louisiana requires city websites and digital services to follow accessibility best practices based on WCAG standards. This guide explains the municipal process, who enforces accessibility, how to report issues, and practical steps for compliance. It summarizes the City of New Orleans digital accessibility resources and the department responsible for technical oversight [1]. Where official pages do not detail penalties or forms, the text notes that the information is not specified on the cited page and directs readers to the enforcing office and complaint pathways [2].
Penalties & Enforcement
The City’s published digital accessibility information defines policy goals and complaint pathways but does not list specific monetary fines on the cited page; fines and monetary penalties are not specified on the cited page.[1]
- Enforcer: Department of Information Technology / Technology Services is identified as the technical office for city digital services and complaints.[2]
- Fines: not specified on the cited page.
- Escalation: the city materials do not provide a tiered first/repeat offence schedule; escalation procedures are not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary sanctions: typical municipal remedies include directives to remediate inaccessible content and administrative orders; specific remedies are not detailed on the cited page.
- Inspection and complaints: report accessibility issues to the City of New Orleans accessibility contact or IT service desk via the official contact page.[2]
- Appeals and review: the cited city pages do not list appeal deadlines or appeal bodies; time limits are not specified on the cited page.
Applications & Forms
No dedicated municipal form for web accessibility complaints or variances is published on the city's accessibility pages; the cited materials do not show a named application or fee, and state "not specified on the cited page" where applicable.[1]
How-To
Follow a documented remediation process aligned with WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA (or later) and the City of New Orleans guidance: audit, prioritize fixes, implement code and CMS changes, publish an accessibility statement, and monitor ongoing compliance.
- Conduct an automated and manual accessibility audit and produce a prioritized remediation list.
- Fix high-impact issues first: navigation, keyboard access, labels, and forms.
- Document fixes, testing results, and publish or update an accessibility statement on your site.
- Provide a clear contact method for accessibility reports and respond within a stated timeframe.
- Maintain cyclical testing and staff training to prevent regressions.
FAQ
- Do New Orleans websites have to follow WCAG?
- Yes; the City of New Orleans promotes WCAG-based accessibility for city digital services and provides guidance on the city accessibility page.[1]
- Who do I contact to report an inaccessible city webpage?
- Contact the City of New Orleans IT/Technology Services through the official contact or accessibility pages to file a complaint or request remediation.[2]
- Are there fines for noncompliance?
- The city accessibility materials do not specify monetary fines or a penalty schedule; fines are not specified on the cited page.[1]
Key Takeaways
- New Orleans endorses WCAG-based accessibility for municipal digital services.
- Report issues to the City IT/Technology Services contact for remediation.
Help and Support / Resources
- City of New Orleans - Accessibility
- City of New Orleans - Information Technology / Technology Services
- New Orleans Municipal Code (Municode)
- Mayor's Office, City of New Orleans