File Digital Accessibility Complaint in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina residents and visitors can report inaccessible city web content or online services to the municipal ADA contact to request remediation. This guide explains the municipal pathway for digital accessibility complaints, who enforces accessibility for city services, practical steps to file, expected timelines, and options if a local resolution is not reached. It covers documentation to collect, the typical municipal review process, and where to escalate if reasonable access is not provided.
Penalties & Enforcement
The city enforces accessibility for its own digital services through administrative review and remedies rather than a fixed schedule of fines published specifically for digital accessibility. Specific monetary fines for digital accessibility are not specified on the city pages that describe ADA complaint handling; enforcement relies primarily on corrective orders, administrative processes, and referral to state or federal agencies where appropriate.
- Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page.
- Non-monetary remedies: corrective actions to bring city web pages or online services into compliance, updates, and accessibility fixes.
- Enforcer: the City ADA Coordinator or the department responsible for the specific service (e.g., Information Technology Services, Communications, or the department that operates the affected service).
- Inspections and review: the city may review the complaint, request evidence, and set a remediation timeline.
- Appeals and review: if local resolution fails, complainants may be directed to state or federal enforcement (for example, the U.S. Department of Justice) or pursue administrative remedies; specific time limits for appeals are not specified on the city pages.
Applications & Forms
The city does not publish a mandatory, single-page "digital accessibility complaint" form on its main information pages; complaints are often accepted by email, online contact forms for ADA issues, or by phone to the ADA Coordinator or city customer service. If the city publishes a specific complaint form, that form name, number, fee, and submission method will appear on the official ADA or city accessibility page; otherwise, submit the required information by email or web contact as described below.
How to file a complaint with the city
Follow these steps to file a clear, actionable complaint about a city-operated website, web application, or online document that you cannot access.
- Gather details: the URL(s) of inaccessible pages, date and time of occurrence, description of the barrier, device/browser used, and contact information for follow-up.
- Contact the City ADA Coordinator or designated accessibility contact by email or phone. If unsure, use the city general contact and ask for referral to the ADA Coordinator.
- Provide a concise written complaint with the gathered evidence and, when available, screenshots or an accessibility report from an automated checker; request a reasonable accommodation or remediation.
- Ask for a timeline for response and remediation and request confirmation in writing of receipt and next steps.
- If the city does not resolve the issue, consider filing with state or federal enforcement agencies (for example, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division) or seek legal advice regarding administrative appeals.
Common violations
- Non-text content without accessible alternatives (e.g., images without alt text).
- Interactive controls or forms that are not keyboard accessible or lack labels.
- PDFs or documents posted without accessible tagging or plain-text alternatives.
- Color contrast or visual presentation that prevents use by people with low vision.
Action steps: what to include in your complaint
- A clear statement of the accessibility barrier and the outcome you seek (for example, an accessible format or fixed page).
- Contact details and preferred contact method for the city to report progress or request clarifications.
- Relevant dates, URLs, screenshots, and any assistive technology used when the barrier occurred.
FAQ
- Who handles digital accessibility complaints for Winston-Salem city services?
- The City ADA Coordinator or the department responsible for the affected service handles digital accessibility complaints; if unsure, contact the city general customer service for referral.
- Is there a fee to file a complaint?
- No fee is typically required to file an accessibility complaint with the city; the city pages do not list a fee for complaint submission.
- How long will the city take to respond?
- Response times vary by department and workload; ask for an estimated timeline when you submit the complaint and request written confirmation.
How-To
- Identify the inaccessible city web page, app, or document and collect URLs and screenshots.
- Contact the City ADA Coordinator or official city contact by email or phone with a written description and request for remediation.
- Request written acknowledgement and a remediation timeline; follow up if no response in the stated timeframe.
- If unresolved, request escalation within the city or file with state or federal enforcement agencies.
Key Takeaways
- Start with the City ADA Coordinator and provide clear evidence of the barrier.
- Keep records of all communications and request written timelines.
- If local remedies fail, consider state or federal complaint routes.
Help and Support / Resources
- City of Winston-Salem official website
- U.S. Department of Justice - ADA Information
- City of Winston-Salem contact directory and ADA coordinator pages