Content for All: Municipalities Are Expanding Use of Accessibility Tools

Local governments are stepping up their digital media accessibility efforts, ensuring that all residents—regardless of hearing ability or native language—can engage with civic content. The shift is driven by both compliance requirements and a broader commitment to inclusive government communications. From the necessity of high-quality closed captioning to in-room and mobile captioning, there are a number of solutions that can help make municipal media more accessible.

Why Video Accessibility is Essential for Government Meetings

‍Government meetings play a crucial role in informing and engaging communities. However, for these meetings to truly serve all residents, accessibility must be a priority. So, what tools do you need to deliver content for all?

Closed captioning for live and on-demand content tops the list, as it’s required to comply with WCAG guidelines. For live audience members who may struggle with audio clarity, in-room captioning on dedicated displays is a smart choice.

Of course, not every facility has space for dedicated in-room displays or enough displays to effectively cover the entire room. If your meeting space can’t provide sufficient in-room captioning on large displays, mobile-friendly captioning allows attendees to follow along on their smartphones or tablets. If your municipality serves diverse populations, you should also consider multilingual translations. Not only do mobile captioning and translation services reduce the need for more on-site hardware, they expand accessibility for even more attendees.

Remember, these features don’t just help you achieve compliance with ADA regulations from the Department of Justice—they also build trust and foster stronger civic engagement.

Success Story: Taking the Lead on Video Captioning

Lonnie Garland, technical manager for a Minnesota community media center, proactively implemented closed captioning before it became a legal requirement. By working closely with city leadership, his organization built a system that integrates seamlessly with existing municipal workflows.

Their approach included:

• custom vocabulary imports (street names, council members, etc.) to improve accuracy.
• routing in-room captions to multiple locations, from council chambers to overflow spaces.
• preparing for upcoming website captioning mandates to ensure compliance across digital platforms.
  

The results? Greater community engagement and a smoother transition into new accessibility requirements. If you’d like to hear Lonnie share his story firsthand, you can view the full webinar on Accessibility Upgrades for Government here.

Get Ahead of Compliance

‍Remember, the push for accessible municipal services isn’t just about legal requirements—it’s about ensuring all residents can participate in local governance. Cities that adopt robust accessibility measures will not only avoid compliance issues but also build stronger community trust and engagement.