Accessibility

Accessibility Statement

The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is committed to providing all Coloradans with equitable and accessible services. Guided by our core values, we are actively working to advance digital accessibility, ensure all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is accessible, and remove barriers through the following actions:

• Implementing a comprehensive Accessibility Plan that guides our work across all digital platforms and communication channels.
• Embedding accessibility requirements into procurement practices by including accessibility criteria in solicitations and contract language to ensure accountability.
• Implementing Equally Effective Alternative Access Plans (EEAAPs) when full accessibility cannot yet be achieved, ensuring individuals with disabilities can access comparable information and services.
• Building staff capacity through training, skill development, and tools that support the creation of accessible materials.
• Conducting automated testing of all webpages for accessibility and quality assurance. 
• Working with contracted third-party manual testers to provide manual accessibility testing and remediation of our websites and applications. 
• Continuing to test and remediate our digital products in an effort to provide continuous improvement of our sites and applications. 
• Responding promptly to reports or requests regarding inaccessible content, reasonable accommodations, or modifications.

You can report a concern, or request support regarding any accessibility need in the following ways:

• Email: CDEC_ADA@state.co.us
• Phone: 720-947-5020

For other non-accesibility related questions, please contact cdec_communications@state.co.us or reach out to the program directly. Frequently requested program contacts include:

Universal Preschool: cdec_upk-program@state.co.us

We welcome your feedback about the accessibility of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s services. Please let us know via the provided contact methods if you encounter accessibility barriers or would like to request assistance.

• All requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and we will do our best to reply to all communications timely. 
• Reasonable accommodations or modifications are provided at no cost. 
• Accommodation requests that impose an undue financial, technical, or administrative burden to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood may not be fulfilled as requested, but every effort will be made to provide alternative access.

Examples of accommodations include: 

• Sign language interpretation for an event, meeting, or appointment 
• Alternative document formats (large print, electronic text, or braille) 
• Remediated Portable Document Format (PDF) documents

CDEC will make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to ensure programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities and to prevent discrimination.

In addition to ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities, CDEC is committed to equity for all. This includes providing access and services for individuals whose primary language is not English and addressing systemic barriers that may prevent full participation.

Access the State of Colorado Accessibility standards and resources.

For questions about the State of Colorado Accessibility Standards, email OIT_Accessibility@state.co.us.  

For more information on how to request a reasonable accessibility modification beyond the information, email, and phone number listed above, please refer to the resources below.

Accessibility Progress Report and Plan

Executive Summary

Driven by our core values and a commitment to equitable access for all Coloradoans, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is actively working to ensure all digital resources meet accessibility requirements. This Accessibility Plan details our actions and reinforces our commitment to continuous, measurable progress, and evidence of good faith progress towards removing barriers across the inventory of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Additionally, this Accessibility Plan will be updated annually, outlining:

• How we are prioritizing ICT in active use
• The steps we are taking to remove accessibility barriers in our ICT
• Measurable progress
• The availability of reasonable accommodations and modifications
• Our procedures for regular testing and remediating ICT

Background

HB21-1110 required state agencies to comply with accessibility standards developed by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) by July 1, 2024. HB24-1454 created immunity from liability for state agencies until July 1, 2025 if agencies demonstrate good faith efforts toward compliance with the accessibility standards established. Good faith efforts must include the creation of a quarterly progress-to-date report that demonstrates concrete and specific efforts toward compliance on the agency’s front-facing web pages. 

The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) has developed accessibility technical standards with the intent of providing enterprise standard configurations for technologies that serve  those with disabilities, in accordance with the technical standards provided by:

• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA or higher
• Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Chapters 3 ,4, and 6 
• C.R.S. 24-85-101 to 24-85-104, ARTICLE 85

These guidelines help make technology accessible to users with sensory, cognitive, and mobility disabilities, and ultimately to all users, regardless of ability.

 

This Accessibility Plan outlines CDEC’s ongoing progress in meeting and exceeding accessibility standards. We are committed to equitable access for all Coloradans, including those with disabilities. To achieve this, CDEC is systematically prioritizing, evaluating, remediating, and continuously improving accessibility across all digital touchpoints.

Advancing Accessibility

CDEC has defined a long-term accessibility governance plan and structure that outlines milestones, roles, and responsibilities for CDEC to comply with HB21-1110. This governance structure includes:

• A Governance Team, which ensures that digital accessibility is operating with clarity, accountability, and alignment.  Our role is strategic and oversight-oriented, at times operational.  
• Skills and Training for employees to provide accessible services and information, including making all CDEC-created deliverables, documents, and web pages accessible.
• Evaluation and Remediation of digital resources, such as websites and documents.
• Communications and Support, creating and maintaining clear, well-tended channels for receiving feedback and requests on accessibility issues. 
• Ensuring Accessibility in IT products and projects.
• Embedding Accessibility into the Department’s solicitation, evaluation, and contract processes. 

 

This Plan is being actively implemented to ensure ongoing compliance with HB21-1110. Additional details on progress in these areas can be found below. 

Accessibility Plan

The steps we are taking to remove accessibility barriers in our Information Communication Technology (ICT)

• Implementing a comprehensive Accessibility Plan that guides our work across all digital platforms and communication channels.
• Embedding accessibility requirements into procurement practices by including accessibility criteria in solicitations and contract language to ensure accountability.
• Implementing Equally Effective Alternative Access Plans (EEAAPs) when full accessibility cannot yet be achieved, ensuring individuals with disabilities can access comparable information and services.
• Building staff capacity through training, skill development, and tools that support the creation of accessible materials.
• Conducting automated testing of all webpages for accessibility and quality assurance. 
• Working with contracted third-party manual testers to provide manual accessibility testing and remediation of our websites and applications. 
• Continuing to collect inventory, test and remediate our digital products in an effort to provide continuous improvement of our sites and applications. 
• Responding promptly to reports or requests regarding inaccessible content, reasonable accommodations, or modifications.

How we are prioritizing ICT in active use

• The Accessibility Plan establishes quarterly benchmarks for addressing high-priority ICT needs. Progress toward these goals is reviewed monthly to ensure timely remediation, transparency, and continuous improvement. 
• Ensuring that all staff, particularly key personnel and all staff are trained on the procedures and process for all inquiries for accessible accommodations. Additionally, we are actively monitoring the effectiveness of our EEAAP process and making informed adjustments as we learn more, ensuring our process remains responsive to the evolving needs of our staff and the communities we serve. 
• Emphasizing high-contact ICT, where potential impact on users is greatest. 
• Using both a backward and forward looking approach, staff are actively remediating existing ICT products while also receiving training to build the skills necessary to create accessible digital content moving forward. 

Our timelines showing measurable progress

Our timeline for demonstrating measurable progress is structured around quarterly benchmarks, with monthly monitoring to ensure consistent advancement. Specifically:

• Quarterly Benchmarks: We have identified key high-priority ICT areas that require remediation or development. Each quarter, we will assess progress toward these benchmarks using clear metrics such as the number of remediated digital assets, completion of staff training sessions, and improvements in accessibility compliance scores.
• Monthly Monitoring: Progress is reviewed monthly by our internal accessibility implementation team. These meetings allow us to evaluate current efforts, address barriers in real time, and make data-informed adjustments to stay aligned with our overall accessibility goals.
• Ongoing Training and Capacity Building: Staff training in accessible ICT practices is being implemented in phases, with milestones tied to the completion of foundational and advanced learning modules. 
• Annual Review and Reporting: At the end of each year, we will compile progress reports highlighting completed actions, outcome data, lessons learned, and next steps. These reports will be used to update the Accessibility Plan and inform leadership and partners of overall performance.

This structured approach ensures that we are not only setting goals, but also continuously evaluating, learning, and adapting to make meaningful and measurable progress toward a more accessible and inclusive digital environment.

The availability of reasonable accommodations and modifications

Reasonable accommodations and modifications are available with CDEC programs and services. 

Our process includes the following:

To report a concern, or request support regarding any accessibility need in the following ways:

• Email: CDEC_ADA@state.co.us
• Phone: 720-947-5020

For other non-accesibility related questions, please contact cdec_communications@state.co.us or reach out to the program directly. Frequently requested program contacts include:

Universal Preschool: cdec_upk-program@state.co.us

We welcome your feedback about the accessibility of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s services. Please let us know via the provided contact methods if you encounter accessibility barriers or would like to request assistance.

• All requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, and we will do our best to reply to all communications timely. 
• Reasonable accommodations or modifications are provided at no cost. 
• Accommodation requests that impose an undue financial, technical, or administrative burden to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood may not be fulfilled as requested, but every effort will be made to provide alternative access.

Examples of accommodations include: 

• Sign language interpretation for an event, meeting, or appointment 
• Alternative document formats (large print, electronic text, or braille) 
• Remediated Portable Document Format (PDF) documents

CDEC will make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to ensure programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities and to prevent discrimination.

Our procedures for regular testing and remediating ICT

• Inventory and Prioritization: Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of all digital assets, including websites, documents, applications, and platforms. These assets are categorized by priority level based on frequency of use, public visibility, and potential impact.
• Regular Accessibility Testing: High-priority ICT is tested regularly using a combination of automated tools and manual evaluations to assess compliance guidelines. 
• Remediation Process: Identified issues are documented, and a remediation plan is developed with clear timelines. Remediation is conducted either internally by trained staff or through qualified vendors, depending on the complexity of the issue.
• Documentation and Tracking: All testing and remediation activities are logged in a centralized system to monitor progress, track recurring issues, and ensure accountability. This system supports transparent reporting and performance evaluation in Smartsheet..
• Staff Training and Capacity Building: Staff responsible for creating or managing digital content receive ongoing training in accessible design practices to prevent accessibility barriers from being introduced in new ICT products.
• Continuous Improvement: The procedure is reviewed on a regular basis to incorporate new standards, technologies, and user feedback. We remain responsive to emerging accessibility needs and advances in inclusive digital design.

Accessibility Progress Report 

Task	Progress
Governance
Implement a comprehensive Accessibility Plan that guides our work across all digital platforms and communication channels.	Ongoing
Identified key leaders and decision-makers and successfully established an Accessibility Governance Team to provide strategic oversight, guide decision-making, and ensure accountability throughout the implementation process.	Complete
Identify and establish core subcommittees aligned with key accessibility project areas, with defined roles, meeting schedules, and ensure each subcommittee reports measurable progress toward goals on a quarterly basis.	Ongoing
Design and implement an accessibility request tracking system to log, monitor, and resolve all incoming accommodation and access requests, with 100% of requests tracked, response times documented, and monthly resolution reports generated.	Complete
Achieve 100% completion of staff training on the new accessibility accommodation request process.	Complete
Create and post on a front-facing website a progress report that is updated annually and demonstrates progress that supports our long-term vision of moving beyond compliance to foster a culture of digital equity and user-centered service delivery.	Complete
Evaluation and Remediation of Documents and Websites
Developed and implemented a standardized process for collecting document inventory across all divisions, resulting in a live dashboard that tracks remediation status by priority level, with 100% of high-priority documents entered and updated monthly starting Q3 2025.	Complete
Establish quarterly benchmark goals for document and website remediation, and launch monthly progress meetings to review status, identify resource needs, and address implementation challenges, with documentation and action items tracked and reported beginning Q3 2025.	In progress
Develop and implement a standardized reporting process for website remediation progress, including monthly data collection from Product Owners and a centralized dashboard updated regularly beginning Q3 2025.	In progress
Create and implement a plan and process for providing reasonable accommodation and modification until the technology can be made accessible.	Complete
Identified all high-level departmental resources and platforms requiring Equally Effective Alternate Access Plans (EEAAPs) and developed standardized EEAAP templates for division-level customization and implementation.	Complete
Build Internal Capacity: Skills and Training
Integrate accessibility goals into 100% of applicable individual staff performance plans.	Complete
Launch a centralized digital accessibility intranet page with curated training, resources, tools, and information.	Complete
Identify key staff across Divisions requiring subject matter expertise in document accessibility and train 100% of selected individuals on CommonLook remediation tools by the end of Q4 to support high-priority document remediation efforts.	Complete
Reach 95% completion rate for accessibility training across all three core courses (Awareness, Document Creation, Web Content) by Q2.	Complete
Conduct regular training and gather needs assessment data to identify training gaps and use information to inform training plans.	Ongoing
User Support, Communication & Alternative Access
Maintain <5 business day response time for all accessibility requests tracked.	Ongoing
Developed a comprehensive e-newsletter accessibility strategy that has been implemented, ensuring all images now include alternative text and captions to enhance usability for screen reader users across a subscriber base of 50,000+.	Complete
Maintain and update a dedicated Accessibility web page that includes the Department’s Accessibility Statement, user-friendly resources for accessible engagement, and a direct contact method for requesting accommodations or reporting inaccessible content, with quarterly content reviews and updates conducted to ensure accuracy and relevance.	Ongoing
IT Product and Evaluation
Establish and document a Product Accessibility Integration Framework to be adopted.	Complete
Include accessibility checkpoints in all product launch processes.	Ongoing
Monthly review Siteimprove accessibility scores and establish quarterly benchmark goals to improve website accessibility, aiming for an increase each quarter until a score of 95% or higher is achieved across all priority websites.	In progress
Procurement
The Department will create a process to integrate accessibility criteria across its solicitation, evaluation, and contract processes to improve the accessibility of its service offerings.	Complete
The Procurement team will regularly assess effectiveness, identify gaps, and implement improvements to strengthen vendor accountability and inclusive procurement practices.	Ongoing

Available Accessibility Resources & Feedback

• Access for the Visually and Hearing Impaired: Dial 711 or (800) 659-3656 to reach Relay Colorado. Relay Colorado is a free service that provides full telephone access to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled.
  • Aira: Free for up to 30 minutes per session. The State of Colorado is excited to offer a new service for blind and low-vision Coloradans through a partnership with Aira, an app that provides live, on-demand visual interpreting through human-to-human assistance. Coloradans get free access for up to 30 minutes per session while navigating state locations and digital services, reducing barriers to services and creating a more welcoming Colorado for all. To learn more about Aira, including frequently asked questions about the service, visit the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT) Aira webpage.
• The Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf, Blind: The Commission provides programs and services for accessibility, communication, technology, and education. Explore their website for information about services, provider directories, and more.
• CDEC Employee Accommodations: Contact CDEC’s Human Resources at cdec_humanresourcesinquiry@state.co.us.
• Locations & Facilities: CDEC strives to provide services and hold meetings in locations accessible to people with disabilities. Contact CDEC at CDEC_ADA@state.co.us or by calling (720) 947-5020 to make a facilities accommodation request regarding CDEC’s building at 710 S. Ash Street, and you will be directed to the CDEC Facilities and Operations Unit.
• Language Services: In addition, CDEC provides language services to individuals whose first language is not English, when needed to ensure equal opportunity and meaningful access to the department's programs, services and activities.
  • Examples of language services include, but are not limited to:
    • Qualified sign language interpreters;
    • Written information in other formats;
    • Language interpreters; and
    • Information translated into other languages.
  • To request Language Services, please contact CDEC at CDEC_ADA@state.co.us or by calling (720) 947-5020.
• Records Requests: The Colorado Open Records Act, (CORA) C.R.S. § 24-72-201 to 206, provides that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, except as provided in part 2 or as otherwise specifically provided by law. It is the intention of CDEC to apply this Act in a uniform and reliable manner to comply with its provisions. Please visit our CORA web page for information on how to request a CDEC record not accessible on a CDEC website. You may also submit a request directly to CDEC_CORA@state.co.us.