State of Colorado Accessibility Newsletter - February 2026

New Federal Accessibility Rules Deadline on the Way

Both state and federal law create compliance obligations for public entities in Colorado regarding digital accessibility. These obligations are set by Colorado’s Rules Establishing Technology Accessibility Standards and the federal Web and Mobile Accessibility Rule in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

While the Colorado Digital Accessibility Rules and the ADA Title II Accessibility Rule have much in common, they also contain some critical differences. For instance, the Colorado Digital Accessibility Rules apply to a wider variety of technology and sources, while the ADA Title II Accessibility Rule imposes stricter compliance requirements.

The ADA Title II Accessibility Rule was published in April 2024 and has upcoming compliance deadlines for public entities:

• State agencies and larger local governments with a population of 50,000 or more must be in full compliance with the requirements of the ADA Title II Accessibility Rule by April 24, 2026.
• Special districts and smaller local governments with populations less than 50,000 must be in full compliance by April 26, 2027.

How can you be ready for the federal deadline?

Step 1: Does technology involve web content or mobile apps?

• If YES   The technology is subject to requirements under both the Colorado Digital Accessibility Rules and the ADA Title II Accessibility Rule.
• If NO   The technology may only be subject to requirements under the Colorado Digital Accessibility Rules.
  • Resources: Plain Language Guide to the Colorado Rules

Step 2: Is the web content or mobile app public-facing?

• If YES   The federal ADA Title II Accessibility Rules require that you make them fully accessible by meeting WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards.
  • Resources: State and Local Governments: First Steps Toward Complying with the Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule.
• If NO   You must meet one of the compliance options provided under the Colorado Digital Accessibility Rules.
  • Resources: Plain Language Guide to the Colorado Rules

Step 3: Addressing Questions

• If you have a legal question about complying with your obligations under state and federal law, please reach out to your applicable legal counsel.
• If you have general questions about best practices or technical questions, please contact oit_accessibility@state.co.us 

Begin with a plan and document your progress. For specific concerns, consult your legal counsel confidentially.

New SIPA User Group Brings Together Local Governments

The Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) has established a Local Government Accessibility User Group to foster a collaborative community among Colorado’s local government entities. The group is dedicated to sharing knowledge, resources and best practices on digital accessibility. Their goal is to help local governments navigate the legal and technical requirements of Colorado’s accessibility law and ensure inclusive digital government services for all Coloradans.

If you're interested in attending upcoming meetings, please email Josh Schroder at accessibility@cosipa.gov.

Accessibility Quick Tips
Creating Accessible Tables: What to Do About Blank Cells

To ensure your tables are accessible, avoid leaving cells empty. If you’re unsure how to handle blank cells, first consider what kind of cell you are working with. A header cell will need different treatment than a data cell. Here are a few tips:

• Use clear headers for all rows and columns. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) allow the A1 cell (the top left cell) to be blank, but no other header cells should be empty. Find accessible table examples with different methods for headers in the W3C’s Tables Tutorial.
• Remember that screen readers announce blank cells differently. We suggest avoiding blank data cells altogether. For example, if you type “n/a” into a cell, JAWS will read it as “En slash Uh”, NVDA will read it as “En slash A”, and VoiceOver will read it as “En forward-slash A.” Instead, “Not applicable” is preferred to indicate there is no value.
• In some cases, you will not be able to change the cell value (i.e., legal or financial documents). These are great reminders to consider digital accessibility from the start!

Remember the POUR principles of accessibility and that the goal is to make tables easy to understand for everyone. When a table is clear and consistent, the experience becomes more inclusive and equitable and screen reader users can navigate the data and information confidently.

New SIPA Grants Cycle

Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) grant programs support Colorado governments in providing digital services that improve resident experiences and foster efficient, effective connections between residents and government. The SIPA GovGrants program is excited to open its Spring 2026 application cycle on March 9. Learn more on SIPA's Grants page. You can find additional information on the Micro-Grants FAQ and previously awarded projects on the Current Recipients page. Apply between March 1-31 for projects ranging up to $10,000.

Notable & Quotable

“Every design decision has the potential to include or exclude people.”

- Alistair Duggin, specialist and consultant, former senior accessibility engineer at Apple