Overview
The challenge: Provide accessible, user-friendly Web site to citizens, businesses and other government entities with faster, easier and more intuitive access to government.
The solution: An accessible Web portal created by IBM Global Services using WebSphere technology from IBM.
The benefit: Highly accessible, better organized and more effective Web interface.
Complying with requirements to make accessible technology available
In June 2001, the federal government began enforcing Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requiring federal agencies to purchase electronic and information technology that is accessible to people with disabilities.
That same year, the State of Arizona contracted with IBM to develop a leading-edge Web portal that would become a single point of contact for Arizona citizens to access government services and information. Not wanting to leave any constituent behind, the state required that the Web portal and the services offered through the portal be accessible to all citizens.
"Although states are not required to comply with federal accessibility standards, Arizona chose to be proactive and adopt the federal measures to make our state's Web content more accessible to our citizens," says Gene Martel, digital government services manager for the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA) of Arizona.
Providing single portal to access state agencies
Martel's agency worked with IBM Global Services (IGS) to develop an accessible Web portal that provides one-stop shopping for Arizona citizens and meets Section 508 requirements.
The resulting portal, "Arizona @ Your Service," provides links to a multitude of state, local and federal agencies. Moreover, there are approximately 40 Arizona state government agencies that have redesigned their Web sites to be accessible. State agencies that develop new or redesign existing Web sites must coordinate their efforts through GITA to help make their Web sites accessible. IGS can help agencies modify, redesign or create new Web sites, online services and applications that are accessible to more people—regardless of ability or disability.
For example, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is administering a federal storm water permit program in order to comply with new regulations — dramatically increasing the number of permits it has to process. The DEQ needed an innovative way of handling the increased work load. "IBM Global Services helped us design and implement a Web-based solution that is fully accessible and improves our speed of execution while minimizing project cost," says Supervisory Hydrologist Wayne Hood of the Department of Environmental Quality.
Easing access for all citizens
Now, Arizona residents - those with disabilities and those without - have easy access to state agency information through a single clearinghouse. Because of the cooperation between IBM and the State of Arizona, constituents can view well-organized information and use one Web site, day or night, to do business online.
"Feedback on the Arizona @ Your Service portal has been positive. We've heard from advocacy groups that the accessibility features we put in place do indeed make a difference when people access our site."
—Gene Martel, digital government services manager for the Government Information Technology Agency of Arizona..