Last updated: April 9, 2026

The City of Sunnyvale wants everyone to be able to use our digital services. This includes people with disabilities.

Digital services include City websites, documents, forms and mobile apps.

Federal rules require public agencies to make their digital services accessible by April 24, 2026. The City is working to meet this deadline.

The following explains what the City is doing to improve accessibility and what work is still underway.

Purpose of This Plan

This plan explains how the City is improving digital accessibility.

The plan helps the City:

• Show our commitment to accessibility and transparency
• Share the progress we have already made
• Identify priorities for future improvements
• Work toward meeting federal accessibility requirements

What This Plan Covers

This plan covers public digital content and services managed by the City, including:

• City websites and webpages
• Online forms and documents (such as PDFs)
• Mobile apps
• Some third-party systems used to provide City services

The City keeps a Digital Asset Inventory. This is a list of our digital systems and their accessibility status.

Because not all content can be updated at once, the City focuses first on services that are used most often.

How Accessibility Is Evaluated

The City uses several ways to check digital accessibility:

• Automated testing tools to identify technical accessibility issues
• Manual review to evaluate usability and content structure
• Testing with assistive technology, such as screen readers

Accessibility reviews take place when:

• New digital platforms are implemented
• Major updates occur
• Accessibility remediation work is underway

Using more than one testing method helps ensure digital services work well for people who use assistive technology.

Accessibility Priorities

The City is improving accessibility in stages.

Work is focused first on:

• Core public services
• High-traffic webpages
• Essential forms and documents
• Systems needed to participate in City programs

Progress is reviewed regularly and summarized through updates to this plan.

While the City is working toward full compliance by April 24, 2026, timelines may be adjusted due to:

• Vendor dependencies
• Platform limitations
• Resource availability

Any adjustments will be documented to maintain transparency.

Policies and Standards

The City uses existing policies and operational guidelines to support accessibility and is identifying where updates are needed.

Areas under review include:

• Web publishing standards
• Accessible document requirements
• Procurement and contracting guidelines
• Content lifecycle and document retention practices

Policy updates will continue to be updated through 2026 so accessibility is incorporated into routine operations.

Training and Staff Awareness

Sustaining digital accessibility requires knowledgeable staff and consistent practices.

The City provides accessibility training that includes:

• Role-based training for staff who create or manage digital content
• Periodic refresher training
• Accessibility training for new employees during onboarding

Training helps build internal expertise and reduces the risk of accessibility barriers being introduced in the future.

Accessibility Governance

The City is developing a formal governance structure to support long-term digital accessibility.

Status: In Development

Planned components include:

• Digital Accessibility Lead responsible for coordination and reporting
• Cross-departmental Accessibility Working Group
• Department-level accessibility contacts

Until this structure is finalized, accessibility coordination continues through existing staff efforts and contracted vendor support.

Accessibility Exceptions and Alternatives

In limited circumstances, some digital content may be difficult to fully remediate due to technical or historical limitations.

Examples may include:

• Historical scanned documents
• Architectural blueprints
• Engineering diagrams
• Development site plans and maps
• Complex charts and tables
• Handwritten historical materials

These materials are not automatically exempt from accessibility requirements.

If someone needs accessible access to these materials, the City will work with them to provide an alternative format or another method of access whenever possible.

Requesting Accessibility Assistance

The City is developing a process for reporting accessibility issues and requesting accommodation.

Status: In Development

The process will:

• Provide a single contact channel for reporting accessibility barriers
• Track issues and requests through resolution
• Establish response timelines

Until the process is fully implemented, requests may be submitted through existing City communication channels.

Vendor Accessibility Requirements

The City works with outside vendors to provide many digital services.

New and renewed contracts will require vendors to meet accessibility standards.

Vendors may also be asked to provide:

• Compliance with federal accessibility regulations
• Accessibility documentation such as Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs)
• Vendor accessibility contacts

The City will also establish procedures to validate vendor accessibility claims through testing or third-party review.