Hey, everyone, it’s Dana. We talk a lot about accessibility on the Government Video Podcast, but in our latest episode, we’re approaching the topic from a different angle. When city departments and community media centers think about accessibility, the conversation often starts with compliance. WCAG standards, ADA requirements, and Section 508 policies loom large in the minds of municipal IT and AV leaders. But Mathias Rechtzigel, a designer and technologist who specializes in accessibility and inclusive design for public sector and civic tech projects, said accessibility should be viewed as more than just a box to check.
Instead, it’s about compassionate design—removing barriers that residents face every day, whether they’re navigating an online service, watching a livestream, or accessing critical government information. For municipalities, accessibility is not just about staying compliant. It’s about demonstrating care for residents by making every piece of digital communication usable for everyone. This approach ultimately strengthens trust in government while easing technology workflows for city staff.
Beyond Minimum Standards
Rechtzigel explained that accessible design often falters when governments only aim for the bare minimum. A common example comes from alt text for images. Federal offices may technically comply by labeling a photo as “fire,” but that description erases the intent of the content, such as an image of wildfires threatening a retirement community. On the other hand, smaller organizations (or even larger government agencies like NASA) take the time to provide meaningful, thoughtful descriptions that capture both information and emotion.
This level of care matters when building local government media strategies. Accessible city council meetings, livestreamed hearings, and video archives all rely on accurate captions, descriptive alt text, and clear navigation.
Meeting accessibility obligations does not mean creating dry, perfunctory experiences. It means designing with empathy from the start, so that residents with low vision, hearing differences, or cognitive challenges can still fully participate in civic life.
Practical Steps for Cities
For municipal IT and media specialists, the scope of government meeting accessibility can feel overwhelming. Websites may have decades of archived content, video channels may host hundreds of recordings, and ADA standards seem to touch every part of production. But Rechtzigel urged cities to see this as an opportunity rather than a burden.
Start small: Review and correct alt text, audit high-traffic videos for captions, and assess whether every archived PDF or recording truly needs to remain public. Some materials can be archived in a way that removes the requirement to retrofit accessibility, freeing resources for more impactful work.
Equally important is community input. Rechtzigel highlighted how the Saint Paul, Minn., set aside funds to pay residents for usability feedback. That investment turned residents into collaborators, helping the city improve media workflows for government while valuing lived experience. Collaboration in local government media not only improves services but also signals to residents that their voices matter.
Accessibility as a Civic Value
Government leaders often frame accessibility as risk mitigation; that is, do it to avoid lawsuits or negative headlines. But the greater value is cultural. Cities that invest in inclusive government communications create an environment where residents feel cared for and welcome. From multilingual audio services that support diverse communities to online community media ADA requirements that keep civic video inclusive, these choices send a clear message: Government is for everyone.
Better accessibility also means better technology. Well-coded, well-documented media platforms are easier to maintain, easier to automate, and less prone to failure. For municipal IT and AV teams already stretched thin, that reliability is a critical benefit.
Accessible design is never “done.” It’s a continuous practice that requires regular attention. Municipal video teams don’t need to solve everything at once. Instead, they can build accessibility habits into ongoing operations, testing new tools with residents, refining captioning processes, and weaving inclusion into every broadcast and web update.
When local governments embrace accessibility as a design philosophy rather than an afterthought, they build communities where residents are informed, connected, and engaged. And in today’s digital-first civic landscape, that’s the true measure of success.
Ready to learn more about better accessibility? Make sure to listen to this episode of the Government Video Podcast.
Event Replay - Demystifying Closed Captioning: What WCAG 2.1AA Really Requires for Government Video
Get clarity on WCAG 2.1AA captioning requirements. Learn what’s required, what’s recommended, and how to keep your government video content compliant.
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