Streamlining will allow software to “read” sites aloud

Video courtesy Hawaii County office of the Mayor

HILO, Hawaii: HawaiiCounty.gov and HawaiiCountyMayor.com have been updated with accessibility in mind, say officials, enabling those who use assistive technology to more easily browse the web to access information and news about County departments and programs.

The under-the-hood streamlining of the websites allows off-the-shelf screen reader software, like JAWS for Windows and the VoiceOver software built into Mac OS, to read the websites aloud for people with sight impairments or difficulty reading.

The upgrades were a collaborative project between the County’s Departments of Information Technology and Human Resources, the Office of Mayor Billy Kenoi, and the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities.

The Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities’ role is to advise the Mayor on all matters related to persons with disabilities. The committee recommends action and provides guidelines to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, with special focus on employment, education, transportation, recreation, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The twelve member committee is appointed by the Mayor.