5 Ways the Content Portal Helps You Embrace Digital Accessibility

Is your organization prepared to fully embrace accessibility?

86 million people in the US have disabilities. To put that into perspective, that’s 26% of the entire population and 1 in 4 people. Despite this fact, many organizations are not yet fully accessible both digitally and physically.

But as of 2024 and coming into 2025, we’re entering a new era of inclusivity, ushered in by a recent accessibility law in the US that applies to organizations in the U.S. that are covered under Title II of the ADA. In case you’re unfamiliar, the law is set to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy the same access and opportunities as people without disabilities by mandating that their web content and mobile apps must conform to the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.

The deadline depends on the size of your organization, too:

• Organizations of 50,000 people or more have a deadline of April 24, 2026
• Organizations smaller than 50,000 people, have a deadline of April 24, 2027

Those who don’t comply could face fines ranging from $75,000 to $150,000 or higher depending on the situation.

Yes, these dates are quickly approaching. But this isn’t just a compliance wake-up call. It’s your organization’s chance to join the movement to make our world more inclusive and equitable for all and set a powerful example in your industry in the process.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the digital side of accessibility, exploring what “digital accessibility” really means and how organizations are using the Content Portal to ensure that their digital content is accessible to all.

What is Digital Accessibility?

By definition, digital accessibility is achieved when an organization’s websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.

What is the Content Portal?

The Content Portal is a solution that integrates seamlessly with OnBase content, Workflow, WorkView, electronic forms, and payment processing to let organizations offer their customers a personalized self-service experience. Even more, the content portal is highly accessible, which has a profound impact on the user experience for customers with disabilities. As a result, it’s become a popular option for organizations looking to become accessible.

Read on to get a tour of the 3 key ways the content portal helps organizations embrace digital accessibility:

3 Ways the Content Portal Helps You Embrace Digital Accessibility

1. WCAG 2.1 Compliance

The Content Portal prioritizes all public-facing web interfaces to be ADA-compliant and compliant with WCAG 2.1, Section 508, and the EU Directive right out of the box. As a result, the Content Portal offers an interface that’s both responsive and highly accessible to individuals with disabilities.

2. Personalized Digital Self-Service

The Content Portal levels up your customer service with 24/7/365 self-service delivery. Even better, it offers personalized content retrieval for each user. This gives customers the freedom to access the information and services they need whenever and wherever they need it. And with all these benefits come more streamlined processes, making it easier and quicker for users with disabilities to find the information they need and complete transactions.

3. Accessible Web Forms

The Content Portal also offers online forms designed with accessibility at the forefront. It is fully mobile responsive and meets WCAG 2.1 and ADA compliance standards, allowing individuals with disabilities to access and complete forms without barriers. It’s also worth noting these web forms have government-strength security and allow users to save their progress, leave the form, and continue filling it out at their convenience. This way, your customers get an even better user experience and you can rest easy knowing security is in check.

Digital Accessibility Next Steps: 6 Actions You Need to Take

Ready to take your next steps? Here’s an overview of the 6 steps you’ll take as you create a more accessible user experience for your customers:

1. Read the ADA’s fact sheet to better understand the ins and outs of the new rules and how they may apply specifically to your organization.
2. Team up with a digital transformation partner with experience in accessibility efforts and a strong consulting and implementation team.
3. Begin an accessibility audit of your website content and mobile apps with your digital transformation partner. You’ll then get an accessibility score that demonstrates your current accessibility status. It’s recommended that you conduct regular audits to ensure that you stay on the right track and are aware of any potential further improvements you could make.
4. Enter the consulting phase, where your partner’s consulting team will guide you through your options for accessibility updates, whether that includes adding a Content Portal or otherwise.
5. Start implementing your changes. Here, you’ll get hands-on assistance in implementing the necessary changes your organization needs to meet the new standards and embrace a better, more inclusive future.
6. Book team training sessions to ensure that your team understands the changes you’ve made, how to support them, and the “Why” behind your organization’s support of accessibility efforts.