Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility

The Land Use Commission is committed to ensuring equal access to all E-government materials. All electronic files submitted to our office must be unlocked, searchable, and compliant with ADA accessibility standards. It is the responsibility of the submitting agency to ensure that their files meet these requirements.

If you use assistive technology and encounter any barriers accessing information on our website, please contact us at [email protected] or call (808) 587-3822. When reaching out, include the nature of the accessibility issue, your preferred format for receiving the material, the web address of the content in question, and your contact information so we can assist you effectively.

Our website includes documents dating back to the 1960s. We are actively working to scan and publish these legacy files while requiring all new submissions to be in electronic format. While not all historical files currently meet ADA accessibility standards, we continue to collaborate with applicants to ensure new filings are fully compliant, and we are steadily working toward making legacy content accessible in the future.

How to make a document ADA Accessibility

A PDF is not ADA compliant if it lacks:

  1. Searchable text
  2. Proper tagging (headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.)
  3. Alt text for images
  4. Bookmarks for long or complex documents
  5. Correct table structure

 

Helpful Tips:

  • Start with an Accessible Source File
  • Before converting from Word or Excel, use the Check Accessibility feature.
  • Fix all listed issues (missing alt text, headings, etc.).
  • Save the document using “Save As” or “Export” — do not use “Print to PDF,” which strips accessibility features.
  • Use the Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Checker (Tools > Accessibility > Full Check).
  • Review and fix any errors it identifies: (e.g. Missing tags, No document title, Missing alt text, etc.)
  • For each issue, right-click it and select “Fix” or “Explain” to get guidance.
  • Know What Can’t Be Fully Fixed: Logical Reading Order and Color Contrast.

 

Hawaiian Diacritical Marks

The kahakō and ʻokina can pose challenges for some reading apps and screen readers, potentially leading to misinterpretations or inaccurate pronunciations. DCAB is recommending that State agencies utilize the following links:

ʻŌlelo Translate tool developed by UH West Oʻahu

West Oʻahu site Hawaiian Language Considerations with additional information and guidance:

 

Resources for some guidance on ADA topics

ADA.gov

Section508.gov

PDF Authoring Guides

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Accessibility at UH

UH West Oahu 

Disability and Communicaiton Access Board: ADA site

Office of Enterprise Technology Services: Web Accessibility Resources

About ADA Accessibility

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual’s ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.

This standard was recently refreshed to include Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a globally recognized voluntary consensus standard for web content and information communication technology created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The WCAG 2.0 Level AA standard and the Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.0 techniques for web content, shall be used to measure accessibility and functionality of on-line content. ETS looks to this standard for reliable guidance on meeting accessibility commitments and compliance for portal architecture sites.

This site has been designed to be compatible with a wide variety of browsers, and with assistive technologies in mind. Our goal is to continue to work to make access available to all individuals. Improving access to citizens with disabilities is one of our top priorities, and any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to make sure that their services, programs, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Title II applies to all services, programs, or activities of state and local governments, from adoption services to zoning regulation. This includes the services, programs, and activities that state and local governments offer online and through mobile apps.

Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §368-1.5: The ADA (42 U.S.C. §§12101) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) are federal civil rights statutes that require state and local governments, including the court system, to accommodate the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.

For questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Hawaii’s Disability and Communications Access Board (DCAB), 919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 101, Honolulu, HI 96814, [email protected], (808) 586-8121.