Accessibility

Government still wrestles with digital equity, accessibility

Agencies struggle to provide services for individuals with limited English, digital literacy issues and unreliable broadband or online access, a recent survey found.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

How to build future-facing ERP

Thoroughly understanding the limitations of the legacy platform and mapping out the business case for replacing an enterprise resource planning system will help agencies build for the future instead of reconstructing the past.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Digitized ID eases re-entry for formerly incarcerated

To streamline the re-entry process for released inmates, the Maryland Re-Entry Passport program launched an online portal that stores digitized copies of personal documents.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Broadband maps for Indian Country called ‘horrible,’ ‘egregious’ and ‘negligent’

Tribal advocates say the FCC’s maps are symbolic of wider, systemic issues, but help may be on the way via a new Virtual Tribal Broadband Office.

  • By Chris Teale

Language accessibility a growing priority for cities

City websites using machine translations still look to humans to ensure accuracy.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Online access, data improvements essential for 2030 census, cities say

In a letter to the Census Bureau, the National League of Cities detailed common hurdles local governments faced during the 2020 census — and suggestions for improvements.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Voxlens makes interactive data more accessible for screen readers

With one additional line of code, visualization designers can allow people who use screen readers to interact with charts and graphs.

  • By Sarah McQuate, Futurity

Code for America unveils first states in Safety Net Innovation Lab cohort

The nonprofit’s lab aims to help states build digital tools and services to connect people with health, food assistance and other benefits programs. 

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Online tool helps DC residents go green, save green

GreenUp DC is an interactive tool that lets users see existing green energy, stormwater reduction and energy conservation projects, and immediately calculate the potential benefits to their property.

  • By Rutrell Yasin

MyMedicare.gov pays off with savings, preventative care

In building MyMedicare.gov, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services addressed an increasingly tech-savvy population and a mandate to cut costs.

  • By John Moore

Labor app contests promote data accessibility

Two Department of Labor app contests with a total of $70,000 in prizes available have been announced.

Story time: An adventure in government land

Some communications experts say that Web-based games could help more people get a better grasp on the workings of government.

  • By Andy Krzmarzick

Crowdsourcing: Government by the people?

Some state and municipal governments around the country are bringing people into the decision-making process with crowdsourcing sites.

  • By Kevin McCaney

7 social media resolutions to keep in the new year

Want to make the most of social networking without getting overwhelmed by the volume of data or compromising security? Here are resolutions worth keeping.

  • By Dan Rowinski
Featured eBooks

Treasury builds its new website in the cloud

Treasury.gov brings the agency to the cloud and integrates many new features of Gov. 2.0 and is a step forward in using new technologies to improve efficiency and transparency.

  • By Dan Rowinski

On the hunt for great public-sector websites

Know of any great public-sector websites? GCN wants to hear about them.

  • By Rutrell Yasin

Albuquerque lets it all hang out with data

The city is trying to change New Mexico's reputation for poor transparency with its ABQ View website, which provides a comprehensive look at how it collects and spends its money.

  • By Kevin McCaney

Dozens of federal agencies check in at Foursquare

The Foursquare geographic social media site is chock-full tips for visitors to federal buildings.

  • By Alice Lipowicz

Decision on using persistent cookies coming soon, Fed CIO says

OMB could make a decision by next month on whether federal agencies can use persistent cookies on their Web sites.

  • By Rutrell Yasin

State Department social network in the works

The State Department will be launching its own social network for employees and diplomatic officials.

  • By Kathleen Hickey

Satisfaction with Gov Web sites remains strong

The Obama administration's Open Government Initiative spurs increase in satisfaction, ForeSee Report says.

  • By Rutrell Yasin