The accessibility of HarrisonburgVA.gov to all users is very important to the City of Harrisonburg. The City is committed to working closely with our website vendors and partners to ensure that our online content and services are as accessible as possible to individuals with disabilities. We strive to follow best practices such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and we regularly review and update pages to improve accessibility.
The City is dedicated to ongoing improvements and will address reported accessibility issues promptly by evaluating and remediating barriers where feasible. If you encounter content that is difficult to access, please contact us at webmaster@harrisonburgva.gov, and we will work to provide the information in an alternative format or resolve the issue.
Accessibility Statement [PDF 207KB]
DocAccess
The City website hosts over 1,300 documents to help website visitors find, understand, and complete city services online. With growing awareness of digital accessibility and as more community members expect to interact with government online, these documents are made accessible through DocAccess by CivicPlus.
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act has required state and local governments to provide equal access since 1990, and this work is about meeting community members where they are — whether they use a screen reader, speak a language other than English, are reading on a phone, or are helping an aging parent review a City notice.
Through DocAccess, the City's online files are now transformed into WCAG 2.1 Level AA-aligned HTML that supports full keyboard navigation, compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers, interactive document outlines for fast navigation, and AI-powered search and Q&A. Users can also use “Ask a Question” to ask plain-language questions and get instant answers grounded in the document.
Because Harrisonburg is a diverse community, translation of these documents is an important feature of this service. DocAccess supports instant translation in more than 250 languages and allows users to ask questions about documents in any language. The platform also improves mobile access for users who rely on their phones for City information, including older, handwritten, or scanned materials that can be difficult to use elsewhere. To further support the public, Harrisonburg community members can also access 24/7 live visual interpretation through Aira.io at no cost.
Beyond accessibility, the City has analytics tools through DocAccess that show which documents generate the most interest, what users are asking, and which languages are being used. Those insights will help Harrisonburg make data-informed decisions about transparency and communication, while privacy protections keep community members anonymous. The platform does not allow AI model training on city content, and only aggregated, de-identified usage data is collected — with no IP tracking or behavioral profiling.
All in One Accessibility Widget
The city website uses an accessibility interface that allows visitors with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI and design as per their preference. This is a free tool made available through Drupal and SkyNet Technologies. The widget enhances accessibility and usability but is not a full replacement for manual WCAG remediation.