COLORADO EXPANDS DIGITAL ASL
The Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) has been on a mission in recent years to expand access to a digital tool known as Aira ASL, which provides real-time digital interpretation services with a live American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This technology, which aims to improve access to government services and information, has now been expanded to 11 History Colorado museums and historic sites.
Colorado has a state law mandating all its agencies meet accessibility standards by July 2024, two years prior to the federal accessibility mandate deadline.
The state government’s use of Aira kicked off in 2023 with interpreter services for Coloradans who are blind or have low vision. By 2024, users were able to deploy the service in Colorado’s 42 state parks. As of April, the tool was being piloted at all 32 of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation locations and at 46 Workforce Centers.
Now, Aira will be available at select History Colorado locations in a limited-time pilot; feedback and usage data from the endeavor will inform a decision about its continuation.
“This innovative pilot program shows our dedication to strengthening communities by making history relevant and accessible to all visitors,” Dawn DiPrince, president and CEO of History Colorado and State Historic Preservation Officer, said in a statement.
The tool is being offered through OIT’s Technology Accessibility Program (TAP), which is one piece of the state’s digital accessibility ecosystem.
Kelly Tabor, TAP communications manager, said recently that an equitable digital government experience remains a priority for state leadership, even amidst changing priorities at the federal level.