Accessibility lawsuits have begun to gain speed due to the recent government regulations requiring websites to be designed in a way that individuals with disabilities still have access and equal benefit of website information and services. For San Jose Water, the need for a compliant and accessible website was compounded by the fact that they are a public service organization located in one of the global hubs in digital innovation, San José, California.
San Jose Water manages one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water systems in the United States, serving 1+ million people in the greater San José, California metropolitan area. When Kalamuna originally audited San Jose Water’s website it was evident that many of the region’s 1+ million residents could not access the company’s general information and service portal. In addition, neither its mobile nor desktop sites met accessibility standards—meaning that many people with visual and other impairments were unable to use and access needed information. The Kalamuna team joyfully took on the challenge and privilege of creating a website that served all of the San Jose Water community members.