Residents
Every resident — whatever their ability, age, device or digital confidence — can search an address and read records in plain language, in a browser, on the device they already own.
Pillar 6
Universal Accessibility
Public data is only public if everyone can use it — whatever their ability, age, device or digital confidence. Accessibility is designed into every public touchpoint, not retrofitted or bolted on with an overlay widget.
The problem today
Built for specialists, not for everyone
Permitting and GIS portals built for specialists often fail screen-reader and keyboard users, break on phones and older devices, require downloads or plug-ins, and assume expert vocabulary that excludes older and less digitally confident residents. Under the DOJ's ADA Title II web rule, state and local governments are responsible for the accessibility of web content they provide, including through vendors.
As a resident who uses a screen reader
The permitting portal on our city website does not work with my screen reader. I cannot search a parcel, read a permit status, or use the map. I end up calling the counter and asking staff to look it up for me.
As an older resident
The portal assumes I know the record numbers and the department jargon. On my phone the page scrolls sideways and the text is too small. I just want to type my address and see what is happening on my street.
As a staff member
Residents call because they cannot use the online tools. We become the workaround for a system that was built for specialists, not for the public — and now the agency is responsible for the accessibility of that web content.
What AgencyCounter does
Four dimensions, one service
Accessibility is designed into every public touchpoint, not retrofitted or bolted on with an overlay widget; and it sits alongside browser-based, age-friendly and plain-language access in one service.
ADA
AgencyCounter is committed to WCAG 2.1 Level AA across public touchpoints, including the map interface — markers, clusters, information panels and predictive search. Our Accessibility Conformance Report (VPAT 2.5) will be published in March 2027. Register to receive it on publication.
Browser-based
A responsive web app in any modern browser on desktop, tablet and phone. No app store, no downloads, no plug-ins, no version management. Residents and staff reach it from whatever device they already use.
Age
Plain-language presentation of records instead of system jargon, and a simple address search. Designed for older residents and less digitally confident users.
Ability
Designed for people with disabilities, including assistive-technology users. Staff, also need no training and no administration.
Named assistive-technology and age-friendly features are described only as [[VALIDATE: feature]] until the Accessibility Conformance Report is published.
Regulatory context
The DOJ ADA Title II web rule
The DOJ ADA Title II web rule adopts WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for state and local government web content and mobile apps. Current compliance dates: 26 April 2027 for public entities serving 50,000 or more people; 26 April 2028 for smaller entities and special district governments.
ADA Title II compliance dates were extended by an interim final rule in April 2026 to April 2027 for most, and 2028 for everyone to comply with.
The agency remains responsible for its wider website. AgencyCounter does not make a website ADA compliant, guarantee ADA compliance, fix accessibility automatically, or act as an accessibility overlay.
What others don't
Compared by category, not by name
No competitor or vendor is named. The comparison is against categories of product.
| Capability | AgencyCounter | Permitting-vendor portal | GIS viewer | Open-data platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.1 Level AA commitment across every public touchpoint, including the map | Yes | Often retrofitted or bolted on | Map often inaccessible | Tables only |
| Browser-based on any device, no downloads or plug-ins | Yes | May require plug-ins or downloads | Often desktop-first | Download-centric |
| Plain language for non-expert and older residents | Yes | Applicant jargon | Analyst vocabulary | Raw tables |
Who it helps
Everyone who uses your data
Professionals
Contractors, architects and realtors reach records from any device without downloads or plug-ins, and read plain-language status instead of system jargon.
Staff across departments
Staff need no training and no administration. The same accessible interface they offer the public is the one they use to find records and link out to the source system.
Leadership
Council and leadership can show residents that public data is genuinely public — usable by everyone, on any device, designed in rather than bolted on.
Questions agencies ask
Straight answers
Does AgencyCounter make our website ADA compliant?+
No. The agency remains responsible for its wider website. AgencyCounter does not make a website ADA compliant, guarantee ADA compliance, fix accessibility automatically, or act as an accessibility overlay. Accessibility is designed into AgencyCounter's own public touchpoints — not retrofitted or bolted on with an overlay widget.
Is your accessibility documentation available?+
AgencyCounter is committed to WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Our Accessibility Conformance Report (VPAT 2.5) will be published in March 2027. Register to receive it on publication. Security documentation is available now, and SOC 2 Type II is planned.
Is it secure?+
AgencyCounter is read-only. The public view shows public records only, and records marked not public — by criteria agreed with you, such as status, address or record type — are visible to internal users only. Internal users sign in through our authentication system with role-based access control. Data is encrypted, authentication is hardened, there is a 4-hour support response window, security documentation is available, and SOC 2 Type II is planned.
What if it doesn't work out?+
The price is fixed for five years, your source systems are untouched, and your data is returned or deleted on termination. There is no lock-in.
Register for the Accessibility Conformance Report
Our Accessibility Conformance Report (VPAT 2.5) will be published in March 2027. Register to receive it on publication, or request security documentation now.