1) Until I did the research recently, I did not realize that the nearly universally used pdf format is NOT a format accessible to the disabled. The blind use readers that report a picture when they encounter a pdf. So we are on notice that all of the pdf documents we currently have posted will eventually need to be replicated and made available in some other format which our tech guys need to specify.

2. Prior to learning that pdfs were not okay, here is how the process of getting the docs up on the Web worked in my shop.

The originator (say the secretary for the board) prepares the original in Word.

That original is sent to a person who converts it to pdf format, and makes sure that the file is the smallest possible size because we have a limited amount of space available to us for posting on the system (yes, government agencies are in the stone ages with regard to memory space policies and practices, but it is what it is)

Apparently, as the disabled access requirements begin to be enforced, we will probably have to also convert the document into alternative formats that would be posted in parallel to pdf? The tech guys need to tell us what to do. For now we will continue to post pdfs.

The document goes to another part of the agency which is responsible for the care and feeding of the Website and the Webmaster person or persons post the pdf document for us

A message comes back from the Webmaster that the document is posted, and a quality control person goes to the web and looks to see if the links work and the content looks okay.

Multiply this by several boards and commissions and multiple applications and permits and the amount of staff time adds up.

Because staffing and funding have been so challenging, it is understandable why agencies are not volunteering to add the resources needed to put all of their agendas, minutes, and handouts on-line when they are not legally required to.