Title
Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility - Final Report and Transition Plan - Citywide
Description
During Mayor Gallego’s State of City in 2024 she shared her vision and goal for the City of Phoenix to become a global model of accessibility. On August 27, 2024, City Manager Jeffrey Barton established the Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility to advance the City’s commitment to this goal. The workgroup focused on three key areas:
Enhancing physical infrastructure to improve mobility and access.
Advancing the digital environment to ensure inclusive technology.
Promoting social awareness and participation to foster a culture of inclusion.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
The Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility was created to address accessibility challenges in Phoenix despite decades of progress under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The workgroup was tasked with developing a strategic framework to promote accessibility and was organized into three subcommittees across the following domains:
Physical infrastructure - The City aims to make its built environment easy to navigate for its residents and visitors and identify projects that enhance accessibility.
Digital environment - The City recognizes the digital environment is expanding and aims to align technology uses with national best practices for accessibility.
Social awareness - The City aims to raise awareness of its commitment to accessibility and collaborate with the public to create a plan that reflects the community’s needs and design aspirations.
The workgroup consisted of over 20 members representing City departments, disability advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders. These individuals included:
Councilwoman Debra Stark, Chair
Inger Erickson, City Manager's Office
Don Logan, Equal Opportunity Department
Judy Boros, Equal Opportunity Department
Chris Rodriguez, CEO, Ability360
Nicole Almond Anderson, Chair, Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues
Darrel Christenson, Disability Advocate
David Steinmetz, Community and Public Relations, Arizona Industries for the Blind
Denise Resnik, Founder and CEO, First Place AZ
Michael Hammett, Chief Innovation Officer, City of Phoenix
Matthew Heil, Deputy Aviation Director, Sky Harbor International Airport
Kirsten Verbus, ADA Compliance Program Manager, City of Phoenix
Todd Shackelford, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation
Antionette Cooper, Civil Rights Program Manager, City of Phoenix
John Dee, Project Manager and ADA Coordinator at Street Transportation, City of Phoenix
John-Jozef (JJ) Proczka, Structural Plans Engineer, Planning and Development, City of Phoenix
Maurita Harris, Senior Architect, Phoenix Architecture
Sandy Moshi, Office of Mayor Gallego
Tony Motola, Office of Mayor Kate Gallego
Ashley Patton, Deputy Communications Director, City of Phoenix
James Ritter, Public Information Officer, City of Phoenix
Saneeya Mir, Public Information Officer, City of Phoenix
Shan Obra, Multimedia Specialist, City of Phoenix
Twila Chow, Marketing/Graphics Program Manager, City of Phoenix
Diana Cuspard, City Manager's Office
Hezel Gomez, City Manager's Office
Zack Wallace, City Manager's Office
This report provides a comprehensive summary of the workgroup’s accomplishments, community engagement, and recommendations for future efforts as the work transitions to the Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues.
Physical Infrastructure Subcommittee
The Physical Infrastructure Subcommittee worked on several initiatives requiring extensive research, collaboration with multiple departments and external agencies, and engagement with community and committee members.
Key Accomplishments:
Residential Building Code Amendments - The City adopted inclusive design elements into the International Residential Code, effective August 1, 2025, to support aging in place and reduce retrofitting costs.
ADA/Building Code Gaps - Gaps were identified between ADA requirements and local building codes. Ongoing discussions aim to integrate the ADA Compliance Program into plan reviews for City-owned facilities.
Tactile Directional Indicators (TDIs) - TDIs are being incorporated into pedestrian access routes and light rail designs to assist individuals with low or no vision.
Save Our Space Campaign - Accessible parking regulations were enforced by the Accessibility Compliance Enforcement (ACE) team, which educated property owners and ACE issued citations when necessary.
Private Property Accessibility Program - Educational resources were developed for private communities to improve accessibility and are available through the Planning and Development Department.
Residential Building Code Amendments
The goal of amending the International Residential Code by adding basic inclusive design elements was a primary initiative of the committee from the beginning. Understanding the expense and challenges of renovating existing residences for disabilities and aging in place improvements versus implementing basic accessibility elements during construction was a catalyst for this effort.
Comparisons with other municipalities that have successfully codified similar amendments were performed. Discussions with those municipalities were helpful in identifying potential challenges with the proposed City of Phoenix amendments. Amendments were approved by the City Council on June 18, 2025, and went into effect on August 1, 2025.
ADA/Building Code Gaps
Identifying “gaps” between the ADA and the building codes was an ongoing effort throughout the past year. While the City adopts building codes from the International Code Council that include many structural elements aligned with the ADA, differences between these codes and ADA requirements can result in certain newly constructed facilities not fully meeting ADA standards.
The Planning and Development Department (PDD) is tasked with permitting and inspecting to verify compliance with the building code which leaves additional ADA requirements unchecked. Conversations with PDD and the City Engineer's Office on possibly adding the ADA Compliance Program (ADACP) for City owned facilities are on-going to better ensure that non building code ADA requirements are double checked as part of the review process.
Additional conversations on specific training and reporting procedures for non-compliant items to the inspections section have been ongoing. Resource and visual aid documents have been developed by the committee to provide private property owners with information on meeting and maintaining ADA requirements after the Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.
Tactile Directional Indicators (TDIs)
Tactile Directional Indicators (TDIs) are physical elements incorporated into the Pedestrian Access Route (PAR) to provide tactile directional aid to those with low or no vision. A presentation on the different types of TDIs and their application was made to the full Work Group in early 2025.
Street Transportation staff is currently developing standard applications for the use of TDIs in the PAR. Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) compliant bicycle curb ramp standards are being developed with the proposed inclusion of TDIs. Exploration of how to integrate TDIs for pedestrian wayfinding in the downtown area is ongoing and a test project is currently being developed with the Active Transportation team to assist the Micro Mobility program with reclaiming a sidewalk spur at 12th Street and Moreland. Community feedback regarding the TDIs has been overwhelmingly positive.
Save Our Space Campaign
The Save Our Space (SOS) Campaign educates the public about leaving accessible parking spaces available for those who need them. The work is led through the Phoenix Police Department’s Accessibility Compliance Enforcement Program, which is made up of volunteers who are trained and equipped to educate the community and issue citations for accessible parking violations.
For example, private businesses and apartment complexes have been discovered removing accessible parking spaces when restriping a public parking lot. The SOS Campaign was able to educate the groups about the violation. When needed, the Neighborhood Services Code Enforcement Division has the authority to issue citations for these code violations and will continue to work collaboratively with the ADACP and SOS programs to investigate and develop a formal reporting/coordination process.
Private Property Accessibility Program
The committee discussed the possible development of a private community/property accessibility improvement program. Research concluded that the City, as well as other governmental agencies, have jurisdictional limitations in what resources they can provide to assist private property owners and communities (HOA, 55+, schools, etc.) with accessibility improvements. However, the City is committed to providing reasonable accommodations whenever possible. While there are no grants available for this purpose, educational resources are available to assist these communities and property owners with proper permitting and processes. These educational resources are available through the Planning and Development Department and will be added to the accessibility resources page currently under development.
Long Term Goals for Physical Infrastructure
The Subcommittee identified several long-term goals related to physical infrastructure. These long-term goals include to:
Develop and implement training, reporting, and process changes for plan review and inspections to improve ADA compliance at City facilities.
Formalize a process for enforcing commercialized accessible parking spaces.
Incorporate TDIs into the City of Phoenix building standards where effective to assist residents with low or no vision to better navigate the PAR within the City of Phoenix.
Develop a formal reporting/coordination process to ensure accessible parking spaces are restored or improved during a resurfacing/restriping project.
Digital Environment Subcommittee
The Digital Environment Subcommittee focused on short and long-term goals to advance the latest technologies and systems to empower and support individuals with disabilities. The Subcommittee members identified several new innovations to improve City of Phoenix operations and service delivery as well.
Key Accomplishments:
Innovate PHX Challenge - A Citywide "hackathon" on May 15, 2025, generated digital accessibility solutions. A Work Group member served as a judge.
Hearing Loop Technology - Successfully tested in City Council Chambers and being installed permanently. Already in use at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Language Translation Tool - Supports over 220 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL). Deployed in libraries and under consideration by other departments.
Smart Cities Roadmap - A community survey identified accessibility as a top priority. A digital tool will track accessibility projects across departments.
Performance Dashboard Enhancements - Improved navigation for users with mobility challenges, including keyboard access and simplified metric cards.
Digital Kiosks - Enhanced with features for mobility, low-vision, and multilingual users in Downtown Phoenix.
Innovate PHX Challenge
The Innovate PHX Challenge on May 15, 2025, brought together more than 150 residents, academics, start-ups and businesses for an all-day hackathon to explore digital solutions focusing on accessibility, public spaces and active transportation. Ideas generated during the event are currently being explored. A member of the Work Group served as one of five judges during the event.
Hearing Loop Technology
Hearing loop technology seamlessly connects sound from a microphone directly into a hearing aid for a more natural listening experience in public settings. A system currently welcoming passengers at Phoenix Sky Harbor was successfully tested in the City Council Chambers and is being installed as a permanent solution.
Language Translation Tool
A language translation tool that features more than 220 languages and dialects, including ASL, was demonstrated for City departments. Phoenix Public Library has on-boarded 12 desktop units at various branches. Additional departments are considering on-boarding the technology.
Smart Cities Roadmap
A community survey was recently launched to support the development of the City’s first Smart Cities roadmap. Sixteen percent of respondents noted “accessibility” as one of their top priorities for Smart City technologies. Accessibility will be a key focus area of the roadmap. Additionally, Information Technology Services and the Office of Innovation will utilize a digital tool to track accessibility-related projects across City departments, as part of the Smart Cities initiative.
Performance Dashboard Enhancements
As part of the continuous improvement process for the City Manager’s Performance Dashboard, enhancements have been made to provide a more seamless experience for residents with mobility challenges, as they explore key performance indicators across more than 30 departments and functions. The recent update supports full navigation of the dashboard from the keyboard. It also reduces text and the need to scroll within each metric card. The dashboard also includes an expanded ADA section with easy-to-follow steps to navigate.
Digital Kiosks
The Digital Environment Subcommittee partnered with the Street Transportation Department to advance and amplify accessibility features of the Digital Kiosks in Downtown Phoenix. This includes features for those with mobility challenges, low-vision and blind residents, and human-aided language translation options. Recently, additional languages were added to include the most commonly spoken languages in the Valley. The vendor, IKE, is committed to supporting the City’s mission to continue advancing its accessibility features.
Long Term Goals for Digital Environment
The Subcommittee identified several long-term goals related to the digital environment. These long-term goals include to:
Identify additional digital products supporting accessibility.
Expand successful solutions throughout all City operations.
Social Awareness Subcommittee
The Social Awareness Subcommittee members identified and implemented new and creative approaches to raise awareness of the City’s commitment to accessibility.
Key Accomplishments:
Multimedia Awareness Campaign - This was launched to position Phoenix as a global leader in disability inclusion. Includes still graphics and videos featuring community members and City resources.
Zencity Community Engagement - Conducted a survey to measure community sentiment around accessibility that will be used to guide the ongoing work.
Comprehensive, Multimedia Communications Plan and Awareness Campaign
The City of Phoenix launched a comprehensive, multimedia communications and awareness campaign to position the City as a global leadership for accessibility. This initiative aimed to elevate Phoenix as a leading hub for innovation in health, housing, education, workforce development, and supportive technology, while also showcasing its role as a magnet for accessibility solutions-from inclusive design principles and building materials to the strength of a connected, supportive community.
The campaign emphasized Phoenix as a self-improving, self-sustaining, and self-perpetuating environment where individuals of all abilities can thrive. To authentically represent this vision, the subcommittee strategically selected a dozen locations across the City for photo/video shoots that captured both community members with diverse abilities and the City’s accessibility-focused resources. A soft launch of the campaign began with still photos and graphics distributed across the City’s owned platforms, including social media, Phoenix.gov, Legends Billboards, newsletters, and more. Performance analytics and community feedback will be gathered in the coming weeks.
The campaign’s video elements will debut during the October 7, 2025, City Council Policy Sessions and will be integrated into the City’s platforms in October. The subcommittee also helped identify which community members and resources would be featured in the initial video series to effectively tell Phoenix’s story of inclusion and innovation.
Additionally, the subcommittee created a digital hub of accessibility resources, both City-owned and community-based, on Phoenix.gov. The central resource portal brings together the wide range of accessibility-focused initiatives City departments offer while also showcasing available resources for residents and visitors through nonprofit and partner organizations.
Zencity Community Engagement
To better understand community perceptions of accessibility, the subcommittee leveraged the ongoing Zencity community survey that measures resident sentiment and feedback about City programs and services each quarter. Staff added accessibility-focused questions to the ongoing survey from April to June 2025. The survey gathered input from more than 1,000 residents on the accessibility of public infrastructure, City services, and the effectiveness of current policies supporting individuals with disabilities.
Key findings of the survey focused on perceptions of the City’s support for people with disability and the accessibility of public spaces. In response to the City’s support for people with disabilities, 35 percent of respondents felt the City’s policies and procedures support people with disabilities “not at all,” 34 percent were neutral, 16 percent responded “to a small extent,” 11 percent responded “to some extent,” and 3 percent believed they support them “to a large extent.”
Respondents highlighted several priority areas where accessibility enhancements are needed. The tops areas included:
Bus stop and light rail access.
Accessible amenities at City facilities.
Pedestrian pathways, sidewalks, and curb ramps.
Street and crosswalk signals.
Additional concerns included telephone, website, meeting, and print access.
Long Term Goals for Social Awareness
The subcommittee identified several long-term goals associated with enhancing social awareness. These long-term goals include to:
Expand the use of Zencity for targeted surveys and refine the campaign based on community feedback.
Continue to work with community partners to amplify Phoenix’s position as the most accessible city and raise awareness about available programs and services.
Additional Accessibility Initiatives by the City
In addition to the efforts of the Strategic Work Group on Accessibility, numerous City departments have also implemented initiatives and improved services to achieve the vision of Phoenix as the most accessible city. Examples of these departments include Parks and Recreation, Public Transit, Public Works, Equal Opportunity and Community and Economic Development.
Parks and Recreation Department
Telephone Pioneer Park was the first barrier-free park in the nation. In partnership with Ability360, the park offers safe, inclusive and accessible adult and youth sports classes and programs, aquatics programs, golf, outdoor nature programs, and many other adaptive recreation classes. Encanto Park maintains the first fully accessible playground and pathway to modern ADA standards. Papago Park installed a fully accessible fishing dock with accessible parking and pathway and has been recognized as the “Best wheelchair-friendly” trail by AllTrails, a popular national trail site.
Public Transit Department
Public Transit provides several services focused on accessibility and has made significant intrastate investments to enhance access to transit options as well. Phoenix Dial-a-Ride is a shared-ride service that allows ADA-certified residents to schedule trips around the City. Seniors and those certified under the ADA can access Dial-A-Ride shared-ride service daily from 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. Reservations can be made by phone or online.
RideChoice provides seniors and those certified under the ADA access to subsidized personal transportation providers such as rideshare, taxicabs and other wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Services are available 24-hours per day, every day of the year.
A major transit infrastructure investment was the development of the 50th Street Light Rail Station. The station provides access to the Ability360 facility and neighboring business community and supports transit-oriented communities. While all Valley Metro light rail stations are ADA accessible with features such as level boarding and lowered fare vending machines, the 50th Street Station features an enhanced pedestrian detection crosswalk signal, wider platforms and gently sloped entries. Since it began service in April 2019, the 50th Street/Washington light rail station has had over 600,000 boardings. During Fiscal Year 2024-25, nearly 8,500 boardings occurred every month.
Equal Opportunity Department
The City has been conducting a self-assessment of existing facilities, programs, and services available to the public to ensure they are accessible to all individuals in accordance with the ADA. Next steps include developing a comprehensive ADA Transition plan to identify barriers and achieve compliance.
Additionally, the City is working toward obtaining the Certified Autistic Center designation though the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. The training program was launched in May 2025; Citywide, 2,200 employees have completed the required coursework. The City achieves certification when 80 percent of public facing employees complete the required coursework and maintains certification when employees complete the refresher training every two years.
Community and Economic Development (CED) Department
CED’s Mobile Career Unit (MCU) connects employers with residents seeking job opportunities and provides hands-on resources to support job seekers. The MCU is a fully accessible 38-foot RV providing a wheelchair ramp, an adjustable desk, and computers with accessibility tools. This groundbreaking initiative was developed by the City of Phoenix as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge. Chosen as one of 15 cities to receive a $1 million grant, Phoenix is leading the charge in the future of workforce services. As of June 2025, 477 contingent employment offers have been made through the MCU.
Public Works
As part of the City's recent General Obligation (GO) Bond program, Public Works staff is managing a $10 million project focused on implementing ADA improvements for City-owned facilities. The project is focused on ensuring ongoing compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at City facilities. The scope of work primarily involves improvements to the ADA accessible route from parking to main entrance and additional prioritized improvements to signage, parking lots, ramps, doors, and other barriers to maximize access. As of July 2025, an ADA design consultant has assessed and provided scope of work drawings for 19 public facing sites.
Future Goals and Transition Plan
As the Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility concludes its term, the work will transition to the Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues. The Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues in the City of Phoenix is a key advisory body focused on advancing accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. The transition to the Commission will ensure continuity and reinforces the City’s long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
Future Goals
Continue implementing and expanding successful initiatives.
Strengthen interdepartmental collaboration.
Maintain Phoenix’s leadership in accessibility innovation.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Inger Erickson, Deputy City Manager David Mathews, the Equal Opportunity Department, the Planning and Development Department, the Office of Innovation and the Communications Office.