City of Bessemer City
Accessibility Statement
The City's commitment to an accessible website, the standard we follow, and how to get help.
DRAFT FOR CITY REVIEW. Not published. Written by David Turner Designs for the City to edit and approve. Accessibility contact confirmed 10/27/2026 (Hydeia Hayes, HR Director). Items still to confirm before publishing: (2) the response time the City can commit to (5 business days is suggested); (3) whether the City has an ADA grievance procedure or Title II policy to link to; (4) the plan and timeline for reviewing older PDF documents; (5) the date of the last accessibility review. Note for City staff: the U.S. Department of Justice ADA Title II rule (April 2024) names WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for state and local government websites; the City Attorney should confirm the compliance date that applies to Bessemer City. Remove this box before publishing.
The City of Bessemer City wants everyone who visits bessemercity.com to be able to find information and use City services, including people who use screen readers, magnifiers, voice control, keyboard-only navigation or other assistive technology.
Our standard
The City’s goal is for this website to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA. These guidelines explain how to make web content easier to use for people with disabilities.
What we have done
- Built the website so it can be used with a keyboard alone, with visible focus outlines.
- Used clear headings and page structure so screen readers can move through each page.
- Added text descriptions (alt text) to images, and captions to photos where helpful.
- Chosen colors and text sizes with readable contrast.
- Designed pages to work on phones, tablets and computers, and to allow zooming.
- Written in plain language where possible.
- Checked pages with automated accessibility testing tools and manual review.
Known limitations
We are still working to improve some content:
- Older documents. Some PDF files, especially older or scanned documents, may not be fully accessible. We are reviewing these files and will provide any document in an accessible format on request.
- Outside services. Some services are provided by outside companies, such as online bill payment, meeting agendas, embedded maps and videos. We ask these vendors to meet accessibility standards, but we do not control their websites.
- Videos. Some older videos may not have accurate captions.
Need help or another format?
If you have trouble using any part of this website, or need information in another format such as large print, an accessible document or a phone call, please contact us. Tell us the web address (or page name) and what you need, and we will work with you to provide the information.
Hydeia Y. Hayes, Human Resources Director
City of Bessemer City
132 West Virginia Avenue
Bessemer City, NC 28016
Phone: (704) 729-6509
Email: hhayes@bessemercity.com
We aim to respond within [5] business days.
Feedback
We welcome your suggestions for making this website easier to use. Your feedback helps us improve the site for everyone.
This statement was last reviewed on [date].