Accessibility Improvement Project
Our happiness is directly connected to our perceptions of how well we belong within the world around us.
Bridging Barriers is a project led by the Noble County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc., in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Noble County, AWS Foundation, and The Arc Noble County Foundations, aimed at identifying and eliminating barriers to inclusion and accessibility for all individuals to the many assets in our community.
Phase I
Phase I of the project was primarily focused on gathering data. Surveys were used to gather data on the current state of accessibility for visitors in Noble County, from the perpectives of both site managers and the visiting public. The steps involved in completing Phase I included:
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Development of a roster of sites in Noble County frequented by visitors ("Partners")
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Draft a "Partner" survey for review.
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Complete final edits and publish "Partner" survey.
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Draft a similar survey for members of the public to report on sites they have visited.
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Share survey links (multiple methods of communications used to spur engagement with both surveys.)
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Additional data was sought with the help of a data research analyst at the Northeast Indiana (NEI) Regional Partnership. NEI provided demographic data on key visitor markets identified by the visitors bureau. Data was reviewed and organized to help the bureau gain a better understanding of the number and kinds of disabilities likely present within visiting populations.
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Survey results were reviewed, analyzed, and compiled into reports for the bureau.
Phase II
Phase II of the project was intended to be a responsive step to information learned through surveys. The objective was to update the information about visitor sites published on the visitor bureau's website. While this step was completed, it took several more weeks than projected to gather sufficient data as survey participation was slow and required more direct requests and outreach than anticipated. The visitors bureau website content was updated in early July 2025 based on survey data to help better inform site visitors about site accessibility features and barriers at various locations across the county.
Phase III
Phase III of the project involved a full technical audit of the visitors bureau website and significant modifications to content to greatly improve accessibility in adherence to WCAG & Section 508 regulations based on WCAG 2.1 level AA and AAA success criteria.
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Two tools were used to accomplish the objective:
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UserWay AI Accessibility Widget Pro Plus
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Wix Accessibility Tool
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The UserWay widget was acquired under a 5-year subscription agreement and installed on the visitors bureau website. Audit reports and analysis provided a guide to modifications completed. Wix Accessibility Tool was used as a second step to making additional, permanent modifications that address contrast, header order, and other technical aspects of the website design and functionality.
Phase IV
Phase IV was originally proposed to be a final step to ensuring the visitors bureau website was positioned to assist and inform visitors with disabilities. Steps included enhancing site navigation options and an Accessibility landing page on the site. These steps were completed in the early weeks of the project and the work audited at the completion of the project to make final adjustments, including editing of the bureau's Accessibility Statement.
Surveys Conducted
(SURVEYS ARE NOW CLOSED.)
Links provided for reference only.
Who? Leaders in Noble County who are tourism partners and members of the public who frequent places, spaces, buildings, venues, and attractions in Noble County, including residents and visitors.
What? Participate in our surveys to help inform opportunities and strategies for improvement to remove barriers that prohibit some individuals from engaging fully in our community.
When? Surveys will remain open until at least March 31, 2025.
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Where? Use the buttons above to access surveys. If you need or prefer personal assistance to participate, or wish to receive a paper survey, please contact Grace at (260) 636-3602.
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How? Choose one or both survey links below to share your feedback. All responses will remain confidential. If you need assistance to participate, please contact Grace at (260) 636-3602.
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Why? The purpose of the Bridging Barriers project is to identify barriers that prohibit the participation of all individuals of all abilities to engage in the community. Once barriers are identified, members of our project team and larger community can collaborate to develop strategies, identify funding opportunities, and implement solutions that will improve Noble County. Thank you!