Streamline Blog

Website accessibility is no longer just a best practice—it’s a legal requirement. Many special districts are finding themselves caught in unexpected and costly ADA compliance lawsuits. While website accessibility tools and widgets promise easy solutions, they often fall short, leaving districts vulnerable to legal challenges. Mac Clemmens, CEO of Streamline, has been actively involved in helping special districts navigate these challenges. Recently, he shared a real-world example of how one district faced an ADA lawsuit over a non-compliant website they were in the process of transitioning. They had invested in an accessibility widget, assuming they were covered, only to find that it failed to meet legal standards. With the help of expert legal counsel, they were able to reduce their settlement from $17,500 (originally demanded) to $5,000 to $2,500—but this case highlights an important lesson: automated accessibility solutions are not enough to mitigate risk. Mac also noted another case in which a request for accommodation escalated into a full legal complaint involving not just the district, but the county and a related government agency. Because the district acted quickly and had a structured compliance process in place, they avoided paying any legal fees.

In an era where smartphones and digital platforms dominate, libraries face an evolving challenge—staying relevant in the digital space. The Genoa Public Library District in Illinois wasn’t just looking for a website refresh; they needed a full-scale digital transformation to better serve their community. That’s where Streamline came in.

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just for Silicon Valley startups or blockbuster movies—it’s here and changing the game for special districts like yours. Streamline is all about making technology approachable, helpful, and downright useful for tackling your biggest challenges—but let’s break it down: AI can save you time, help your communication efforts sparkle, and even take some of the grunt work off your plate. (Cue the Back to the Future montage because you’re about to get some serious time back!)

When an emergency strikes, it’s critical to have the right tools to communicate quickly and effectively. Think of Streamline as your digital Emergency Communication Toolkit—packed with all the tools your fire district needs to share emergency action plans, engage your community, and keep everyone informed. Let’s break it down!