A new tool was unveiled Wednesday designed to help people with disabilities navigate the Hidalgo County website, which officials hope can aid during emergencies.
County and state officials held a press conference Wednesday at the Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court to announce the new webtool ‘Recite Me.’
“Recite Me can read the text on a page aloud in a natural speaking voice; styling tools to change texts and background colors; translation tools allow you to translate in over 100 languages, and a PDF document reader among other features,” Lizbeth Gonzalez, a county public information officer, said during the press conference.
Hidalgo County website visitors can now use the ‘Recite Me’ toolbar by selecting the blue “Accessibility” button on the lower right hand of the website.
Once activated, a white toolbar with 17 buttons will appear at the top of the webpage.
The toolbar can be used to enlarge or shrink the size of text. Although, its most prominent feature is its ability to hover over images and text while reading out what is under the cursor.
For example, when the cursor is moved over a main website image promoting the county judge’s Nature Trail Junior Explorer Program, a British female voice will be heard saying: “image: graphic for junior explorer for children program opens in new window.”
The toolbar will be on every page visible under the county’s website. When used to view PDF documents, like the 2023 Budget Process Development Criteria, Recite Me is able to read out the words.
Richard F. Cortez, the Hidalgo County judge, said his office worked with the Disability Advisory Committee for Emergency Preparedness and Communication to promote inclusivity in the county’s website, especially for emergency situations.
“As director of Emergency Management, I know how essential communication is during times of emergency,” Cortez said. “What we’ve learned is that one of four Americans live with disabilities and may be subject to barriers with regards to communication.”
“That would mean that Hidalgo County itself has over 200,000 individuals who have a disability,” Vanessa Vera, a Texas Workforce Commission regional representative, added.
The toolbar is aimed to help people with visual impairments, hearing loss, and learning disabilities, which are not as easily detectable as a physical disability.
Users can also adjust the colors used in the website to make it easier to read for those who may see some colors better than others.
Vera said this kind of tool offers people with disabilities a form of independence.
While the tool requires no installment other than clicking the blue button at the bottom left of the website, there is a guide that can show new users how to navigate the toolbar. It’s the red button that’s found as the last icon on the right side of the toolbar.
