SEATTLE, WA – Seattle is updating its website to be more accessible for people with disabilities and is using plain language to communicate with more people ahead of the city hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell issued an executive order on Friday to make city resources more accessible. The mayor’s office said the new order will support recent federal accessibility standards and help prepare the city for the FIFA World Cup in 2026 when Seattle will welcome fans from all over the world.

The executive order launches three different projects to improve digital accessibility, implement a plain language plan, and review communication platforms across city departments.

“Whether it’s emergency updates, navigation around town, resources to help people pay a bill or start a business, or news on a neighborhood program, this effort will make it easier for people to get the information they need to use city services,” Harrell said in a statement.

Seattle is implementing plain language – or information written in a way that is simple, clear, and easy to understand – in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The city is hosting four to six matches, with 400,000 to 750,000 visitors expected to come into the city. City officials anticipate that 50% to 70% of attendees traveling to Seattle will be from foreign countries due to the international popularity of the FIFA World Cup.

Harrell’s latest executive order is Seattle’s first plain language requirement.

According to the executive order, Seattle will create a writing style guide, conduct training, and explore new tools like artificial intelligence to update content to include plain language.

Former Gov. Jay Inslee issued his own executive order regarding plain language in 2023. His order implements a plain language policy across all state departments.

In order to improve digital accessibility, the city will audit its existing websites and content to establish processes for ongoing compliance with a recent federal mandate regarding access. In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice required state and local governments to update their websites to be more accessible to people with disabilities.

The city’s website has to be updated by April 2026, according to the executive order.

This article was originally published by The Center Square and is republished with permission.