“I would say that ADA compliance and privacy intersect at a shared goal: protecting individual rights,” Bothke said.
Data privacy has been a key priority within ITS, as has ADA compliance, as the 2026 deadline requiring all digital content be accessible for people with disabilities approaches.
Both of Bothke’s roles are intended to empower individuals and remove barriers to interacting with state government — and the overlap is distinctly evident in a digital environment, she said.
If privacy information is not accessible for people with disabilities, whether by not being in plain language or not being accessible with assistive technology or otherwise presenting access challenges, then users with disabilities are excluded, Bothke said. If an individual does not know or understand how their data is being used or how their privacy rights protect them, then their government has failed to effectively serve everyone in both areas.
“Consent is huge,” she said, noting that if state government is not transparent on data practices, including how it will be used, consent is not informed, and therefore, not sufficient. This information has to be accessible for everyone to be effective.
One key focus area of Bothke's roles thus far has been preparation for the 2026 mandated deadline to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA requirements. To meet this deadline, a digital accessibility audit was conducted to review public-facing digital assets, identify barriers, and strategize the remediation of such barriers, Bothke said. She pointed out that officials have implemented a tool to support that effort.
On the privacy side, she played a key role in developing a resource known as Idaho's AI Advantage: A Framework for Responsible Innovation, which outlines controls and protocols to ensure sensitive data is protected and ensures that informed consent is part of any data collection. Bothke has been leading a proof of concept for Microsoft 365 Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to support work tasks. Through this work, she is exploring what the use of AI tools at the state government level in Idaho can look like and what best practices should be considered.
It is also important, Bothke said, that officials stay attentive regarding things like access control, transparency, and data privacy as the privacy landscape is impacted by the rapid advance of AI and other emerging technologies. This is not unique to AI alone, but applies to any technology or digital asset. AI, however, has increased the awareness of privacy’s importance, she said.
Bothke has been able to develop these programs from the ground up, to create a holistic approach to meeting the state’s needs. Part of this effort involves training and capacity building to help people better understand the importance of both privacy and ADA compliance.
Prior to coming to ITS in 2024, Bothke served as civil rights program manager and ADA coordinator for the Idaho Transportation Department, which she said “profoundly” influences how she thinks about this work. The experience helped bolster her knowledge of federal, state and local laws and how to balance the needs of each — from an operational, user, and risk standpoint.
Bothke supports other state government teams in Idaho, each of which has unique needs, resources, and digital assets.
“Foundationally, we all have a responsibility in privacy, how we handle data, and in accessibility as civil servants and state employees,” Bothke said.
Redefining digital trust in government, Bothke said, is a nationwide movement, and ensuring accessibility and privacy to build that trust is an “ethical obligation” for government.
When working in both of these areas, she said, it is beneficial to consider the target audience when shaping messaging to meet people where they are.
“You don’t have to be an expert to be an advocate,” she said.
