Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Hiring of Ashley Bloom as State’s First Chief IT Accessibility Officer

Boston — BOSTON – This week, the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) announced the hiring of Ashley Bloom, Massachusetts’ first-ever Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer (CIAO). She is just the fourth statewide CIAO in the country. In this role, she will chair the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board and will be responsible for ensuring that all of the state’s digital applications are fully functional and accessible for all Massachusetts residents. Bloom brings over 20 years of advancing digital equity in the private and public sectors. She joins the administration from Fidelity Investments where she built a successful accessibility program. 

The office of the Chief IT Accessibility Officer was created by Executive Order 614, signed by Governor Healey last year on the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Executive Order 614 established the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to advance the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal of providing a more equitable, inclusive, and accessible digital experience for everyone, including those who are blind, have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, and other disabilities.   

 
“It was important for our administration to create the Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer and the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board to ensure that all of state government is accessible for all of our residents, including those with disabilities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Ashley Bloom will be a fantastic addition to the EOTSS team and will build on the work they are already doing to make improvements to our digital services and bring state government directly to people where they are.” 

“We’re proud of the work that EOTSS is doing to make meaningful improvements to accessibility of government services, and we know that the addition Ashley Bloom will make those efforts even stronger,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “State government needs to work for everyone, including those with disabilities or difficulty reading or speaking English.” 

 “Technology and the digital user experience will be integral to the future of the services and information state government provides,” said EOTSS Secretary and Commonwealth Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder. “With that in mind, we must ensure that we use the workforce, processes and technology at our disposal to expand and facilitate government IT service access for all residents. Ashley brings leadership and experience, both professional and lived, to her work and I look forward to working with her on our shared goals.” 

On January 24, Bloom will convene the second meeting of the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board, and her first meeting as Chair. The Board will soon release a request for applications for the Board’s public seats. 

“As the first Chief IT Accessibility Officer for Massachusetts, I am honored to serve as a representative and an advocate for the disability community and to help create inclusive access to digital environments,” said Ashley Bloom.  “This role is especially meaningful for me since working toward accessibility for everyone has been a driving passion of mine as a person with a disability.” 

As the state’s lead technology and cybersecurity secretariat, EOTSS is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the Administration’s information technology activities and ensuring that all executive department agencies adhere to its published standards, policies, and procedures. This enterprise approach provides a single, comprehensive framework and ensures that the state is in alignment on all technology needs, including data privacy, cybersecurity risk management, and now digital accessibility and equity through the creation of the Digital Accessibility and Equity Program. 

In advancing the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s goal to provide an equitable and inclusive digital experience for all residents, EOTSS is engaged in a multi-year digital roadmap project that puts residents at the center of our digital future. EOTSS is committed to providing simple and secure digital experiences that can adapt to people's diverse and changing needs. 

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