- Executive Office of Technology Services and Security
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Christopher Smith, Director of Legislative and External Affairs
Boston — Today the Healey-Driscoll Administration, through the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board, released its Digital Accessibility and Equity Strategic Plan (“the Plan”). The Plan defines the mission, vision, goals, and strategies to advance digital accessibility and equity within executive department agencies. Digital accessibility is the practice of designing, building, and procuring digital resources free from barriers that block access for people with disabilities. When digital experiences are created with accessibility in mind, the experience is more usable and equitable for everyone.
The Plan is the result of a multi-year effort that began in July 2023, on the 33rd anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), when Governor Maura Healey issued Executive Order 614. EO614 directs the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (TSS) to build a statewide strategy, led by the Chief IT Accessibility Officer and the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board, to ensure that all residents have access to government services and information in a digital format, while aligning digital accessibility standards and procedures across state agencies.
“It is so important that everyone can access state websites and digital services, no matter their abilities,” said Governor Healey. “That’s why I created the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board and hired our first-ever Chief Information Technology Accessibility Officer. I’m grateful to CIAO Ashley Bloom and her team for issuing developing plan and helping us build a more accessible and inclusive digital government.”
“The Digital Accessibility and Equity Strategic Plan reflects Massachusetts’ commitment to ensuring that every resident can fully access state services, information, and opportunities,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By embedding accessibility into how we design and deliver the resident digital experience, we are building a more inclusive, equitable future for our state.”
The Digital Accessibility and Equity Strategic Plan is organized around six wide-ranging goals and associated strategies:
- Organize and fund the Digital Accessibility and Equity Program
- Establish a governance, risk, and compliance framework
- Foster an informed and engaged network of stakeholders
- Procure accessible and equitable IT products and services
- Empower Commonwealth employees to advance digital accessibility and equity
- Design, build, and maintain accessible and equitable digital services, programs, and activities
“Alongside our agency partners, we are committed to make government accessible for all Massachusetts residents, guided by this blueprint from the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board,” said Technology Services and Security Secretary Jason Snyder. “Through cross-agency collaboration and the leadership of CIAO Ashley Bloom, we are making digital accessibility a cornerstone of our state’s technology leadership. As a co-chair of the Board, I am proud of our state’s leadership in accessible digital government experiences.”
“This Digital Accessibility and Equity Strategic Plan serves as the foundation to continue the development of accessibility program initiatives, said State Chief IT Accessibility Officer Ashley Bloom. This strategic plan guides our path to follow on the accessibility journey for the Commonwealth.”
As a complement to the Plan, the Office of the Chief IT Accessibility Officer has created an enterprise Accessibility Center for Consulting, Education and Support Services (ACCESS) team to coordinate across state agencies to provide accessibility expertise and guidance to all state agencies, coordinate digital accessibility initiatives and training throughout state government. The group has been leading the state’s work to comply with ADA Title II digital accessibility standards, while assisting state agencies in integrating digital accessibility frameworks into agency workflows.
The Digital Accessibility and Equity Strategic Plan can be found here.
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