Massachusetts publishes digital accessibility and equity plan

Massachusetts’ digital accessibility and equity board on Tuesday published a statewide digital accessibility and equity strategic plan for executive agencies, which aims to ensure all digital services are accessible to people with disabilities.

The plan, the product of a multi-year effort following an executive order Gov. Maura Healy signed in 2023, defines the plan’s mission, vision, goals and strategies. The order also directed the state’s technology office to expand its accessibility leadership under a chief IT accessibility officer. That role was filled when the state tapped Ashley Bloom to serve in the role in early 2024. And the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board was formally organized in 2024.

The plan contains six key goals: organize and fund a 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; and design, build and maintain accessible and equitable digital services, programs and activities.

To complement the plan, Bloom’s office created an Accessibility Center for Consulting, Education and Support Services, or ACCESS, team to coordinate efforts across state agencies, and to provide accessibility training, expertise and guidance.

So far, the group has been leading the state’s work to comply with digital accessibility standards outlined by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and helping agencies integrate digital accessibility frameworks into their workflows. The work comes ahead of an April 24 deadline set by the Department of Justice requiring states and and larger local governments to make their websites and other digital properties adhere to accessibility standards.

“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,” state Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder said in a news release. “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.”