MN Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2024 Recap

To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Minnesota IT Services’ (MNIT) Office of Accessibility hosted two virtual events for State of Minnesota employees. The goal was to spark conversations, foster thought, and promote learning about digital accessibility and inclusion. The presentations showcased how accessibility intersects in important ways with hot topics in the digital realm.

Governor Walz kicked it off by signing a proclamation declaring May 16, 2024 as Digital Accessibility Day.

Below are links to YouTube video recordings of each session. All recordings include ASL interpreting, closed captions, and transcript.

Panel Discussion: Human-Centered Design and Accessibility

The State of Minnesota has a community of practice that focuses on human-centered design (HCD) principles and methods. They explore ways to improve how people experience government – specifically state of Minnesota agency programs, services, and technologies.

The HCD community of practice hosted a Q&A conversation exploring the relationship between HCD and accessibility (a11y) with panelists drawing from their experience practicing accessibility within their work. 

View the presentation:

• Watch the panel discussion of Human Centered Design and Accessibility (YouTube).
• Read the /mnit/assets/Human-Centered%20Design%20and%20Accessibility%20Panel_tcm38-626957.pdfHuman-Centered Design Panel transcript (PDF).

Speakers

Host: Jess Klutch

Panel Participants:

• Becky Bernauer, Digital Accessibility Coordinator, Minnesota IT Services
• Claire Gahler, Content Strategist, Department of Human Services 
• Kelly Melcher, Digital Accessibility Coordinator, Department of Human Services 
• Jay Wyant, Chief Information Accessibility Officer, Minnesota IT Services

Panel Discussion : Breaking Barriers: What does accessibility have to do with exceptional customer experience?

This panel tackled pressing questions about the intersection of accessibility (a11y) and customer experience (CX). Discussion topics included:

• The differences between multiple terms, such as usability (UX), human-centered design (HCD), and customer experience (CX).
• How the state’s shift to a product mindset supports the concept of excellent CX.
• How to get vendors to support our CX goals.
• How to scale CX.
• The role of a11y in CX.

View the presentation:

• Watch the panel discussion of Accessibility and Exceptional Customer Experience (YouTube).
• Read the /mnit/assets/Accessibility%20and%20an%20Exceptional%20Customer%20Experience_tcm38-626967.pdfAccessibility and Exceptional Customer Experience transcript (PDF).

Speakers

Host: Jay Wyant

Panel Participants :

• Jane Davison, supervisor of the Digital Experience Design Team, Minnesota IT Services partnering with DHS and MNsure
• John Mumma, Business Solutions Architect, Minnesota IT Services
• Susan Ramlet, Senior IT Manager, Medtronic, Technology Advisory Council Member

Minnesota’s Commitment to UX, CX, HCD, & A11y

There are several ways the State demonstrates their commitment to improving the government digital experience for all. It’s rooted in legislation and One Minnesota Plan priorities, and branches into each state agency, including Minnesota IT Services (MNIT), where the Office of Accessibility resides. 

Minnesota Statutory Basis for Accessibility

Minnesota statutes require all state agencies adhere to standards for accessibility for government digital information and technology. We are committed to providing access to all individuals – with or without disabilities – who wish to use state government websites, documents, applications, or services to obtain information or resources. 

MNIT’s Accessibility Policies & Standards

Additionally, MNIT developed our information, website, and web content to ensure compatibility with common adaptive technologies by using the State of Minnesota's Digital Accessibility Standard, which is based on Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (as amended) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. 

Furthermore, we created a cross-agency team of Digital Accessibility Coordinators to research the impact of updating the State’s Standard to include WCAG 2.1 criteria. They determined it would provide a significant benefit to users of State government information and technology. A WCAG 2.1 Steering Committee, comprised of a wide range of stakeholders from state agencies, approved this direction and the new standard will be effective July 1, 2024. 

Strategic Plans at the State of Minnesota 

The One Minnesota Plan

Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan created the One Minnesota Plan with the mission to improve the lives of all Minnesotans by working collaboratively to implement policies that achieve results. It includes a goal to create a positive customer experience by making interactions easier, reducing complications, and improving outcomes for residents. Investing in customer experience also helps the government work more efficiently and saves money by creating user-friendly digital platforms and improving processes. MNIT partnered with the Governor's Office to ensure all state agencies have a customer experience goal in their own strategic plans. This initiative, launched in August 2023, has resulted in technology for non-English speaking populations, new business processes, evidence-based decision-making, and more. 

Minnesota IT Services Strategic Plan 

MNIT's Strategic Plan sets the long-term vision and direction for technology strategy at the agency and highlighted customer experience as a theme. MNIT specifically calls out efforts to embrace a people-centric product model and to nurture a culture of equity, inclusion, and engagement. By facilitating connections between Minnesotans and services that improve their quality of life, MNIT ensures a focus on the end user's experience above all else.