This year, the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind & Hard of Hearing celebrates 40 years of advocacy and increased accessibility for all Minnesotans. Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) has partnered with the Commission for more than a decade to improve digital accessibility across state government.

Select the image below to watch: Jay Wyant, Minnesota IT Services’ Chief Information Accessibility Officer, honors the 40th anniversary of the Commission of Deaf, Deaf Blind & Hard of Hearing Minnesotans.

The Commission is making Minnesota a national leader in accessibility. In 2009, it led efforts to pass the Minnesota Accessibility and Usability Standard requiring all state agencies to follow digital accessibility standards. MNIT implemented this standard in 2010, helping ensure websites, documents, and digital tools are easier to use for everyone — including people with disabilities.

In 2011, the Commission secured funding to establish MNIT’s Office of Accessibility, which now leads statewide efforts to make digital government services more inclusive.

Why this matters to Minnesotans

Accessibility benefits everyone. When digital tools are designed to be clear, consistent, and easy to use, they work better for all Minnesotans — whether someone is using a screen reader, navigating with one hand, reading on a mobile device, or simply trying to find information quickly.

This work supports:

• Parents accessing school or health records.
• Job seekers applying for state employment.
• Seniors managing benefits or services online.
• Businesses interacting with state agencies.
• Educators and students using digital learning tools.

The Commission’s leadership guides MNIT’s work with state agencies to:

• Build and maintain accessible digital tools.
• Provide training on creating accessible content.
• Support programs that improve access to services.
• Collaborate on long-term strategies that benefit all Minnesotans.

The Commission’s leadership has helped shape a more inclusive Minnesota. MNIT continues to support efforts that improve access to technology and services for everyone — because when government works better for people with disabilities, it works better for all.