The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has released a report to offer guidance and assistance for CIOs as they develop plans to meet federal digital accessibility requirements.
The report, known as the NASCIO IT Accessibility Working Group in Review, is made up of expertise compiled by NASCIO’s IT Accessibility Working Group in preparation for meeting requirements set by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), mandating that all local and state government websites — and mobile apps — be compliant with digital accessibility standards.
“IT accessibility has become a growing priority for state CIOs,” Kalea Young-Gibson, NASCIO policy analyst, said in an email, noting the issue moved up to the No. 6 spot on NASCIO’s 2026 State CIO Top 10 Priorities.
“And this publication is the latest in our efforts to assist states with that priority,” Young-Gibson said, noting more guidance will be coming later this year.
The report offers guidance around how to include digital accessibility in the procurement process, developing assessment techniques, growing awareness and training, among other areas.
Some 73 million adults in the United States live with at least one disability, the report points out, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. This includes 6 percent of people living with a hearing disability, 5 percent with a vision disability, and 14 percent with a cognitive disability.
Digital accessible websites and apps must be “perceivable,” per the report, in that the user interface and information should be accessible to all sorts of users. The websites and apps should also be “operable,” in that users should be able to interact with the site in ways that meet their needs and abilities. (For example, keyboard navigation should be available to users not able to use a mouse.) The sites should be “understandable” — written clearly and succinctly. And websites should be “robust,” the report said, meaning they should operate across devices and browsers.
Certain states, like Colorado, have made strides to improve access. In a pilot, officials there have expanded availability of its free American Sign Language interpreting services in the Colorado state Capitol building. Colorado has a state law mandating government agencies to comply with state accessibility standards.
“The working group served as a collaborative, guiding forum led by states with mature accessibility programs,” Young-Gibson said. “As states also work towards compliance with the DOJ final rule, the purpose of this document is to provide state and local governments with some guidance and resources that may help their journey.”
In other NASCIO news, North Dakota’s CIO, Corey Mock, is the newest appointee to its Executive Committee, which is charged with providing strategic leadership and oversight to guide research, services and policy positions. Mock was tapped to complete the unexpired term of Laura Clark, who was serving as Michigan’s CIO when NASCIO’s executive leadership for 2025-2026 was announced in October. Clark departed her state role in December. After the term concludes, Mock will be eligible to seek a full two-year term with NASCIO.
Government Technology Senior Staff Writer Julia Edinger contributed to this report.
