Improving the lives of all Minnesotans with accessibility

When you think of accessibility, what comes to mind first? Before I started working for the state of Minnesota, I usually pictured things such as wheelchair ramps, service animals and canes. 

I did not know much about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into digital accessibility — or how important it is to do that work correctly — so people with disabilities can access information more easily and with less frustration. 

Now when I want to explain digital accessibility to someone who does not know much about it, I often start with examples of physical accessibility because they’re easily recognizable ways life is made easier for people with disabilities. 

Then I can talk about some of the ways we make sure everyone can access websites, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents and PDFs: We add an explanation of images for people who either cannot see them well or see them at all. We use headings that help people using a screen reader — a program that reads documents aloud — navigate through a document. We describe where a link will take readers instead of simply linking to the words “click here.” We make sure when we use color, we consider the needs of people with visual impairments such as low vision or color blindness.

For as long as I can remember, I tapped the enter key when I wanted to add an extra line to my Word documents. Then I learned every tap on my end translates to the word “blank” for a person using a screen reader. Imagine trying to make your way through a document and hearing “blank, blank, blank” between sections of useful information.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 21 calls attention to all the ways life can be made easier for people with disabilities. And every innovation benefits people who do not have disabilities, too. 

Making our resources accessible is everyone’s responsibility. At the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), we have a commitment to the people of Minnesota to make sure they can access important information. If we’re not taking steps to keep everyone safe, we’re not doing our jobs.

“Especially being in state government, we are here to serve the public,” said Scott Theisen, the digital accessibility coordinator at DPS. “Everyone deserves the same level of service from us, so we need to be creating content and products everyone can use to get the information and services they need.”

It can be easy to assume we know who has a disability and to think we do not need to make certain documents accessible. But many disabilities are invisible. A person may need accessible documents because they are hard of hearing or have dyslexia, color blindness or low vision. And some disabilities are temporary, such as a broken wrist or dizziness from an ear infection. 

“Don’t look at accessibility as extra work when you’re creating something,” Theisen said. “Look at it as creating better work.”

At DPS, we continue to take steps toward an equitable experience for everyone in the state. There is no such thing as being done with accessibility — it’s an ongoing process, one we’re committed to. 

Learn more about digital accessibility from Minnesota IT Services’ Office of Accessibility.