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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>For your information <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>It would be really fantastic if we had some NFB representation on this board. Please let me know if you are interested. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=normaltextrun><b><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=normaltextrun><b><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</span></b></span><span class=scxw76078651><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><br><span class=normaltextrun>February 20, 2024</span><span class=eop> </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning:none'><span class=normaltextrun><b><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span></b></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=normaltextrun><b><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>CONTACT:</span></b></span><span class=scxw76078651><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span></span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><br><span class=normaltextrun>Christopher T. Smith, </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:Christopher.t.smith@mass.gov" target="_blank"><span class=normaltextrun><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:blue'>Christopher.t.smith@mass.gov</span></span></a></span><span class=normaltextrun><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>, 857-408-2106</span></span><span class=eop><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1 style='mso-margin-top-alt:.25in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;break-after: avoid'><span class=normaltextrun><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>EOTSS Seeking Applications to the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board</span></span><span class=scxw76078651><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:normal'> </span></span><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Aptos Display",sans-serif;color:#0F4761;font-weight:normal'><o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning:none'><span class=normaltextrun><b>BOSTON</b> – This week, the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board announced they will be seeking applications from members of the public to join the Board and fulfill its mission is to strengthen and advance digital accessibility and equity within Massachusetts. The Board was formed as a result of </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><a href="https://link.edgepilot.com/s/7106a3c9/mLB_NeZwlkSSoKtkEywINg?u=https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-614-establishing-the-digital-accessibility-and-equity-governance-board" target="_blank"><span class=normaltextrun><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue'>Executive Order 614,</span></span></a></span><span class=normaltextrun> signed by Governor Healey in July 2023 on the 33</span><span class=normaltextrun><sup><span style='font-size:8.5pt'>rd</span></sup> anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will advise the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) and the Chief IT Accessibility Officer (CIAO) on all aspects of policy, procurement and operations matters where accessibility must be strengthened to bring the services and information of state government to all residents.</span><span class=eop> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning:none'><span class=normaltextrun>In particular, the Board seeks members of the public with expertise and/or lived experience with digital accessibility barriers. Public members will be appointed by the EOTSS Secretary and will serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for terms of two years. “We look forward to working with members of the public who can bring their insight, expertise, and life experience to help shape accessibility initiatives for the Commonwealth,” said <b>Chief IT Accessibility Officer Ashley Bloom</b>, who began as CIAO last month and has begun presiding over the Board. </span><span class=eop> </span><span class=normaltextrun>“In a time when the majority of state business is conducted online and digitally, we recognize the urgency to make that digital experience accessible to all residents,” said <b>EOTSS Secretary and state Chief Information Officer Jason Snyder</b>. “We are eager and proud to advance the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s access and equity priorities into the digital space, and we are excited to invite public participation to the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board.”</span><span class=eop> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=normaltextrun><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=normaltextrun>For more information on the Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board, and instructions for submitting applications for consideration to the Board, please visit this link to the </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><a href="https://link.edgepilot.com/s/7b34fd0f/Hm6beEDZDkCfFIZVEBdhhw?u=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/how-to-apply-to-serve-on-the-digital-accessibility-and-equity-governance-board"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board Application Site</span></a></span>.<span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> </span><span class=normaltextrun>The application period closes Monday, March 4. </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline'><span class=eop> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning:none'><span class=normaltextrun>As the state’s lead technology and cybersecurity secretariat, EOTSS is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the Administration’s information technology activities and ensuring that all executive department agencies adhere to its published standards, policies, and procedures. This enterprise approach provides a single, comprehensive framework and ensures that the state is in alignment on all technology needs, including data privacy, cybersecurity risk management, and now digital accessibility and equity through the creation of the Digital Accessibility and Equity Program.</span><span class=eop> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=paragraph style='margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning:none'><span class=eop> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>