Podcast Summary: Are states prepared for the digital accessibility deadline?

Priorities Podcast – StateScoop
Date: March 4, 2026
Host: Colin Wood
Guests: Marie Cohan (Texas Statewide Digital Accessibility Coordinator), Jay Wyant (Minnesota Chief Information Accessibility Officer)

Episode Overview

This episode explores how prepared U.S. states are for the upcoming federal deadline requiring digital accessibility on government websites. Host Colin Wood interviews digital accessibility leaders from Texas and Minnesota, delving into where states stand, the evolution of policy and best practices, challenges with vendors, and why accessibility matters for public service and economic growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Varied Landscape of State Readiness

• Maturity Spectrum: States are at different stages, with some (Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland) having advanced statewide policies, and others just beginning to develop them.

  “We have states that are very well defined like Texas and Minnesota, Colorado, Maryland, and then we've got states much further west that are just starting out trying to develop a policy statewide, doing the review for Title II to meet the new rule…”
  - Marie Cohan, 02:15

• New rules (especially Title II of the ADA) are driving awareness and urgency at the leadership level; even agencies new to accessibility work often have existing grassroots efforts.

  “…the Title II rule, really generating awareness on leadership … but they’ve been doing it on a shoestring. And so this has been enabling them to actually start driving it to more positive effects.”
  - Jay Wyant, 02:54

The NASCIO Working Group & Evolution of Digital Accessibility Policy

• NASCIO recognized digital accessibility as a top CIO priority for the first time in 2025 (#10) and it rose to #6 in 2026, catalyzing the formation of a multi-state working group.

  “Digital Accessibility showed up for the very first time on the CIO top 10 priority list… This year it moved up to number six. So that's what created the IT working group last year.”
  - Marie Cohan, 04:51

• The group consists of accessibility leaders meeting regularly to address statewide challenges, share best practices, and guide other states on policy.

  “…for the last, I say, six or seven years, a group of statewide leaders have been meeting every month… when NASCIO said, can you lead a work group? Not a problem. We have to pull together… and get it all done very quickly.”
  - Jay Wyant, 05:34

What Makes Effective Accessibility Policy?

• Effective policy must be rooted in both organizational and civic values—government is obligated to serve everyone.

  “As government, you can't choose a customer. You have to serve everyone…” - Jay Wyant, 07:30

• Policy should be high-level and anchored in statutes/standards like the ADA’s Title II, with supporting rules that retain flexibility to adapt to technology shifts.

  “Statutes are typically written very broad and then supporting rules are a little bit more detailed, but they're still fairly broad…”
  - Marie Cohan, 08:30

Best Practices for Program Development

• The NASCIO report serves as a month-by-month, topic-focused guide for building an accessibility program.

  • Start with a statewide policy, communicate it, and apply it consistently across agencies.
  • Mature states do this top-down; newer states see piecemeal adoption by individual agencies.

  “If you have a policy at the statewide level, hopefully you're consistently applying it across the state that's going to make it the most effective…”
  - Marie Cohan, 09:19

• Focus is on organizational strategy (leadership, stakeholder engagement, accountability) over just technical details.

  “…what are the possible obstacles, how to best deal with them, how to best get people unified together and also who needs to be engaged…”
  - Jay Wyant, 10:12

Accessibility and Cybersecurity: Key Parallels

• Both fields require ongoing risk management and can never guarantee 100% coverage due to changing environments (e.g., SaaS).

  “…security and accessibility are very similar. Both… risk management, organizational risk management …while accessibility itself is a definable, measurable, testable thing, to be fully accessible is a grail that's very difficult to reach…”
  - Jay Wyant, 12:27

• Progress depends on institutional will and adherence to established standards/best practices; the central challenge is operational, not technical.

The Role of Vendors in Accessibility

• Proactive Procurement: Accessibility must be forefront in RFPs and contracts, with clear requirements, documentation, and vetting by agencies.

  • Require Accessibility Conformance Reports (e.g., WCAG compliance), and assess developer training and tools.

  “The biggest thing with procurement acquisition is to be proactive, right? So check it for accessibility at the front end… add it to your solicitation language…”
  - Marie Cohan, 14:04

• Vendors’ knowledge and commitment to accessibility vary widely; higher education and niche procurements pose challenges. Agencies must educate and partner with vendors, hosting training and dialogues.

  “We work really closely with our vendors. It is a true partnership… I’m hosting vendor education series this year for the first time…”
  - Marie Cohan, 14:04

• Ultimate responsibility: Vendors must deliver accessible products; governments must ensure compliance.

  “Like Jay always says, the burden of accessibility is on the vendors. The burden of compliance is on public sector. So it is a true partnership.”
  - Marie Cohan, 14:04

• Trust in vendor capability remains low; governments want vendors to improve and take more ownership of accessibility.

  “Right now the trust level is fairly low for a lot of vendors. They're still learning… we need them to work harder in order to do a better job…”
  - Jay Wyant, 16:19

The Bigger Picture: Why Digital Accessibility Matters

Better Technology and User Experience

• Inclusive design improves quality, sustainability, and efficiency of government technology.

  “If you follow good accessibility best practices, engage in like a human centered design way, all potential users… you will have better technology.”
  - Jay Wyant, 18:03

Economic Benefits and Social Impact

• Accessible digital services encourage business creation, generate revenue (taxes, fees), and support economic growth, especially for people with disabilities facing high unemployment.

  “When we make sure digital government services are accessible to everyone… it’s generating revenue. It's economic growth for the state. And all of it starts with digital websites or digital accessible websites…” - Marie Cohan, 19:24

• Accessible digital government is vital in crises (e.g., Texas floods), ensuring equitable access to vital information and services.

  “…a lot of people with disabilities were trapped or did not have the information timely that they needed. So when we have those digital services that we can push out to all residents…”
  - Marie Cohan, 19:24

• Fundamental public service principle: government must serve everyone, not “pick winners and losers”—accessibility is the embodiment of that value.

  “In government we're not in the business of picking winners and losers… we should serve everyone.”
  - Jay Wyant, 21:50

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Program Maturity:

  “…you've got a nice spectrum of people that are just now starting to jump into this… and then you've got much more mature states.”
  – Marie Cohan, 02:15

• On Vendor Relationships:

  “The burden of accessibility is on the vendors. The burden of compliance is on public sector. So it is a true partnership.”
  – Marie Cohan, 14:04

• On Economic Opportunity:

  “If we made things accessible and usable… you will… see an increase in their ability to contribute... you're now generating revenue. You're now generating a more active group of people...”
  – Jay Wyant, 21:50

Notable Segments by Timestamp

• [02:15] — State readiness across the U.S.; accessibility maturity spectrum
• [04:51] — Origins of the NASCIO accessibility working group
• [07:30] — Defining effective accessibility policy
• [09:19] — Best practices and the NASCIO report guidance
• [12:27] — Risk management parallels: accessibility and cybersecurity
• [14:04] — Vendor challenges and procurement best practices
• [18:03] — The deeper value and impact of digital accessibility

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive look at the drivers, challenges, and opportunities of digital accessibility at the state government level as an impending federal deadline looms. The experts emphasize the evolution from grassroots to top-down leadership, highlight the need for partnership with vendors, and make a compelling case for accessibility as a driver of better public service, economic growth, and equity.

Listeners are encouraged to consult the NASCIO report for actionable guidance and to view accessibility as a fundamental, ongoing responsibility in digital government.