Massachusetts

 Massachusetts Enterprise Information Technology Accessibility Policy and has the following requirements in order to implement Section 508 requirements for all executive branch agencies:

1. Accessibility of electronic content, applications, or services must be measured with one or more of the applicable following technical standards.
   1. Web and desktop applications, multimedia content, electronic documents:
      Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG), level A and AA Guidelines.
   2. Web and desktop applications used to produce content:
      Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (ATAG2), level A and AA Guidelines.
   3. Portable Document Format (PDF) documents:
      ISO 14289-1:2014 Document management applications — Electronic document file format enhancement for accessibility — Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-1 (PDF/UA-1) : for Portable Document Format (PDF) documents.
   4. Hardware that transmits information or has a user interface, such as display screens, variable message signs, and kiosks:
      Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Standards and Guidelines, Chapter 4:  Hardware of Section 508.
      See also 521 CMR 1.00 et seq. issued by the Architectural Access Board for  additional requirements for physical placement of such hardware.
2. If the standards in section 1.1 either do not cover functions in an IT solution or if an IT solution is not in full compliance, then Functional Performance Criteria as articulated in Chapter 3 of Section 508 must be used to address accessibility relevant to disabilities impacting vision, hearing, color perception, speech, cognition, manual dexterity, reach, and strength.

Massachusetts has also created a new Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board in July 2023. This board and its members will assist the state’s Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS) in creating, adopting, maintaining, and enforcing digital accessibility requirements. This takes accessibility beyond a policy and creates an entire department to bolster the efforts of the EOTSS. It will also assist other agencies within the state to promote best practices, policies, and standards to enhance digital accessibility across the state.