Maryland Department of Information Technology

Yesterday, Governor Wes Moore signed the Plain Language Initiative Executive Order, ensuring accessible, easy-to-understand language will be used across public-facing state services. Katie Savage, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT), attended and spoke at the signing of the State’s new Plain Language Initiative Executive Order. She was joined by Carol Beatty, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, a key partner in our efforts to improve accessibility across the state. The executive order establishes the Maryland Plain Language Initiative within DoIT’s Maryland Digital Services (MDDS). MDDS will partner with the MDOD and the Maryland Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives to leverage their expertise for content reviews and testing with disabled individuals. Marcy Jacobs, the Chief Digital Experience Officer of DoIT, will work with other relevant agencies and external stakeholders as necessary to implement the Maryland Plain Language Initiative. “We owe Maryland residents a straightforward approach to find and access critical information and services they need to live safely, efficiently, and productively,” said Maryland Department of Information Technology Secretary Katie Savage. “In partnership with the Department of Disabilities and the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, our Maryland Digital Service team will implement this executive order and remove barriers to a people-centered digital experience.”

Last week, Katie Savage, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT), attended the first-ever graduation ceremony for the Maryland Service Corp. The Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation invited Secretary Savage to speak to service corps members who want to build careers in the IT field. She was joined by three other DoIT staff, who gave advice for a variety of IT fields, including digital design, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure: Bao-Tran Nguyen, User Experience Designer within the Maryland Digital Service, plays a critical role in improving user experience across Maryland websites, including upcoming changes to DoIT’s website. Alex Ruthloff, Cyber Program Specialist within the Office of Security Management, works with local government agencies to improve their cybersecurity standards and safeguard against cyber threats. Swati Sharma, Operations Manager for networkMaryland, who has led the revitalization of local internet services across the state. Thank you to the Department of Service and Civic Innovation for giving us the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience! We are proud to partner with you as you strengthen the next generation of service-driven Marylanders.

Hyperlinks are a fantastic tool for surfing the web. However, if you used a screen reader like Matt Hackert, Senior Accessibility Specialist at the Maryland Department of Information Technology, you would quickly realize the big difference between an accessible hyperlink and an inaccessible one. This Disability Pride Month, consider how you can make small changes to your work—they can make a big difference to users with disabilities.

Analyze, advise, and help optimize the financials of IT projects across the State. As the Functional/Business Analyst of the Financial Applications System (FAS) team within the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), you will act as a liaison between our sister agencies, user groups, and other DoIT personnel. The analyst’s knowledge of the various FAS applications and general business and accounting practices will enable them to analyze user requests, solve system problems, and process them into system design specifications. Applicants with extensive experience providing problem analysis and ongoing user support, coordinating system development and implementation, and training users on the functionality of applications for agency-wide or state-wide systems housed on computers or large client-server platforms are encouraged to apply. If you are interested in this position, you can apply here: https://lnkd.in/dVFYYtc8 If you know someone in your network who would be a good fit for this role, please share this post with them.

Accessibility in the News: Maryland Launches Web Accessibility Training Program The State of Maryland is leading the way in digital inclusion by launching a comprehensive web accessibility training program for state employees. This initiative focuses on incorporating accessibility into the design of digital services, ensuring they are usable by all residents, including those with disabilities. By prioritizing accessibility, Maryland aims to set a standard for other states, promoting inclusivity and equal access to digital resources. Read more about this initiative in the full article by Sophia Fox-Sowell for StateScoop: https://lnkd.in/epas8veU Maryland Department of Information Technology #WebAccessibility #StateInitiatives

For the blind and visually impaired, Alt Text helps them understand the bigger picture. Alt text is a text-based description of an image; when producing content online, it is one of the easiest and most impactful things you can do to make your content more accessible. This Disability Pride Month, consider how you can make small changes to your work—they can make a big difference to users with disabilities. https://lnkd.in/eiUUBWXx

Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover Last Friday, the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) staff met with colleagues from the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Prince George’s County OEM, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) to become CyberReady. CyberReady, a role-playing game developed by FEMA, is an instructive tool that facilitates conversations between staff who may be called upon to assist during a cybersecurity incident. This tool helps players identify some of the many threats and protective actions cybersecurity and support staff may encounter while working to make their assets more cyber resilient. Thank you, Anne Arundel Office of Emergency Management, for facilitating the event. Together, we are supporting community resilience.

Accessibility Advice: Captions Captions Closed Captions make a tremendous difference for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. They enable them to engage with content normally inaccessible to them. This disability pride month, consider how you can make small changes to your work—they can make a big difference to users with disabilities.

Caleb Heller is a local cybersecurity intern at the Department for Information Technology. He works with the Office of Security Management to bolster the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program by participating in outreach initiatives, comprehensive assessments, meticulous documentation oversight, and various other supporting roles. "This internship serves as a pivotal stepping stone towards advancing my career in cybersecurity, offering invaluable opportunities to network with industry professionals and gain hands-on experience in preparation for higher-level roles," says Heller. "I am energized by the opportunity to contribute significantly to Maryland's cybersecurity landscape. As a participant in this emerging program, I take pride in potentially leaving a lasting legacy through my contributions."

Yesterday, Marcy Jacobs, Chief Digital Experience Officer and her team in the Maryland Digital Service met with web teams from across the state to share web components that will improve Maryland's digital experiences The new approach unveiled in this meeting will set the state on a path towards more accessible, user-centered, and cost-efficient digital services over the coming years. To learn more about Marcy Jacob's approach to digital service improvement and the benefits of challenging the status quo, be sure to read Qualtric's latest article: https://lnkd.in/eWCmhjVm "Small wins change the conversation – away from traditional ways of working and towards something that actually has an impact.” - Marcy Jacobs, Chief Digital Experience Officer