Leveraging the State CIO and Statewide Accessibility Officer Partnership Across State IT Operating Structures

This report examines how state governments can strengthen digital accessibility by leveraging partnerships between State CIOs and statewide accessibility officers across different IT operating structures. As accessibility becomes a top priority for state technology leaders, the paper outlines strategies for building, implementing, and monitoring accessibility policies in decentralized, federated, and centralized environments. It emphasizes the importance of governance, cross-agency collaboration, and integrating accessibility into procurement, cybersecurity, and enterprise risk management. The report provides practical frameworks and structure-based strategies to improve compliance, reduce risk, and deliver more consistent, inclusive digital services to citizens.