Contributed by Jim McCarthy, Executive Director, MDTAP
Here in Maryland, I’ve found myself recently thinking about access to technology and information for state workers as the state moves to a new IT platform. Maryland’s Division of Information Technology, DoIT, is leading a move of state agencies to Google Apps. A recent meet up of state agencies and Google reps occurred to discuss the move, share ideas and learn some of what might be possible using Google Apps. I found the options to improve collaboration among workers using these apps in a variety of configurations quite compelling in helping me understand the interest DoIT has in moving state agencies to this new platform.
When this effort first began, blind and other disabled users largely lacked access to Google Apps, a concern expressed to DoIT. Nevertheless, DoIT moved ahead with the changes. As the state has moved toward greater implementation of Google Apps, Google has made considerable progress in improving the accessibility of many of these. Following the meet-up, I chose to explore use of the Google Apps, something up to that point I had avoided as it seemed unnecessary for me. Though access certainly has increased, there will be a considerable challenge for people with disabilities to learn the use of these apps. Using Google’s word processing app, for example, is much different for a screen reader user than using Microsoft Word, the word processing program much more familiar to blind users. This will require reliance on help files and searching answers to questions as they arise. I believe there is a lack of knowledge among the assistive technology trainers in our state relating to the functioning of these Google Apps, a scarcity we must resolve over time.
As the state continues with this transition, I’ll continue to provide feedback on accessibility and support where I can.
