The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development (NYC Talent), and its Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion have partnered with Microsoft to launch a citywide Digital Accessibility Training program. This initiative will equip all 300,000+ City of New York employees with tools and resources to produce accessible content, expanding access to city information for all residents.
According to DCAS, the training will be available on the newly launched NYCityLearn platform and includes three key lessons, including:
- Accessibility Key Concepts: “An Introduction to Accessibility” explores the core ideas and definitions needed to understand accessibility concepts. Employees will learn about the definition of accessibility and disability, the importance of accessible technology, and the types of assistive technologies they can utilize when creating both internal and external content for public use.
- Accessibility Standards: “Web Accessibility Principles and Guidelines” introduces employees to the principles used to evaluate and improve web accessibility. Employees will cultivate a deeper understanding of how standards and regulations impact accessible design and development for internal and public-facing content.
- Accessible Content Creation: “How to Create Accessible Content” is designed to help employees understand the benefits and fundamental principles of creating accessible content for diverse audiences. Employees will learn how to utilize Microsoft 365’s accessibility features and how to locate and address accessibility issues.
Future advanced courses will include “Build Accessible SharePoint Sites,” “Accessible Evaluation and Testing,” and “Create Accessible AI Experiences.”
Developed as part of the Mayor’s Plan for Career Success for People with Disabilities, this initiative addresses challenges highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was motivated by City Council’s Local Law 12 (Executive Order 22) of 2023, which mandated agencies to create five-year accessibility plans with MOPD. The training aim to enhance city employees’ technical skills, improve communication clarity, and ensure New Yorkers have multiple avenues to access city services.
