Gov. Wes Moore signs executive order to improve accessibility

Carol Beatty (left), secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities; Susan C. Lee, secretary of state; Katie Olson Savage, secretary of the Maryland Department of Information Technology; Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D); Rachel London, executive director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council; Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller (D); and Dee Sapp, chairwoman of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council pose for a photo after Moore signed the simple executive order on July 23. (Photo courtesy of Maryland Office of the Governor)

By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
[email protected]

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed a plain-language executive order July 23 aimed at making state services and programs more accessible. Moore also recognized the 34-year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“If a Maryland family can’t understand hurricane information in their community because our website is hard to read, that’s not good government,” Moore said. “This executive order will help ensure that every piece of writing that comes out of this administration, in print and online, is simple, accessible, fact-checked and easy to read. This won’t just help some, it will help everyone.”

The ADA has been in effect since 1990 and protects people with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace and in state and local government programs.

According to the Pew Research Center, about 42.5 million Americans live with disabilities. These disabilities include people with vision, walking, cognitive and hearing problems.

“Governor Moore is taking more action today to fulfill the promise he made to all of us when he ran for office that he would leave no Marylander behind,” said Rachel London, executive director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. “With this executive order, he demonstrates his commitment to making Maryland government more accessible and inclusive for all of us.”

London explained that there are benefits to using plain language across Maryland’s programs and services.

“Plain language is a way of writing that people can understand the information the first time they read it,” she said. “When state agencies use plain language in their public documents and on their websites, more people can access the information they need and the information they want. Creating a plain language plan in Maryland will help state agencies take the steps necessary to make sure that happens.”

London emphasized the importance of the plain language approach, highlighting the positive results the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council has achieved by implementing it in Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) services.

“The MVA Driver’s Handbook and Learner Driving Test are now written in plain language, making it easier for all new drivers to understand the rules of the road,” she said. “We are proud to say that since the introduction of the plain language tests late last year, the MVA has seen a 15 per cent increase in the number of people passing the test.”