Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Document Requirements

Plain Language

All deliverables must be provided in “Plain Language,” as defined in Governor Mark Dayton’s Executive Order 14-07 which requires the Office of the Governor and all Executive Branch agencies to communicate with Minnesotans using Plain Language. As defined, Plain Language is a communication which an audience can understand the first time they read or hear it, providing Minnesotans better state services by reducing confusion, saving time, and improving customer satisfaction. To achieve that, the following steps must be taken:

  • Use language commonly understood by the public;
  • Write in short and complete sentences;
  • Present information in a format that is easy-to-find and easy-to-understand; and
  • Clearly state directions and deadlines to the audience.

For guidance read the Federal Plain Language Guidelines.

ADA

Consultants must ensure that all documents and content provided to MnDOT, for posting on MnDOT’s public website, or shared electronically, meet the provisions of the State of Minnesota’s Accessibility Standards: including Minnesota’s accessibility standard for electronic documents.

Both state and federal ADA law requires that all documents posted online must be ADA compliant, which ultimately helps improve understanding among all audiences. MnDOT will provide consultants with access to resources for accessible documents, emails and webpages.