Accessibility Practices
BASICS
● Proof of disability is not required to request accommodations
● Accessibility does not end at wheelchair accessibility
● Language matters. Disability not “special needs” or “handicapped” or any other term,
though each individual has preferences, so cede to their preferences
● Include accessibility in Emergency Planning
● Communication is key
● Website and Social Media accessibility are key to being accessible: promoting
accessibility communicates to the disabled community that they are included
● Allow requests for reasonable accommodations
● Never infantilize a disabled person. Do not make assumptions, always ask.
To be truly inclusive, you can reach out to disability groups, organizations, professional
accessibility and disability advisors, and invite people with disabilities into your
organization.
Social Media
● Hashtags: use Camel Case
● Caption video content
● Images: use alt text and ideally also image descriptions
● www.accessliving.org/newsroom/guide-basic-accessibility-on-social-media/
Events
● COVID19 precautions
● Bathroom access
● Ramps and elevators
● Accessible web design (see below)
● Pre-event communication about accommodations provided
● Accessible registration
● Staff trained in disability etiquette
● Assigned seating cannot request or require proof of disability, must be at the same price
● Inclusivity signage: post warnings about events with loud noises, flashing lights, smoke
and fog machines, scent or chemical components, as these may trigger many chronic
conditions
● Provide a variety of seating options
Invisible Disabilities:
MOST DISABILITIES ARE INVISIBLE DISABILITIES
● Access to food and water (even in restricted areas)
● Quiet room / sensory space
● Medical waste receptacle (needle box)
● Explicit communication
● Written instructions
● Headphones (noise cancelling)
● Schedule flexibility
● Allowing seating and various table-levels
● Appropriate lighting (non-flourescent, no flickering)
● Remote options
● Creating an inclusive environment starts from the top down
● Patience, Patience, Patience
● Ask “What do you need?” or “Do you need help?”
Mobility Challenge:
● Not all mobility challenges are solved by ramps
● Provide enough parking spaces, extra temporary spaces may be necessary for large
events
● Accessible public transportation is important
● Building entrances need to be wide enough and with easy to open doors
● Aisles should remain clear of clutter, cords, and other impediments to wheelchairs and
scooters
D/deaf or Hard of Hearing
● ASL or other variety or sign language interpreter (for an individual)
● Open or Closed Captioning services, preferred for events with multiple speakers and
attendees
● Assistive Listening Devices
● Verbatim print materials
● Interpreters working for more than one hour often work in teams of two, and it is
recommended to hire a team for each Deaf student/attendee. They should be provided
with materials ahead of time to prepare, as ASL is not an English equivalent, and there
are not signs for everything. Advance access to slides, notes, handouts, and material
and opportunity to ask questions gives interpreters time to work with unfamiliar terms
● Not all people who are D/deaf use ASL, this is why captioned content is preferred over
interpreters for groups and crowds.
● Look at a Deaf person when you’re speaking, but do not speak slower than usual
● Consider loudspeaker announcements, as they are not accessible
● Look at and address the individual and not the interpreter when communicating
Blind or Low Vision
● Provide sufficient lighting
● Produce large-print versions of handouts (min 16pt font, sans serif, avoid all caps)
● Provide recorded or live auditory descriptions or artwork
● Digital material, like PDFs, should be screen-reader friendly
● Do not overuse special characters, like emojis
Service Animals
● The only questions allowed for service animals are: is the dog a trained service animal?
● Service dogs are working. Do not pet, feed, or play with a working dog.
Website Accessibilities
● Ensure all website text is easy to read: Increase contrast, avoid graphics that replace
text, and include text descriptions for images.
● Provide larger buttons and plenty of space between buttons for people with low vision or
mobility impairments.
● Follow a logical heading structure to aid in navigation.
● Ensure the website is accessible via keyboard and avoid mouse-only interaction.
● Use descriptive link text rather than the generic Click here: Add the hyperlink to
Download your registration form.
● Provide video captions and transcripts.
● If your event has a ticket purchase or registration time limit, consider people using
assistive devices when setting the purchase timeout and extend it.
● Offer a clear accessibility statement on your website, and encourage attendees to reach
out with any questions or concerns they may have.
● Ditch the CAPTCHA”spam is frustrating, but a CAPTCHA is not accessible for people
with low vision or blindness.
● Proof of disability is not required to request accommodations
● Accessibility does not end at wheelchair accessibility
● Language matters. Disability not “special needs” or “handicapped” or any other term,
though each individual has preferences, so cede to their preferences
● Include accessibility in Emergency Planning
● Communication is key
● Website and Social Media accessibility are key to being accessible: promoting
accessibility communicates to the disabled community that they are included
● Allow requests for reasonable accommodations
● Never infantilize a disabled person. Do not make assumptions, always ask.
To be truly inclusive, you can reach out to disability groups, organizations, professional
accessibility and disability advisors, and invite people with disabilities into your
organization.
Social Media
● Hashtags: use Camel Case
● Caption video content
● Images: use alt text and ideally also image descriptions
● www.accessliving.org/newsroom/guide-basic-accessibility-on-social-media/
Events
● COVID19 precautions
● Bathroom access
● Ramps and elevators
● Accessible web design (see below)
● Pre-event communication about accommodations provided
● Accessible registration
● Staff trained in disability etiquette
● Assigned seating cannot request or require proof of disability, must be at the same price
● Inclusivity signage: post warnings about events with loud noises, flashing lights, smoke
and fog machines, scent or chemical components, as these may trigger many chronic
conditions
● Provide a variety of seating options
Invisible Disabilities:
MOST DISABILITIES ARE INVISIBLE DISABILITIES
● Access to food and water (even in restricted areas)
● Quiet room / sensory space
● Medical waste receptacle (needle box)
● Explicit communication
● Written instructions
● Headphones (noise cancelling)
● Schedule flexibility
● Allowing seating and various table-levels
● Appropriate lighting (non-flourescent, no flickering)
● Remote options
● Creating an inclusive environment starts from the top down
● Patience, Patience, Patience
● Ask “What do you need?” or “Do you need help?”
Mobility Challenge:
● Not all mobility challenges are solved by ramps
● Provide enough parking spaces, extra temporary spaces may be necessary for large
events
● Accessible public transportation is important
● Building entrances need to be wide enough and with easy to open doors
● Aisles should remain clear of clutter, cords, and other impediments to wheelchairs and
scooters
D/deaf or Hard of Hearing
● ASL or other variety or sign language interpreter (for an individual)
● Open or Closed Captioning services, preferred for events with multiple speakers and
attendees
● Assistive Listening Devices
● Verbatim print materials
● Interpreters working for more than one hour often work in teams of two, and it is
recommended to hire a team for each Deaf student/attendee. They should be provided
with materials ahead of time to prepare, as ASL is not an English equivalent, and there
are not signs for everything. Advance access to slides, notes, handouts, and material
and opportunity to ask questions gives interpreters time to work with unfamiliar terms
● Not all people who are D/deaf use ASL, this is why captioned content is preferred over
interpreters for groups and crowds.
● Look at a Deaf person when you’re speaking, but do not speak slower than usual
● Consider loudspeaker announcements, as they are not accessible
● Look at and address the individual and not the interpreter when communicating
Blind or Low Vision
● Provide sufficient lighting
● Produce large-print versions of handouts (min 16pt font, sans serif, avoid all caps)
● Provide recorded or live auditory descriptions or artwork
● Digital material, like PDFs, should be screen-reader friendly
● Do not overuse special characters, like emojis
Service Animals
● The only questions allowed for service animals are: is the dog a trained service animal?
● Service dogs are working. Do not pet, feed, or play with a working dog.
Website Accessibilities
● Ensure all website text is easy to read: Increase contrast, avoid graphics that replace
text, and include text descriptions for images.
● Provide larger buttons and plenty of space between buttons for people with low vision or
mobility impairments.
● Follow a logical heading structure to aid in navigation.
● Ensure the website is accessible via keyboard and avoid mouse-only interaction.
● Use descriptive link text rather than the generic Click here: Add the hyperlink to
Download your registration form.
● Provide video captions and transcripts.
● If your event has a ticket purchase or registration time limit, consider people using
assistive devices when setting the purchase timeout and extend it.
● Offer a clear accessibility statement on your website, and encourage attendees to reach
out with any questions or concerns they may have.
● Ditch the CAPTCHA”spam is frustrating, but a CAPTCHA is not accessible for people
with low vision or blindness.
Readings to Learn More about Disability Topics
- The Disability Studies Reader
- Disability Visibility
- Unwell Women
- The War on the Weak
- Beasts of Burden
- Claiming Disability