Explore Access Update • Quarter 1 2020

We’ve been busy! And that’s great news. Our opportunities to provide training and technical assistance on access and inclusion have continued to grow over the past few years. Thus, we are changing the Explore Access Update from a monthly to quarterly newsletter. With less frequency, we’ll be able to provide in-depth information with each edition, and also have more time to meet the demands for direct training and technical assistance.

10 Things You Can Do While Working Remotely 

We recognize that living in the shadow of COVID-19 can be confusing, uncertain and extremely disruptive for many. We wish you good health and that you are able to remain safe without too much disruption. Since many of you are working remotely for the next two to four weeks, we’ve put together some resources for you to turn to that we hope will keep you connected and informed while working remotely.

1. Watch a webinar on access and the ADA.

You can find upcoming webinars from the ADA National Network Website at adata.org.(There are also several listed at the end of this newsletter.)

2. Participate in an ADA National Network Twitter Chat.

The ADA National Network will be hosting a monthly Twitter Chat. The next Twitter Chat which will be on March 25th at 12 pm Central and will focus on Effective Communication. Learn more: Effective Communication Twitter Chat. Follow these Twitter Chats at #ADANetworkChat.

3. Take the ADA Building Blocks Course.

Better yet, encourage your entire staff to do so. ADA Basic Building Blocks is an introductory web course on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

4. Take an online class offered by the Rocky Mountain ADA Center.

The Rocky Mountain ADA Center offers several online courses on the ADA including one on Service Animals.

5. Learn how to make your social media campaign accessible.

The Social Media Accessibility Toolkit will give you the tools you need to make sure your social media is accessible to your fans and followers.

6. Learn to create accessible documents and PowerPoint presentations.

The Creating Accessible Documents Toolkit will provide you with the basic techniques for making sure documents and presentations are accessible.

7. Read Judy Heumann’s newly released book.

Judy Heumann is an international disability rights activists who played a central role in the 504 Sit-in, leading to the signing of the 504 regulations. In her memoir, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, she shares her experiences “fighting for the right to receive an education, have a job, and just be human.”

8. Watch one of these excellent TedTalks.

The talks by Stella Young (I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much) and Maysoon Zayid (I have 99 problems…and palsy is only one) are great.

9. Use a free online tool to check your website for accessibility.

You can check your website’s accessibility using WAVE. It won’t identify all of the accessibility issues but will give you a sense of how you are doing. 

10. Create a social media campaign that promotes access and inclusion.

Here are a few options:

Resource Highlight

This toolkit is offered in response to the many colleges, universities and K-12 schools that are taking classes online in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We hope it will be helpful to online educators and those assisting them in ensuring their courses are accessible.

Explore Access: Designing an Accessible Online Course

Upcoming Events

Free Webinar
Presented by the ADA National Network
Accessible Polling Facilities and the ADA
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
1:00 PM Central Time

Register for Accessible Polling Facilities

Free Webinar
Presented by the ADA National Network
The ADA and Religious Institutions
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
1:00 PM Central Time

Register for the ADA and Religious Institutions

Free Webinar
Presented by the ADA National Network
Accessible Social Media
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
12:00 PM Central Time

Register for Accessible Social Media

Free Webinar
Presented by the ADA National Network
Accessible Parking, What Does that Mean?
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
1:00 PM Central Time

Register for Accessible Parking

Free Webinar
Presented by the ADA National Network
Who Let the Dogs (and Miniature Horses) In?
Service Animals in Health Care Facilities
Thursday, May 28th, 2020
1:30 PM Central Time

Register for Who Let the Dogs In