Access and Inclusion 


Planning for Accessibility 

•Understand the range of access needs 
•Interpreters 
•Plain language 
•Flexibility 
•Accessible platforms: designing accessible resources 
•Other auxiliary aids 
•Leverage existing resources through partnership 

Considerations for Access (1) 

Telephone Advocacy 

• Clarify needs at the beginning of the call and then 
check in throughout 
• Train staff on working through Video Relay Service 
(VRS) and l et the community know you are prepared 
• Build in more time 
• Decide now how you will work with someone who 
relies upon a support person to communicate 
• Don’t pretend to understand someone if you don’t 


Considerations for Access (2) 

Text/Chat –based Advocacy 

• Check in about access needs at the beginning and 
throughout the exchange 
• Communicate using short and direct sentences 
• Remember that English may not be the survivor’s first 
language (GLOSS) 
• Use the simplest terms as possible 
• Avoid acronyms and jargon 
• Build in more time, be patient 
• Ask for clarification 





Considerations for Access (3) 

Video–based Advocacy 

• Understand the limitations of the platform you are using 
• Video resolution 
• Ease of use 
• Reliance on bandwidth 
• User’s experience with platform 
• Explain confidentiality and privacy concerns in ways that are 
clear and understandable 
• Ask for clarification 







Considerations for Access (4) 

Social Media 

• Include #hashtags and @mentions at the end of tweets and posts. 
• Capitalize the first letter of each word in hashtag– this is called camel 
case: #VeraInstituteOfJustice 
• Draft tweets/posts in advance and test them using screen reader 
software before posting to social media 
• Screen readers can read emoji. Be strategic about where emoji are 
located in your posts. 
• Avoid interspersing emoji between words, which awkwardly breaks up 
phrase. 
• Add alternative text to social media images/videos 





Considerations for Access (5) 

Website 

• Include a lternative t ext for 
all images and non-text 
items (charts, buttons, 
graphics) 
• Caption videos and include 
audio descriptions 
• Use descriptive hyperlinks 
• Ensure high color contrast 
• Use sans serif font 
• Ensure keyboard navigation 




• Use heading level structures 
• Use descriptive labels (label 
form fields) 
• Offer re-sizable text options 
• Make sure your site is also 
mobile-friendly 
• Avoid content that blinks or 
moves automatically 
• Use more than color to 
convey meaning 





We’re here to help! 

Disability and Deaf Resource Center 

cvs@vera.org 
https://www.endabusepwd.org/