Accessibility Resources for Political Campaigns 

 

General Accessibility Resources 

•  U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)  https://www.section508.gov/ 
  A government website that provides technical assistance regarding accessibility requirements for information and communication technology (ICT) covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communications Act.  

• The Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN) https://www.plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/ 
  The website of an unfunded working group of federal employees who promote the use of plain language for all government communications.  

• The Access Board https://www.access-board.gov/ 
  An independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards.   

Digital Accessibility 

• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)  https://www.w3.org 
  Main international standards organization for the Web and the website includes strategies, standards, and other resources. 

• Web Accessibility In Mind (WebAIM) https://webaim.org/
  Based at the Institute for Disability Research, Policy, and Practice at Utah State University and provide information, technical skills, and tools to increase accessibility on the web. 

• Vischeck http://www.vischeck.com/ 
  Website that includes a resource that simulates colorblind vision and one that corrects images for colorblind viewers. 

• The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)  https://dcmp.org/learn 
  Information about captioning.  

• PDFs https://www.adobe.com/accessibility.html 
  Many types of assistive technology are now able to access PDFs, it is a good idea to check out the Adobe website for tips on making your PDFs more accessible. 

Best Practice: Make a plain text or Word document version readily available or have it available upon request. 

Virtual Meetings 

• American Bar Association  https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/resources/covid-resources/virtual-meetings-checklist/
  Provide a virtual meeting accessibility checklist, virtual platform accessibility links, and best practices. 

• Section 508  https://www.section508.gov/create/accessible-meetings/ 
  Read about how to make your virtual meeting accessible in compliance with Section 508 and other disability rights laws. 

• The Access Board  https://www.access-board.gov/files/presentations/USAB_2021-01-13_Accessible_Virtual_Meetings.pdf 
  Slides from the Access Board’s presentation on accessible virtual meetings. 

Physical Accessibility Resources 

• American Bar Association  https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/commission-disability-rights/accessible-meetings-toolkit.pdf 
  Toolkit, including checklist on how to approach accessibility in preparation for an in-person event or meeting. 

• Northwest ADA Center  https://nwadacenter.org/ 
  Provide training in all areas of the American With Disabilities Act, including site visits.

• W3C  https://www.w3.org/WAI/teach-advocate/accessible-presentations/#basics-for-organizers--speakers 
  Read how to make your presentations, meetings, conferences, and training more accessible. 

Disability Organizations 

• The Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired  https://www.alaskabvi.org/ 
  Organization working to eliminate vision loss as the barrier to employment, community participation or quality of life. Serves as a training and resource center for vision rehabilitation statewide. 

• The Alaska Deaf Council  https://www.alaskadeafcouncil.org/ 
  Works to promote and empower Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind consumers in Alaska by providing a centralized resource for service providers, promoting advocacy and support. 

• The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority  https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/alaska-mental-health-trust-authority/ 
  A state corporation that administers the Alaska Mental Health Trust, aimed at improving the lives of beneficiaries. Beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience mental illness, developmental and intellectual disabilities, substance use disorders, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and traumatic brain injuries. The Trust uses its resources to provide advocacy, and funding.  

• The Arc of Anchorage https://thearcofanchorage.org/ 
  Provides disability services to Alaskans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral and mental health challenges.  

• The Brain Injury Association of Alaska https://alaskabraininjury.net/ 
  Educates, plans, coordinates and advocates for services and the wellness of traumatic and acquired brain injury survivors and their families.  

• The Governor's Council on Disabilities & Special Education https://health.alaska.gov/gcdse/Pages/default.aspx 
  Uses planning, capacity building, systems change, and advocacy to create change for Alaskans with disabilities, to help develop a service delivery system that meets the needs of individuals throughout their life. 

• The Mental Health Association in Alaska (MHAA) http://www.alaska.net/~mhaa/  
  A Division of the National Mental Health Association promoting good mental health, the prevention of mental illness and ongoing improvement in care through advocacy, education, referral, research, legislative input and the monitoring of existing programs. 

• The National Alliance on Mental Illness Alaska https://namialaska.org/ 
  An organization consisting of families, friends and individuals affected by mental illness who advocate for individuals with a mental illness.  

• The Statewide Independent Living Council of Alaska (SILC) www.alaskasilc.org 
  A statewide non-profit with members of all ages, disability, ethnicity/race, and gender.  The organization develops, monitors, and evaluates the federally mandated Alaska State Plan for Independent Living and promotes the independent living philosophy and provides support and technical assistance to all Centers for Independent Living (CILs).