Accessible Practices. Annotated List of Links and Publications

Transcription

1 Accessible Practices Annotated List of Links and Publications The annotated list that follows contains publications and web site addresses found in the Accessible Practices section of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated (ASTC) web site. This information, which is organized alphabetically by topic, is updated in January and June each year. The URL directly below the heading of each section takes you to that topic on ASTC s web pages. Table of Contents Access Guides... 2 Access Plan... 3 Access Survey... 4 Accessible Practices Workshops... 6 Assistive Listening Devices... 6 Audio Description... 7 Audiocassette... 8 Braille... 9 Captioning Conferences and Meetings Disability Experience Disability Rights Movement Electronic Documents Exhibits, Programs, Facilities Funding Interacting with Visitors with Disabilities Large Print Live and Recorded Media Museums Legal Obligations Print Materials Sign Language Interpreters TTY/TDD Web Page Design Working with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Professionals Working with Persons with Disabilities Page 1 of 24

2 Access Guides Access Expressed! Massachusetts: A Cultural Resource Directory This directory gives detailed information about access features of cultural facilities, including science museums, in Massachusetts and other states. This guide is also available in print form. To order an individual copy, contact ARTS/Boston at 617/ For bulk orders, contact Very Special Arts Massachusetts at 617/ or TTY 617/ Clarksville Montgomery County Museum, Clarksville, Tennessee Museum Access Information for Visitors with Disabilities describes the access features of facilities, tours, and programs. This guide is in large print and includes contact information in Braille on the front cover. To receive a copy, contact the Director of Accessibility and Awareness, 931/ or TTY 931/ Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Florida The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has both an online and a printed access guide describing accessibility of the site and services provided for visitors with disabilities. To receive a copy of Accessibility Information for Guests with Disabilities, contact 321/ or TTY 321/ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has Museum Access, a guide for visitors with disabilities, which describes facilities and programs. The front cover has text, access symbols, and Braille. To receive a copy, contact the department of education and public programs at 617/ ; TTY 617/ ; fax 617/ , erubin@mfa.org. Museum of Science, Boston, Massachusetts Museum of Science, Boston, includes its online access guide in its visitor services section. The Museum of Science has an Access Guide in print that addresses the full range of access issues from transportation to facilities to programs. To receive a copy, contact the access coordinator at 617/ or TTY 617/ National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland The National Aquarium s web site describes access for its facilities, programs, and services. The access guide web page has a design that accommodates people who use screen readers to browse the Internet. Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, Massachusetts Old Sturbridge Village has a multipage access guide that highlights physical access to each Page 2 of 24

3 building, as well as services. To receive a print copy, contact the access coordinator at 508/ , x282 or TTY 508/ Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey Theater for Everyone: An Informational Guide to AccessAbility Services is a large print brochure with access symbols and photographs that highlights facilities, services, and programs. To receive a copy, contact 973/ or TTY 973/ Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Access, a 48-page guide, details the accessibility of parking, entrances, facilities, and services in all 16 museums and the National Zoo. To receive a copy, write to the Smithsonian Information Center, SI Building 153, Washington, DC , or call 202/ or TTY 202/ Access Plan Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Technical Assistance For clarification of federal, state, and local accessibility codes, call ADA Technical Assistance ( ). This service is managed by your regional Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC). There are 10 DBTACs in the United States. ADA Title II Technical Assistance Manual (1993) and Yearly Supplements This 30-page manual explains in lay terms what state and local governments must do to ensure that their services, programs, and activities are provided to the public in a nondiscriminatory manner. Many examples are provided for practical guidance. Requirements for transition plans are described under II Administrative Requirements. ADA Title III Technical Assistance Manual (1993) and Yearly Supplements This 83-page manual explains in lay terms what businesses and nonprofit agencies must do to ensure access to their goods, services, and facilities. Many examples are provided for practical guidance. The Arts and 504: A Handbook for Accessible Arts Programming. Barrier Free Environments. Washington, D.C.: National Endowment for the Arts, This handbook, now out of print, describes how Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to arts institutions, including science museums. It provides guidance on making programs, facilities, and services compliant with the law. Page 3 of 24

4 Design for Accessibility: An Arts Administrators Guide. Washington, D.C.: National Endowment for the Arts, This step-by-step 700-page guide of checklists, resources, and examples is designed to assist cultural institutions in making programs and facilities welcoming and accessible to diverse public audiences. Tab 9 contains information on developing an access plan and examples of completed plans. To order, contact the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 202/ Everyone s Welcome: the Americans with Disabilities Act and Museums. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Museums, AAM s manual helps museum professionals to better understand and meet the requirements of the ADA. Chapter 1 outlines some basics of the act, including which institutions are affected by Title II and what a transition plan should include. This book is available, with supplemental materials, through the American Association of Museums (AAM, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of Section of this document, Existing facilities, describes requirements for transition plans. Access Survey Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Hotline To speak with a technical information specialist, contact the ADA Hotline, 800/ or TTY 800/ Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTAC) DBTACs provide public awareness, technical assistance, training, materials, and referrals on the ADA. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education, the 10 centers are located throughout the country. To reach the DBTAC in your region call toll-free at V/TTY 800/ Copies of ADA publications are available at no or reasonable cost. Among the many useful DBTAC documents are Alternatives to Barrier Removal Resources for More Information Checklist for Existing Facilities, version 2.1: The ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal Title III Fact Sheet Series: Who Has Obligations Under the ADA Title III Fact Sheet Series: Providing Effective Communication Title III Fact Sheet Series: Communicating with People with Disabilities Page 4 of 24

5 Design for Accessibility: An Arts Administrators Guide. Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts, A step-by-step 700-page guide of checklists, resources, and examples designed to assist cultural institutions in making programs and facilities comfortably available to the broadest public. To order, contact the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies at 202/ Everyone s Welcome: the Americans with Disabilities Act and Museums. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums, A manual for museum professionals to help them better understand and meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Recommendations address concerns for visitors with a range of physical and learning disabilities. Available with supplemental materials through the American Association of Museums (AAM, Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Accessibility Program, A Smithsonian standards manual for accessible exhibitions, publications, and media. To receive a free copy (also available in large print, audiocassette, or Braille) write to the Smithsonian Accessibility Program, Smithsonian Institution, Arts and Industries Building, Room 1239 MRC 426, Washington, DC 20560; 202/ ; TTY 202/ ; or viarc.info@ic.si.edu. U. S. Access Board The U.S. Access Board is responsible for developing the minimum guidelines and requirements for standards issued under the ADA and other laws addressing accessibility in facilities and communication. Contact the board by phone 800/ , TTY 800/ , fax 202/ , or pubs@access-board.gov. A complete list of publications and the text of some publications are available at Among the many useful Access Board documents are ADA Accessibility Guidelines ADAAG Checklist Play Area Guidelines Recreation Facilities Guidelines Outdoor Developed Area Guidelines Electronic & Information Technology Access Currents Page 5 of 24

6 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) The DOJ distributes the ADA statute, Title II and Title III regulations, and technical assistance material addressing specific areas, such as service animals in public accommodations and parking lot requirements. For a free copy of these materials or a list of publications, call the ADA Information Line at 800/ or TTY 800/ Automated service is available 24 hours a day for recorded information and to order publications. A complete list of publications and the text of several documents are available at Among the many useful DOJ documents are Public Law Text of the Americans with Disabilities Act ADA Title II Regulations Title II Technical Assistance Manual and Supplements ADA Title III Regulations Title III Technical Assistance Manual and Supplements Accessible Practices Workshops Assistive Listening Devices Informed Consumer Guide to Assistive Technology for People with Hearing Disabilities This document produced by ABLEDATA provides information on many kinds of assistive devices for people with hearing loss. It concludes with a list of manufacturers of assistive devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The ABLEDATA site also contains consumer guides, fact sheets, bulletins, and directories that are very thorough. ASHA Buyer s Guide for Communication Devices/Aids, Audiology The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has compiled this list of companies that manufacture and/or distribute assistive listening devices. The directory is not as easy to use as the ABLEDATA guide and occasionally has incomplete information on the companies. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) On ASHA s web site you will find information about hearing loss, its effects, and assistive technologies. In the public information section there are links to several brochures about ALDs and other topics you might find useful. Page 6 of 24

7 Directory of State Technology Assistance Programs Under the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 1988, each state has an organization that provides information on assistive technologies. These organizations can provide technical assistance to help you decide what technologies would work best in your museum. They sometimes sponsor demonstrations of various technologies or organize special events. These programs work with all kinds of assistive technologies, not just those for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Providing Effective Communication This fact sheet describes several methods of making information and communication accessible. It describes some of the legal requirements for providing alternate formats and auxiliary aids and services. Produced by Adaptive Environments Center, Inc. Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) As part of SHHH s goal to improve the quality of life for people who are hard of hearing, it provides information and services regarding hearing loss. This web page describes various kinds of ALDs. SHHH also allows consumers to try out hearing assistive technology before they purchase it. Audio Description /resource/access/medad.htm The Audio Description Home Page This web site explains audio description in greater detail and provides downloadable examples. The site was constructed by Joel Snyder, a describer and narrator for live productions, movies, and audio described tours nationally and internationally. He is the president of Audio Description Associates, an active trainer of describers, and the founding chair of the steering committee of Audio Description International. Snyder can be reached at 202/ ; 301/ ; or e- mail jsnyder@artswire.org. Descriptive Video Service Descriptive Video Service (DVS) is a national service that makes Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television programs, Hollywood movies on video, and other visual media accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. DVS was launched nationally in 1990 by the WGBH Educational Foundation, producer of many prime-time public television programs and leader in the development of accessible media. DVS has offices in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. Media Access Generator (MAGpie) Using MAGpie, you can integrate audio descriptions into Synchronized Multimedia Integration Page 7 of 24

8 Language (SMIL) presentations. You can also add captions to three multimedia formats: Apple s QuickTime, the World Wide Web Consortium s SMIL, and Microsoft s Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) format. You can download MAGpie from this site free of charge. The Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc Established in 1974, The Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc. is a nonprofit organization providing reading and information services for blind, visually impaired and physically disabled people who cannot effectively read print, see plays, watch television programs and films, or view museum exhibits. The Ear was the first in the nation to initiate an audio description program for theater in the early 1980s. This organization provides audio description services and also trains audio describers. The Ear can be reached at 35 University Boulevard East, Silver Spring, MD USA; 301/ ; FAX 301/ Informed Consumer Guide to Assistive Technology for People with Hearing Disabilities This document produced by ABLEDATA provides background information on all kinds of assistive devices for people with hearing loss. It concludes with an extensive list of manufacturers of assistive devices for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This page is particularly useful for finding manufacturers of transmitters and receivers. For more information about such devices, see Assistive Listening Devices. Audiocassette /resource/access/pmaudio.htm An Introduction to Tape The Royal National Institute for the Blind (United Kingdom) provides basic guidelines on recording print materials onto audiocassette. Removing Barriers: Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication Removing Barriers is a publication of the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health (NCODH). It contains information on TTYs, etiquette for interacting with people with disabilities, web page design, andaudiovisual presentations. The section on print materials has guidelines for producing audiocassettes. Hard copies of this publication can be ordered for a nominal fee from NCODH by calling 919/ or 919/ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped ftp://ftp.loc.gov/pub/nls/reference/directories/vols96.txt The Library of Congress produced this directory of transcription service vendors. Look in the index at the bottom of the page under Recording to see which organizations convert print materials to audiocassette. Page 8 of 24

9 National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Included in NFB s extensive list of U.S. vendors that transcribe documents and signs are some that record print materials on audiocassette. Braille /resource/access/pmbraille.htm How to Produce Braille This web page, produced by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (United Kingdom), provides guidelines on creating materials in Braille. At the end is a listing of Braille equipment distributors and Braille transcription service providers in the UK. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped ftp://ftp.loc.gov/pub/nls/reference/directories/vols96.txt The Library of Congress produced this directory of transcription service vendors in Use the index at the bottom of the page to identify which organizations transcribe materials into Braille. National Federation of the Blind (NFB) The NFB provides a nationwide listing of transcription service vendors for documents and for signs. This listing includes approximate costs, turnaround times, and types of materials each vendor transcribes. American Council of the Blind (ACB) The ACB provides information on the history, use, and current research on Braille. This page also lists some Braille transcription service providers. American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) The AFB provides a brief overview of what Braille is and how it is written. Braille Authority of North America (BANA) The BANA provides standards for Braille and tactile graphics. The page on the definition of Braille provides helpful graphics helping explain Braille coding. Liz Gray s Braille Transcribing Page Liz Gray is a Braille transcriber certified by the Library of Congress. Here she explains some Braille basics, including the different kinds of Braille. Page 9 of 24

10 Captioning Caption Center The Caption Center is the world s first captioning agency and a nonprofit service of WGBH Public Television in Boston, Massachusetts. This organization captions videos, films, and television programs and provides information on terminology, technology, laws, and recent developments in the field. Captioning Planetarium Programs for the Hearing Impaired. Bridget M. Shea. Planetarian. Vol. 23, no. 3, September Bridget Shea describes the process and equipment used for captioning at the Davis Planetarium, Maryland Science Center. Closed Captions for Web Multimedia Microsoft Accessibility describes technology used to caption multimedia elements on the Internet. This site explains Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI), a format used to add captions and audio descriptions to multimedia on the Internet. The site includes downloads and demonstrations. Closed Captioning Web The Closed Captioning Web provides a comprehensive list of captioning service agencies under the heading, Services. There is detailed information about laws and cases pertaining to captioning, captioned movies, and links related to hearing impairment and captioning. Gary Robson s Closed Captioning FAQ This site provides in-depth information on captioning laws, terminology, procedures, and equipment. Included are guidelines to help users choose what kinds of captioning best serve their purposes and hints on how to select a captioning service agency for real-time captioning. Media Access Generator (MAGpie) Using MAGpie, authors can add captions to three multimedia formats: Apple s QuickTime, the World Wide Web Consortium s Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL), and Microsoft s Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) format. MAGpie can also integrate audio descriptions into SMIL presentations. You can download MAGpie from this site free of charge. Page 10 of 24

11 National Captioning Institute (NCI) NCI is a nonprofit organization established to provide captions for television programming. The NCI site provides information on terminology, laws, and the process of captioning. Providing Effective Communication This fact sheet produced by Adaptive Environments Center, Inc. describes several methods of making information and communication accessible. It describes some of the legal requirements for providing alternate formats and auxiliary aids and services. Conferences and Meetings /resource/access/mtgs.htm Access Able Travel Source Access Able is a site that provides information about transportation, accommodations, attractions, adventures, resources, equipment rental and repair, and medical resources worldwide. Accommodating All Guests. John P.S. Salmen. Washington, DC: The American Hotel & Motel Association, This book begins with an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the main issues for public accommodations, including areas of rescue, transportation services, and auxiliary aids. A 24-page illustrated checklist reviews parking, entrances, public areas, restaurants, meeting rooms, guest rooms, bathrooms, and recreation facilities. For a copy of this publication, contact the American Hotel and Motel Association, 202/ Arranging Accessible Meetings Produced by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), this bulletin provides detailed guidelines in narrative form. Topics covered include selecting a site, room setup, recruitment, presentation, ASL interpreters, assistive technologies, and alternate formats. Planning Accessible Conferences and Meetings: An ERIC/OSEP Information Brief for Conference Planners This ERIC document provides narrative guidelines and bulleted checklists regarding choosing a site, promotion and registration, social functions and meals, and presentations. It concludes with a bibliography. Project ACTION Accessible Traveler s Database KFH Group Inc. produced this comprehensive database of accessible transit services in the United States. The database of transit systems is supplemented with information on accessible Page 11 of 24

12 tours and tour companies, accessible airport and other private shuttles, and accessible taxi services. Disability Experience /resource/access/interact.htm Train Go Sorry: Inside a Deaf World. Leah Hager Cohen. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, Black Bird Fly Away: Disabled in an Able-Bodied World. Hugh Gallagher. Arlington, VA: Vandemere Press, Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations. John Hockenberry. New York, NY: Hyperion, Touching the Rock: An Experience of Blindness. John M. Hull. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, Waist-High in the World: A Life Among the Nondisabled. Nancy Mairs. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, The Ragged Edge: The Disability Experience from the Pages of the First Fifteen Years of the Disability Rag. Ed. Barrett Shaw. Louisville, KY: Advocado Press, Missing Pieces: A Chronicle of Living with a Disability. Irving Kenneth Zola. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, Disability Rights Movement /resource/access/rights.htm ABC-CLIO Companion to the Disability Rights Movement. Fred Pelka. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Beyond Affliction: The Disability History Project This web site is an extension of a National Public Radio program on disability history. The site integrates primary resources into narratives about disability and how it has been perceived in America for more than 100 years. A Brief History of the Disability Movement VSA arts provides a concise history of the disability rights movement, identifying some of the major milestones. Page 12 of 24

13 The Disability Rights Movement This online exhibition produced by the National Museum of American History provides an overview of the disability rights movement. The Disability Rights Movement exhibition opened in July 2000, amid celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The content on these web pages mirrors that of the physical exhibition and is designed to be fully accessible to people with various disabilities. Disability Social History Project This site has information on the history of disabilities and how they have been perceived by society. The site includes a time line with narratives for particular events, biographies of famous people with disabilities, bibliographies, photos of historic documents relating to disabilities, and news. The site s page of links, refers readers to resources on disability history; media, arts, and culture; and women and minorities with disabilities. From Good Will to Civil Rights: Transforming Federal Disability Policy. Richard K. Scotch. Philadelphia, P.A.: Temple University Press, The League of the Physically Handicapped and the Great Depression: A Case Study in the New Disability History. Paul K. Longmore and David Goldberger. The Journal of American History. Vol. 87, no. 3, December No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement. Joseph P. Shapiro. New York, N.Y.: Times Books, A chronicle of the ways that both society and self-perceptions have changed for America s largest minority the 54 million people with disabilities. Shapiro looks at the concerns of people who are deaf, blind, autistic, or mentally retarded. He examines the impact of technology on aid for the disabled, the need for nursing home reform, and the potential for backlash as the public becomes aware of the costs of implementing disability laws. Shapiro interviewed hundreds of people for this report, and his conversations with them bring life to his pages, reducing the distance between the disabled and others. Rehabilitating America: Toward Independence for Disabled and Elderly People. Frank Bowe. New York, N.Y.: Harper & Row, Electronic Documents /resource/access/pmdisk.htm National Federation of the Blind (NFB) The NFB provides a nationwide listing of vendors who convert print materials into Braille for Page 13 of 24

14 documents and for signs. This listing includes approximate costs, turnaround time, and types of materials each vendor transcribes. Exhibits, Programs, Facilities /resource/access/exhibits.htm Barrier Free Education The goal of this resource site is to help students with disabilities gain access to math and science education. The site provides advice to educators on creating curricula for students with various physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities and gives examples of lab experiments. The site also provides links to readings on disabilities, on the concept of accessibility, access technologies, and curriculum design. The listserv associated with this site is a forum for discussing these topics. Design for Accessibility: An Arts Administrators Guide. Washington, DC: National Endowment for the Arts, A step-by-step 700-page guide of checklists, resources, and examples designed to assist cultural institutions in making programs and facilities comfortably available to the broadest public. To order, contact the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies at 202/ Everyone s Welcome: the Americans with Disabilities Act and Museums. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums, A manual for museum professionals to help them better understand and meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Recommendations address concerns for visitors with a range of physical and learning disabilities. Available with supplemental materials through the American Association of Museums (AAM); Part of Your General Public Is Disabled: A Handbook for Guides in Museums, Zoos, and Historic Houses. Janice Majewski. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, Well-trained docents may be your most important accessibility resource. This book and video make a strong training package. The book is an excellent resource of specific accessibility information. Available as a book/video package or as a book alone from ASTC and AAM, Planning for People in Museum Exhibitions. Kathleen McLean. Washington, DC: Association of Science-Technology Centers, This book provides museum professionals with a broad understanding of the many disciplines needed to produce effective exhibitions, from industrial, graphic, and interior design to writing, editing, psychology, and management. Appendices lay out an approach to exhibition critiques and provide guidelines for using environmentally friendly materials. Available through ASTC. Page 14 of 24

15 Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design. Smithsonian Accessibility Program. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, A Smithsonian standards manual for accessible exhibitions, publications, and media. To receive a free copy (also available in large print, audiocassette, or Braille) write to the Smithsonian Accessibility Program, Smithsonian Institution, Arts and Industries Building, Room 1239 MRC 426, Washington, DC 20560; 202/ ; TTY 202/ ; or viarc.info@ic.si.edu. User Friendly: Hands-On Exhibits That Work. Jeff Kennedy. Washington, DC: Association of Science-Technology Centers, Offers solutions to common human-factor problems specific to hands-on exhibits. This book covers such topics as designing legible, accessible labels; designing user-friendly viewers and eyepieces; selecting exhibit controls (such as joy sticks, handles, levers, and pushbuttons); and the use of interactive video. Available through ASTC and AAM, Funding /resource/access/funding.htm Interacting with Visitors with Disabilities /resource/access/interact.htm Commonly Asked Questions about Service Animals in Places of Business This document produced by the U.S. Department of Justice provides answers to frequently asked questions about guide dogs and other service animals. Communicating with People Who Have a Hearing Loss These guidelines provide tips to improve communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Communicating with People with Disabilities This fact sheet produced by Adaptive Environments Center Inc. suggests strategies for promoting comfortable and clear communication between staff and people with various disabilities. Disability Awareness Guide Produced by VSA arts, these pages describe various disabilities, myths and facts about them, suggestions for positive interactions, references, and sources for further information. Disabilities discussed include visual impairments, deafness, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, mental illness, developmental disabilities, and mobility impairments. Page 15 of 24

16 Disability Etiquette Handbook The City of San Antonio Disability Access Office compiled these useful guidelines on conversation etiquette and related topics. Guidelines for Reporting and Writing about People with Disabilities The fifth edition of these guidelines, produced by the Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas, provides advice on ways to write appropriately and accurately about people with disabilities. How to Be a Sighted Guide The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind developed this set of guidelines for being a sighted guide for a person with a visual disability. A sighted guide is a person who acts as the eyes of a blind or visually impaired person, assisting him or her to navigate in unfamiliar territory. Language Is a Powerful Tool This booklet by the National Center on Accessibility provides an introduction to the topic of respectful language. Single copies are free, and multiple copies are available at a nominal cost. To order, call 765/ Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing This link leads to a list of fact sheets on communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The topics covered include sign language interpreters, American Sign Language, assistive technologies, demographics, and etiquette. National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) NICHCY provides information on disabilities and referrals. The NICHCY Disability Fact Sheets provide definitions, characteristics, and educational implications for several disabilities. NICHCY also has information specialists available to answer your questions at V/TTY 800/ or V/TTY 202/ Part of Your General Public Is Disabled: A Handbook for Guides in Museums, Zoos, and Historic Houses. Janice Majewski. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, Well-trained docents may be your most important accessibility resource. This book and video make a strong training package. The book is an excellent resource of specific accessibility information. Available as a book/video package or as a book alone from ASTC and AAM ( Page 16 of 24

17 Removing Barriers: Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication Removing Barriers is a publication of the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health (NCODH). It contains information on using a TTY, interacting with people with disabilities, and designing accessible web pages, audiovisual presentations, and print materials. A printed copy can be ordered for a nominal fee from NCODH by calling 919/ or 919/ Royal National Institute for the Blind, United Kingdom (RNIB) RNIB provides many on-line resources regarding blindness and low vision. This link takes you to a list of on-line and printed fact sheets. They cover topics such as alternate formats for print materials, eye conditions, legal obligations, accessibility in museums, audio description, and technology. Speaking with Awareness: People-First Language VSA arts provides examples of appropriate terminology and some guidance on conversation etiquette. U.S. Bureau of the Census This site provides statistical data and some analysis about the number of people with disabilities in the United States. This data is based upon the Survey of Income and Program Participation conducted in Large Print /resource/access/pmlp.htm In Touch Handbook: The online visual impairment guide This handbook provides a list of transcription service vendors in the United Kingdom. Providers who transcribe into large print are indicated. National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped ftp://ftp.loc.gov/pub/nls/reference/directories/vols96.txt The Library of Congress produced this directory of transcription service vendors. The index at the bottom of the page will help you identify which vendors transcribe materials into large print. National Federation of the Blind (NFB) The NFB provides a nationwide listing of transcription service vendors for documents and for signs. This listing includes approximate costs, turnaround times, and types of materials each vendor transcribes. Some Braille vendors may also do large print. Page 17 of 24

18 Removing Barriers: Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication Removing Barriers is a publication of the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health (NCODH). It contains information on TTYs, etiquette for interacting with people with disabilities, web page design, audiovisual presentations, and print materials. This document includes a detailed section on producing materials in large print. Hard copies can be ordered for a nominal fee from NCODH by calling 919/ or 919/ Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design. Smithsonian Accessibility Program. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, These guidelines focus mostly on elements of exhibition design, providing specific measurements and suggested solutions to common design problems. In the appendix of this document, there is a set of guidelines for making accessible print materials, including large print materials. To receive a free copy (also available in large print, audiocassette, or Braille), write to the Smithsonian Accessibility Program 202/ ; TTY 202/ ; Fax 202/ ; majewskj@si.edu. Live and Recorded Media /resource/access/medmain.htm Museums Legal Obligations /resource/access/obligations.htm State Code Contact List The U.S. Access Board produces this list of contact information for state ADA offices. Contact your state and local ADA office to learn about your legal obligations because the ADA stipulates that the stricter regulations, whether they be national, state, or local, are the ones you are required to follow. United States Department of Justice The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) distributes the ADA statute, Titles II and III regulations, and technical assistance material addressing specific areas, such as service animals in public accommodations and parking lot requirements. For a free copy of these materials or a list of publications, call the ADA Information Line at 800/ or TTY 800/ A complete list of publications and the text of several documents are available at The ADA Information Line answers technical questions about the law. Call 800/ or TTY 800/ Page 18 of 24

19 Among the many useful DOJ documents are Americans with Disabilities Act Full text version of the ADA. Guide to Disability Rights Laws This guide is an easy-to-read 14-page booklet that explains accessibility laws in the United States. Title II Highlights Outlines the key features of Title II of the ADA. Title III Highlights Outlines the key features of Title III of the ADA. United States Access Board The U.S. Access Board is responsible for developing the minimum guidelines and requirements for standards issued under the ADA and other laws addressing accessibility in facilities and communication. Contact the board by phone 800/ TTY 800/ ; fax 202/ ; or A complete list of publications and the text of some publications are available at Among the many useful Access Board documents are ADA Accessibility Guidelines Provides detailed explanations and illustrations of ADA requirements. ADA Accessibility Guidelines Checklist Lengthy checklist for assessing the accessibility of buildings and facilities. Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers (DBTACs) DBTACs provide public awareness, technical assistance, training, materials, and referrals on the ADA. Funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education, the 10 Centers are located throughout the country. To reach the Center in your region call toll-free at V/TTY 800/ Copies of ADA publications are available at no or reasonable cost. Among the many useful DBTAC documents are ADA Question and Answer Brochure A Guide to Disability Rights Laws Brochure Alternatives for Barrier Removal Resources for More Information Common ADA Errors and Omissions in New Construction and Alterations Page 19 of 24

20 Checklist for Existing Facilities: The ADA Checklist for Readily Achievable Barrier Removal Title III Fact Sheet Series: Who Has Obligations Under Title III Title III Fact Sheet Series: Providing Effective Communication Title III Fact Sheet Series: Communicating with People with Disabilities Title III Fact Sheet Series: Tax Incentives for Improving Accessibility Trace Research and Development Center Trace Research and Development Center has comprehensive articles and guidelines on disabilities and universal design including information on accessible web sites, kiosks, and facilities. Contact Trace at 608/ or TTY 608/ Among the many useful Trace documents are Excerpts of the Telecommunications Act of This document provides legal definitions for telecommunications and excerpts from the Act itself, including a section on video programming accessibility. Print Materials /resource/access/pmmain.htm Effective Color Contrast: Designing for People with Partial Sight and Color Deficiencies. Aries Arditi. New York, NY: Lighthouse International, (Graphic version) (Text only) The colorful illustrations in this brochure give readers a clearer idea of the elements of contrast, including hue, saturation, and lightness. Available from Lighthouse International at 212/ or 800/ , TTY 212/ , Fax 212/ Library Services for Visually Impaired People: a Manual of Best Practice This manual offers practical guidance for those providing library and information services to people with visual impairments, including assessment of needs, development of policy, and good practices. The manual covers topics such as alternate formats, laws, assistive technologies, training, marketing, and offers advice on services and support available in the UK. Making Text Legible: Designing for People with Partial Sight. Aries Arditi. New York, NY: Lighthouse International, (Graphic version) (Text only) This brochure provides basic guidelines for creating documents that are as legible as possible. Topics discussed include the size, type, color, and leading of text. Examples are provided for Page 20 of 24

21 each of the ten guidelines. Available from Lighthouse International at 212/ or 800/ , TTY 212/ , Fax 212/ Providing Effective Communication This fact sheet describes various methods of making printed materials accessible. Produced by Adaptive Environments Center, Inc. Removing Barriers: Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication (HTML version) (PDF version) Removing Barriers, produced and distributed by the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health (NCODH), contains information on print materials, interacting with people with disabilities, web page design, audiovisual presentations, and using a TTY. Each topic is touched upon in enough depth to get you started on making communications more accessible. You can order a hard copy from the NCODH using the contact information at the end of the document. Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design. Smithsonian Accessibility Program. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, A Smithsonian standards manual for accessible exhibitions, publications, and media. To receive a free copy (also available in large print, audiocassette, or Braille) write to the Smithsonian Accessibility Program, Smithsonian Institution, Arts and Industries Building, Room 1239 MRC 426, Washington, DC 20560; 202/ ; TTY 202/ ; Fax 202/ ; majewskj@si.edu. Sign Language Interpreters /resource/access/interpret.htm Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) MCDHH has a great information series available online. Topics include American Sign Language (ASL), computer-aided real-time captioning (CART), communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and interpreters. National Association of the Deaf (NAD) NAD is the oldest and largest organization representing people with disabilities in the United States. Programs and activities include grassroots advocacy and empowerment, captioned media, certification of American Sign Language professionals; certification of sign language interpreters; deafness-related information and publications, legal assistance, and public awareness. NAD s information center has articles on ASL, state laws regarding interpreters, legal issues, and more. Page 21 of 24