Access AmeriCorps

SECTION III: Communications Accessibility

Communications access refers to the way that information is received and transmitted. When evaluating your program in terms of access to communication, you will be assessing the four different ways in which communication occurs: aural, oral, cognitive and visual. It is important to keep in mind that there are four distinct, broad populations that are affected by your level of accessibility in this area. These are: persons with impaired hearing, speech, cognition and vision. In some ways, communications access is more challenging to provide than architectural access. A well-built and designed ramp will provide access to a wide variety of persons with mobility impairments. Large print, on the other hand, will only provide access to a portion of the population with visual impairments.

1. Does the program have information that is communicated visually? (Note: information communicated visually includes brochures, enrollment forms, handbooks, videotapes, flip charts, slides, posters, graphic directional signs, and so forth.)
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

2. Does the program involve information that is communicated verbally?
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

3. Does the program inform persons with disabilities that communications aids and services are provided upon request? (Note: It is not sufficient solely to inform persons who have identified themselves as having an accommodation need. You must be able to inform the public-at-large).
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

4. How do you do so?
   _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
   

5. Does the program have a procedure for deciding which auxiliary aids and services to provide?
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

6. Does the procedure provide for consideration of an individual's preferred aid or service?
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

7. Does the procedure include a mechanism for determining that an aid or service that is provided, other than that requested, is equally effective?
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

8. Does the program communicate with the public over the phone?
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

9. Are telephone conversations lengthy, complex, technical or personal?
   Yes _____
   No _____
   

10. Does the program have a TDD?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

11. If so, have staff been trained on the appropriate use of a TDD?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

12. Is there a mechanism for re-training?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

13. Are staff trained in the use of the relay system?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

14. Are staff aware of the relay number?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

15. Does the program have a Web page?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

16. Is the Web page captioned?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

17. Is there a mechanism for ensuring that people who are deaf or hearing impaired are aware of an activated fire or smoke alarm?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

18. Is there an established emergency evacuation procedure that addresses the needs of persons with disabilities? (This should include the evacuation of persons with mobility impairments.)
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

19. Have staff been trained in this procedure?
    Yes _____
    No _____
    

20. Please describe the training.
    _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________