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Connecting industry and consumers to solutions for technology accessibility, and the benefits of organization-wide approaches to accessibility. Developed by the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, with support from the Maryland Department of Disabilities.

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The Accessibility Switchboard

Choose your area of interest:

 

Next, select what you want to connect to:

Guides for business and industry

  • (New Guide) Accessibility and keeping employees and students connected from home
  • A roadmap for organizational accessibility for large ICT vendors
  • An introductory guide for small businesses and startups
  • Introducing organization-wide accessibility approaches: a guide to making a successful pitch
  • How can I provide an accessible work environment?
  • Beyond offering employees a complaint process: proactive measures to tackle accessibility issues

Resources for business and industry

Guides
Q & A Articles

View our Full List of Resources

Support for Business and Industry

Are you looking for a consultant?

  • Read our article: How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?
  • Check out the list of consultants who have participated in the development of the Accessibility Switchboard site.

Do you need more information on various aspects of accessibility?

  • Check out the list of subject matter experts who have participated in the development of the Accessibility Switchboard site.
  • Talk to people who are familiar with the needs of people with disabilities: Look for contacts in Consumer Disability Organizations.
  • Find knowledgeable people in Professional and Industry Accessibility Associations.

Q & A Articles for Business and Industry

  • IMPETUS: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?
  • INVESTMENT: Does accessibility have to be expensive?
  • CAPABILITIES (NEW Article): How can I assess organizational maturity with respect to accessibility?
  • ALLOCATION (NEW Article): How can I distribute the responsibility and accountability for accessibility?
  • CHANGE (NEW Article): How can I overcome resistance to change in an organization-wide accessibility project?
  • PRACTICE (NEW Article): How can I ease the accessibility journey from organizational policy to practical implementation?
  • PROCUREMENT (UPDATED Article): How do I tie accessibility procurement language to integrated quality assurance testing?
  • CONSUMER RESEARCH: Where do I get good / accurate information on ICT (web, software, mobile, electronic document) accessibility?
  • USABILITY: How do I ensure my products work for people with disabilities?
  • TESTING: What procedures should I use to test my ICT for accessibility?
  • PROFESSIONALS: How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?
  • LEGAL (PROACTIVE): What are the steps I can take to reduce the likelihood of getting sued over the accessibility of my ICT?
  • LEGAL (REACTIVE) (NEW Article): What should I do when I’m approached with an ICT accessibility complaint or legal action?
  • HIRING: I have a job applicant who has notified me they have a disability. What should I do now?

Guides for consumers who have disabilities

  • Documenting a day in your life: demonstrating the level of accessibility of the technologies you interact with, and those you cannot interact with
  • How to approach change makers: what are the pros and cons of various options?
  • Beyond offering employees a complaint process: proactive measures to tackle accessibility issues
  • How can I provide an accessible work environment?

Resources for consumers who have disabilities

Guides
Q & A Articles

View our Full List of Resources

Support for consumers who have disabilities

Do you need to know what to do before approaching companies with accessibility questions?

  • Read our article: Documenting a day in your life: demonstrating the level of accessibility of the technologies you interact with, and those you cannot interact with.
  • Read our article: How to approach change makers: what are the pros and cons of various options?

Do you need to get advice and/or support from people familiar with the needs of people with disabilities?

  • For consumer questions relating to blindness and low vision, use our Consumer Contact Form to directly connect with the National Federation of the Blind.
  • For consumer questions relating to other disabilities, contact other Consumer Disability Organizations.

Q & A articles for Consumers who have disabilities

  • CONSUMER RESEARCH: Where do I get good / accurate information on ICT (web, software, mobile, electronic document) accessibility?
  • STUDENTS (NEW Article): How do I advocate for myself when my school has digital accessibility problems?

Guides for Educational Institutions

  • (New Guide) Accessibility and keeping employees and students connected from home
  • Starting an organization-wide accessibility program: A guide for Higher Education Institutions
  • Revamping an organization-wide accessibility program: A guide for Higher Education Institutions
  • Introducing organization-wide accessibility approaches: a guide to making a successful pitch
  • Ensuring that digital content is accessible: a guide to current best practices for higher education campus staff
  • How can I provide an accessible work environment?
  • Beyond offering employees a complaint process: proactive measures to tackle accessibility issues

Resources for Educational Institutions

Guides
Q & A Articles

View our Full List of Resources

Support for Educational Institutions

Are you looking for a consultant?

  • Read our article: How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?
  • Check out the list of consultants who have participated in the development of the Accessibility Switchboard site.

Do you need more information on various aspects of accessibility?

  • Check out the list of subject matter experts who have participated in the development of the Accessibility Switchboard site.
  • Talk to people who are familiar with the needs of people with disabilities: Look for contacts in Consumer Disability Organizations.
  • Find knowledgeable people in Professional and Industry Accessibility Associations.

Q & A Articles for Educational Institutions

  • IMPETUS: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?
  • INVESTMENT: Does accessibility have to be expensive?
  • CAPABILITIES (NEW Article): How can I assess organizational maturity with respect to accessibility?
  • ALLOCATION (NEW Article): How can I distribute the responsibility and accountability for accessibility?
  • CHANGE (NEW Article): How can I overcome resistance to change in an organization-wide accessibility project?
  • PRACTICE (NEW Article): How can I ease the accessibility journey from organizational policy to practical implementation?
  • PROCUREMENT (UPDATED Article): How do I tie accessibility procurement language to integrated quality assurance testing?
  • CONSUMER RESEARCH: Where do I get good / accurate information on ICT (web, software, mobile, electronic document) accessibility?
  • USABILITY: How do I ensure my products work for people with disabilities?
  • TESTING: What procedures should I use to test my ICT for accessibility?
  • PROFESSIONALS: How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?
  • LEGAL (PROACTIVE): What are the steps I can take to reduce the likelihood of getting sued over the accessibility of my ICT?
  • LEGAL (REACTIVE) (NEW Article): What should I do when I’m approached with an ICT accessibility complaint or legal action?
  • HIRING: I have a job applicant who has notified me they have a disability. What should I do now?

Guides for Government

  • (New Guide) Accessibility and keeping employees and students connected from home
  • Starting an organization-wide accessibility program: A guide for Government Departments
  • Revamping an organization-wide accessibility program: A guide for Government Departments
  • Beyond maturity assessments: Proactive measures to gauge the success of government accessibility programs

Resources for Government

Guides
Q & A Articles

View our Full List of Resources

Support for Government

Are you looking for a consultant?

  • Read our article: How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?
  • Check out the list of consultants who have participated in the development of the Accessibility Switchboard site.

Do you need more information on various aspects of accessibility?

  • Check out the list of subject matter experts who have participated in the development of the Accessibility Switchboard site.
  • Talk to people who are familiar with the needs of people with disabilities: Look for contacts in Consumer Disability Organizations.
  • Find knowledgeable people in Professional and Industry Accessibility Associations.

Q & A Articles for Government

  • IMPETUS: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?
  • INVESTMENT: Does accessibility have to be expensive?
  • CAPABILITIES (NEW Article): How can I assess organizational maturity with respect to accessibility?
  • ALLOCATION (NEW Article): How can I distribute the responsibility and accountability for accessibility?
  • CHANGE (NEW Article): How can I overcome resistance to change in an organization-wide accessibility project?
  • PRACTICE (NEW Article): How can I ease the accessibility journey from organizational policy to practical implementation?
  • PROCUREMENT (UPDATED Article): How do I tie accessibility procurement language to integrated quality assurance testing?
  • CONSUMER RESEARCH: Where do I get good / accurate information on ICT (web, software, mobile, electronic document) accessibility?
  • USABILITY: How do I ensure my products work for people with disabilities?
  • TESTING: What procedures should I use to test my ICT for accessibility?
  • PROFESSIONALS: How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?
  • LEGAL (PROACTIVE): What are the steps I can take to reduce the likelihood of getting sued over the accessibility of my ICT?
  • LEGAL (REACTIVE) (NEW Article): What should I do when I’m approached with an ICT accessibility complaint or legal action?
  • HIRING: I have a job applicant who has notified me they have a disability. What should I do now?

About the Project

The objective of the project is to generate new, freely available resources—guides, and other articles—for readers who want to bring about changes to their situation, and changes to the organizations they work in. Read more About the Accessibility Switchboard Project...

News & Announcements

We've developed new logos for the Community of Practice, and provided logos for Linking to the Switchboard and its guides and resources.

Contact Information

For Switchboard project inquiries, Email Us or use an Online Contact Form

National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, USA.

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