Resources within the Accessibility Switchboard Website
Guides
Our guides provide broad introductions to key concepts, and provide links to more in-depth coverage of those concepts. Information and advice for people in business/industry, as well as consumers who have disabilities, can be found in our Guides Section.
Q&A Articles
We have addressed a number of the most commonly asked questions from people who are new to the concepts of technology accessibility. In each Q&A article we provide a very brief summary answer followed by a more in-depth answer. We also provide links to other published information on the various topics.
Organizations providing support
- The Accessibility Switchboard website is the result of the collaboration and help of member organizations of the switchboard Community of Practice.
- For consumers, we have provided a form for contacting the National Federation of the Blind.
- For consumer questions relating to other disabilities, we provide links to other Consumer Disability Organizations.
- For those working in business who need to find support, we also provide links to Professional and Industry Accessibility Associations.
Additional organizational support links and resources are available on our Support page.
External resources we link to from our guides and articles
Books (alphabetical by lead author)
TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson is a book written by the president and head curator of the Technology Entertainment Design (TED) series of conferences and online videos. The book covers various aspects of presentation and storytelling from your initial concept through to your ‘on-stage’ presence.
Mentioned in: Introducing organization-wide accessibility approaches: a guide to making a successful pitch
A Complaint is a Gift: Recovering Customer Loyalty When Things Go Wrong is a book by Barlow and Møller. This book is not specifically about accessibility; it is about complaints in general and what companies should do to embrace and act on complaints. It is a good in-depth read on the subject for both consumers and customer support personnel.
Structured Negotiation: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits is a book by Lainey Feingold. This book came about through her work “to resolve technology and information access claims of the blind community” without resorting to lawsuits. “… it is a dispute resolution method built on the collaborative notion that if parties seek common ground, instead of digging their heels into legal arguments, solutions to even complex problems can emerge.”
Mentioned in: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?; How to approach change makers: what are the pros and cons of various options?.
Including Your Missing 20% by Embedding Web and Mobile Accessibility by Jonathan Hassel is a book that describes a process for changing the way ICT is developed and tested. The book also features interviews with many subject matter experts in accessibility.
Mentioned in: A roadmap for organizational accessibility for large ICT vendors; An introductory guide for small businesses and startups.
Just Ask: Integrating Accessibility Throughout Design by Shawn Henry is a book that covers ICT design and evaluation methods for user centered design projects.
Mentioned in: A roadmap for organizational accessibility for large ICT vendors; How do I ensure my products work for people with disabilities?
Strategic IT Accessibility: Enabling the Organization by Jeff Kline. This book provides background information and guidance for anyone wanting to make a start in organization-wide change. Specific guidance is given on organizational roles and shared responsibilities; and on funding accessibility initiatives.
Mentioned in: A roadmap for organizational accessibility for large ICT vendors; How do I ensure my products work for people with disabilities?; How can I provide an accessible work environment?
Ensuring Digital Accessibility through Process and Policy is a book by Jonathan Lazar, Daniel F. Goldstein, & Anne Taylor. The book covers US and international laws, regulation, and standards, as well as guidance for compliance monitoring and organizational culture change.
Mentioned in: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?; How can I provide an accessible work environment?; Higher Education Accessibility
Tapping into Hidden Human Capital is a book by Debra Ruh. The book provides background on disabilities, discusses new global trends in business, and includes a chapter on ‘Blending Disability Inclusion into the Organization’. The book includes numerous business case studies.
Mentioned in: How can I provide an accessible work environment?
Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling is a book by Edgar Schein, who says that “Questioning is both a science and an art”. Through examples drawn from of everyday life, the book discusses the need for better questions in terms of interpersonal communications with friends and loved ones, as well as in business, in board rooms and group meetings.
Mentioned in: How to approach change makers: what are the pros and cons of various options?.
Digital Outcasts: Moving Technology Forward without Leaving People Behind is a book by Kel Smith. The book covers the digital gaps that exist, the role of innovation in accessibility, and tackling accessibility strategically.
Mentioned in: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?; How do I ensure my products work for people with disabilities?; Higher Education Accessibility
Universal Design: Creating Inclusive Environments is a book by Edward Steinfeld & Jordana Maisel. The book goes beyond the basics of accessible ramps and restrooms. It is a useful book for thinking of the environment as a whole to be used by people rather than a set of features to be checked off.
Mentioned in: How can I provide an accessible work environment?
Webinars (alphabetical by lead presenter)
Organizational Change and Accessibility, Overcoming the Resistance is a webinar by Chris Law. The webinar is intended to help people plan before they encounter resistance, and turn accessibility into an ‘enlightened self-interest’ of all stakeholders. The webinar was produced by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
Mentioned in: A roadmap for organizational accessibility for large ICT vendors; Introducing organization-wide accessibility approaches: a guide to making a successful pitch
Procurement as a Vehicle for Meeting Organizational IT Accessibility Objectives is a webinar by Chris Law, hosted by AccessGA. In the webinar the relative merits and pros and cons of different kinds of test process are discussed.
Mentioned in: I’ve been told to make sure the things I procure are accessible. How do I do this?
ADA Demand Letters & Settlements – Lessons Learned is a Webinar by Tim Springer, CEO of SSB Bart Group. The webinar provides advice on the response steps that can and should be taken.
Mentioned in: An introductory guide for small businesses and startups.
Websites
Digital Accessibility Laws Around the Globe is a website provided by Lainey Feingold. The site provides lists of laws, and laws under development in various countries including the US.
Mentioned in: An introductory guide for small businesses and startups; How can I provide an accessible work environment?
Create Accessible Electronic Documents is a website provided by the GSA’s Section 508 Accessibility Program. The site lists guidance and other resources on making various types of print and electronic document accessible.
Mentioned in: An introductory guide for small businesses and startups.
The NFB Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access to Education, Public Information, and Commerce (CENA) is a collection of resources from NFB and its partners on technology accessibility..
Mentioned in: Higher Education Accessibility
Policy Driven Adoption of Accessibility (PDAA) Vendor Self Assessment Tool. This self-assessment excel tool is a useful starter resource for scoring and tracking maturity levels across common organizational elements. PDAA is an initiative of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO).
Mentioned in: A roadmap for organizational accessibility for large ICT vendors; How do I find a knowledgeable consultant?; Introducing organization-wide accessibility approaches: a guide to making a successful pitch
Accessible Technology: It Starts with Procurement is an article by Jeff Kline, hosted by the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT). For those who are new to the concepts of procurement of accessible ICT, the article describes step by step elements such as market research, and reviewing solicitation responses.
Mentioned in: I’ve been told to make sure the things I procure are accessible. How do I do this?
Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization is a website from the World Wide Web Consortium Web Accessibility initiative (W3C-WAI). The site includes guidance on various factors (social, technical, financial, legal/policy) and how these can be used in presenting a business case for addressing web accessibility in your organization.
Mentioned in: Why would I want to address accessibility in my organization?