Are you a candidate looking to connect with voters with disabilities? An important first step is to make sure your campaign is accessible! Here are some things you can do to make the electoral process more inclusive:
- Wait until local health officials say it is safe to resume in-person events so that your events do not exclude or jeopardize the health of individuals who are at high-risk of COVID-19, including those with disabilities.
- Have American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at all events, both in-person and virtual.
- Have CART or Communication Access Realtime Translation (not auto-generated captions) offered at events, both in-person and virtual.
- Caption your campaign-related videos. Do not rely on auto-generated captions.
- Be sure your campaign website is accessible. Make sure a screen reader can navigate the information on your website.
- Ensure in-person events are held in accessible venues. Remember, if it requires going up “just a couple of stairs” to enter a venue, that venue is not accessible.
- Include adequate seating for those who use wheelchairs, as well as seating near the stage for those who are hard of hearing.
- Designate a point of contact (phone number and email) for accessibility questions and concerns and include this information on event invitations.
- Offer plain language and easy-read versions of your campaign platform.
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the basics, check out the following resources on the political makeup of the disability community.
