---
title: Accessibility Coordination Training for Staff
---

**SPECIALISED TRAINING FOR ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATORS**

## 1. INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

### 1.1. Purpose and Mission

This training provides comprehensive guidance for Team members serving as Accessibility Coordinators within our community ecosystem. Accessibility coordination is fundamental to our organisational commitment to creating inclusive spaces that welcome and empower individuals with disabilities and diverse accessibility needs.

### 1.2. Role Definition and Importance

**Accessibility Coordinator Responsibilities:**
- **Universal Design Leadership**: Leading implementation of universal design principles across all community platforms and services
- **Compliance Oversight**: Ensuring compliance with accessibility standards, laws, and best practices
- **Community Advocacy**: Advocating for the needs of community members with disabilities
- **Training and Education**: Providing accessibility training and education to staff and community members
- **Policy Development**: Developing and maintaining accessibility policies and procedures
- **Technology Assessment**: Evaluating and improving the accessibility of community technology platforms

### 1.3. Integration with Organisational Values

**Accessibility as Social Justice:**
- **Disability Rights**: Understanding disability as a social justice issue and advocating for disability rights
- **Intersectionality**: Recognising how disability intersects with other marginalised identities
- **Community Empowerment**: Empowering community members with disabilities to participate fully
- **Systemic Change**: Working to change systems and structures that create barriers for people with disabilities
- **Nothing About Us, Without Us**: Ensuring meaningful participation of disabled people in all accessibility decisions

## 2. ACCESSIBILITY FUNDAMENTALS

### 2.1. Understanding Disability and Accessibility

#### 2.1.1. Models of Disability

**Social Model of Disability:**
- **Barrier Focus**: Disability is created by barriers in society, not by individual impairments
- **Environmental Factors**: Physical, social, and attitudinal barriers that disable people
- **Systemic Solutions**: Focus on removing barriers rather than "fixing" individuals
- **Rights-Based Approach**: Disability rights as human rights and civil rights

**Medical vs. Social Model Comparison:**
- **Medical Model**: Views disability as individual problem requiring medical intervention
- **Social Model**: Views disability as social problem requiring barrier removal
- **Community Implications**: Social model guides our approach to accessibility and inclusion
- **Empowerment Focus**: Social model empowers disabled people as experts on their own needs

#### 2.1.2. Types of Disabilities and Access Needs

**Visible and Invisible Disabilities:**
- **Physical Disabilities**: Mobility impairments, limb differences, physical limitations
- **Sensory Disabilities**: Blindness, low vision, deafness, hard of hearing, deaf-blindness
- **Cognitive Disabilities**: Learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, attention differences
- **Neurological Disabilities**: Autism, ADHD, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury
- **Invisible Disabilities**: Chronic illness, chronic pain, mental health conditions, autoimmune disorders
- **Multiple Disabilities**: Individuals may have multiple disabilities requiring different accommodations

**Accessibility Needs Spectrum:**
- **Permanent Disabilities**: Long-term or lifelong disabilities requiring ongoing accommodations
- **Temporary Disabilities**: Short-term impairments requiring temporary accommodations
- **Situational Disabilities**: Environmental factors that create temporary accessibility barriers
- **Age-Related Changes**: Accessibility needs that develop with ageing
- **Intersectional Needs**: How disability intersects with other identities and access needs

### 2.2. Legal Framework and Standards

#### 2.2.1. Accessibility Laws and Regulations

**Key Accessibility Legislation:**
- **Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)**: US federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination
- **Section 508**: US federal accessibility standards for electronic and information technology
- **Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)**: International web accessibility standards
- **European Accessibility Act**: EU accessibility requirements for products and services
- **Canadian Accessibility Standards**: Accessibility requirements under Canadian law

**Legal Compliance Requirements:**
- **Public Accommodations**: Requirements for businesses and organisations serving the public
- **Digital Accessibility**: Legal requirements for website and application accessibility
- **Communication Access**: Requirements for accessible communication and information
- **Physical Access**: Requirements for physical accessibility of facilities and services

#### 2.2.2. International Accessibility Standards

**WCAG 2.1 Guidelines:**
- **Perceivable**: Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive
- **Operable**: Interface components must be operable by all users
- **Understandable**: Information and UI operation must be understandable
- **Robust**: Content must be robust enough to work with assistive technologies

**Conformance Levels:**
- **Level A**: Minimum level of accessibility compliance
- **Level AA**: Standard level of accessibility compliance (our target)
- **Level AAA**: Enhanced level of accessibility compliance

## 3. DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY IMPLEMENTATION

### 3.1. Web and Platform Accessibility

#### 3.1.1. Technical Accessibility Requirements

**HTML and Semantic Structure:**
- **Semantic Elements**: Proper use of headings, landmarks, lists, and semantic HTML
- **Form Accessibility**: Accessible form design with proper labels, instructions, and error handling
- **Image Accessibility**: Alt text, captions, and descriptions for visual content
- **Link Accessibility**: Descriptive link text and proper link functionality

**Interactive Element Accessibility:**
- **Keyboard Navigation**: Full functionality available through keyboard navigation
- **Focus Management**: Visible focus indicators and logical focus order
- **ARIA Implementation**: Proper use of ARIA labels, roles, and properties
- **Custom Components**: Accessibility of custom interactive components and widgets

#### 3.1.2. Content Accessibility

**Text and Language:**
- **Plain Language**: Clear, simple language that is easy to understand
- **Reading Level**: Appropriate reading level for target audience
- **Language Identification**: Proper language identification for screen readers
- **Abbreviation Expansion**: Expansion or explanation of abbreviations and acronyms

**Multimedia Accessibility:**
- **Video Captions**: Accurate, synchronized captions for all video content
- **Audio Descriptions**: Descriptions of visual elements in video content
- **Transcript Provision**: Complete transcripts for audio and video content
- **Sign Language Interpretation**: Sign language interpretation when appropriate

### 3.2. Assistive Technology Compatibility

#### 3.2.1. Screen Reader Optimisation

**Screen Reader Testing:**
- **NVDA**: Free, open-source screen reader testing
- **JAWS**: Commercial screen reader testing for comprehensive compatibility
- **VoiceOver**: Built-in screen reader for Mac and iOS devices
- **TalkBack**: Android screen reader testing for mobile accessibility

**Screen Reader Best Practices:**
- **Logical Reading Order**: Ensure content reads in logical order for screen reader users
- **Descriptive Headings**: Clear, descriptive headings that help navigation
- **Skip Links**: Skip navigation links for efficient screen reader navigation
- **Alternative Text**: Comprehensive alt text that conveys meaning, not just description

#### 3.2.2. Other Assistive Technologies

**Voice Recognition Software:**
- **Dragon Speech Recognition**: Compatibility with voice recognition software
- **Voice Control**: Support for voice-controlled navigation and interaction
- **Command Testing**: Testing of voice commands and recognition accuracy

**Switch Navigation:**
- **Switch Access**: Support for single or multiple switch navigation
- **Switch Scanning**: Compatibility with scanning interfaces
- **Timing Considerations**: Adjustable timing for users with switch access needs

**Magnification Software:**
- **Screen Magnification**: Compatibility with screen magnification tools
- **High Contrast**: Support for high contrast and custom colour schemes
- **Responsive Design**: Design that works well at high magnification levels

## 4. PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACCESSIBILITY

### 4.1. Event and Meeting Accessibility

#### 4.1.1. Physical Event Planning

**Venue Accessibility:**
- **Entrance Accessibility**: Accessible entrances with appropriate signage
- **Interior Navigation**: Clear pathways and accessible routes throughout venue
- **Seating Arrangements**: Wheelchair accessible seating and flexible arrangements
- **Restroom Access**: Accessible restroom facilities and clear directions

**Communication Access:**
- **Sign Language Interpreting**: ASL interpreters and other sign language services
- **CART Services**: Communication Access Realtime Translation for live events
- **Assistive Listening**: Hearing loops, FM systems, and other assistive listening devices
- **Large Print Materials**: Large print versions of all event materials

#### 4.1.2. Virtual Event Accessibility

**Platform Accessibility:**
- **Screen Reader Compatibility**: Ensure virtual event platforms work with screen readers
- **Keyboard Navigation**: Full keyboard access to all platform features
- **Caption Integration**: Built-in captioning or integration with captioning services
- **Recording Access**: Accessible recordings with captions and transcripts

**Content Accessibility:**
- **Presentation Accessibility**: Accessible slide presentations with proper structure
- **Visual Description**: Description of visual elements during presentations
- **Chat Accessibility**: Accessible chat functions and alternative communication methods
- **Break Scheduling**: Appropriate breaks and accommodation for different attention spans

### 4.2. Communication and Information Access

#### 4.2.1. Document Accessibility

**Document Format Standards:**
- **PDF Accessibility**: Properly tagged PDFs with logical reading order
- **Word Document Structure**: Proper use of headings, styles, and accessibility features
- **Alternative Formats**: Availability of documents in multiple accessible formats
- **Version Control**: Maintaining accessibility across document versions and updates

**Visual Design Accessibility:**
- **Colour Contrast**: Appropriate colour contrast ratios for text and background
- **Colour Independence**: Information not conveyed through colour alone
- **Font Selection**: Readable fonts and appropriate font sizes
- **Layout Clarity**: Clear, logical layout that supports understanding

#### 4.2.2. Communication Methods

**Multi-Modal Communication:**
- **Text Options**: Written communication options for all important information
- **Audio Options**: Audio versions of written content when appropriate
- **Visual Options**: Visual supports such as diagrams, charts, and infographics
- **Interactive Options**: Interactive content that accommodates different learning styles

**Response Time Considerations:**
- **Extended Time**: Allow extended time for responses when needed
- **Alternative Deadlines**: Flexible deadlines for individuals with disability-related needs
- **Processing Time**: Recognition that some individuals need more time to process information
- **Multiple Attempts**: Allow multiple attempts or alternative methods for participation

## 5. COMMUNITY ACCESSIBILITY ADVOCACY

### 5.1. Disability Culture and Community

#### 5.1.1. Disability Pride and Identity

**Understanding Disability Culture:**
- **Disability Pride**: Celebrating disability as a natural part of human diversity
- **Disability Identity**: Understanding disability as an identity, not just a medical condition
- **Community Connection**: The importance of disability community and peer support
- **Cultural Competency**: Understanding and respecting disability culture and perspectives

**Language and Terminology:**
- **Person-First vs. Identity-First**: Understanding preferences for disability language
- **Respectful Language**: Using respectful, non-stigmatizing language about disability
- **Community Preferences**: Following language preferences of disabled community members
- **Evolution of Language**: Understanding how disability language continues to evolve

#### 5.1.2. Intersectionality and Multiple Identities

**Intersectional Disabilities:**
- **Race and Disability**: Understanding how racism and ableism intersect
- **Gender and Disability**: Addressing sexism and ableism together
- **LGBTQ+ and Disability**: Supporting individuals with multiple marginalised identities
- **Class and Disability**: Understanding how poverty and disability interact

**Inclusive Advocacy:**
- **Multiple Perspectives**: Ensuring diverse disability perspectives are included
- **Leadership Development**: Supporting disabled community members as leaders
- **Systemic Analysis**: Understanding how multiple systems of oppression interact
- **Coalition Building**: Building coalitions across different marginalised communities

### 5.2. Accessibility Policy Development

#### 5.2.1. Policy Creation and Implementation

**Policy Development Process:**
- **Community Input**: Meaningful involvement of disabled community members in policy development
- **Legal Compliance**: Ensuring policies meet or exceed legal requirements
- **Best Practice Integration**: Incorporating accessibility best practices and standards
- **Regular Review**: Scheduled review and updates of accessibility policies

**Implementation Strategies:**
- **Phased Implementation**: Realistic timelines for accessibility improvements
- **Training Integration**: Staff training on new accessibility policies and procedures
- **Resource Allocation**: Appropriate budget and resource allocation for accessibility
- **Accountability Measures**: Clear accountability measures and progress tracking

#### 5.2.2. Accessibility Auditing and Assessment

**Systematic Accessibility Review:**
- **Regular Audits**: Scheduled accessibility audits of all community platforms and services
- **User Testing**: Accessibility testing with disabled community members
- **Technical Testing**: Automated and manual technical accessibility testing
- **Compliance Monitoring**: Ongoing monitoring of accessibility compliance and improvements

**Continuous Improvement:**
- **Feedback Integration**: Systems for collecting and responding to accessibility feedback
- **Priority Setting**: Setting priorities for accessibility improvements based on impact and feasibility
- **Progress Tracking**: Tracking progress on accessibility goals and commitments
- **Public Reporting**: Regular public reporting on accessibility progress and challenges

## 6. TRAINING AND EDUCATION

### 6.1. Staff Accessibility Training

#### 6.1.1. Universal Accessibility Education

**Foundation Training for All Staff:**
- **Disability Awareness**: Basic disability awareness and etiquette training
- **Accessibility Principles**: Understanding of universal design and accessibility principles
- **Legal Requirements**: Overview of legal accessibility requirements and compliance
- **Community Values**: Integration of accessibility with organisational values and mission

**Role-Specific Training:**
- **Content Creation**: Accessibility training for staff who create content
- **Event Planning**: Accessibility training for event planning and coordination
- **Technology**: Accessibility training for technical staff and developers
- **Customer Service**: Accessibility training for community support and member relations

#### 6.1.2. Advanced Accessibility Training

**Specialised Skills Development:**
- **Accessibility Testing**: Training on accessibility testing methods and tools
- **Accommodation Coordination**: Skills in coordinating and implementing accommodations
- **Policy Development**: Training on developing and implementing accessibility policies
- **Advocacy Skills**: Skills in disability rights advocacy and systemic change

### 6.2. Community Education and Awareness

#### 6.2.1. Disability Awareness Programming

**Community Education Initiatives:**
- **Disability Awareness Events**: Events focused on disability awareness and education
- **Guest Speakers**: Disabled community members sharing their experiences and expertise
- **Resource Sharing**: Educational resources about disability rights and accessibility
- **Skill Building**: Training community members in accessibility best practices

**Ongoing Awareness:**
- **Regular Communication**: Regular communication about accessibility improvements and initiatives
- **Success Stories**: Sharing success stories and positive examples of accessibility
- **Community Recognition**: Recognising community members who contribute to accessibility
- **Feedback Encouragement**: Encouraging ongoing feedback and suggestions for improvement

#### 6.2.2. Inclusive Design Education

**Design Thinking Training:**
- **Universal Design**: Training on universal design principles and implementation
- **Inclusive Design Process**: Methods for including accessibility throughout design process
- **User-Centred Design**: Designing with disabled users as primary consideration
- **Accessibility Innovation**: Encouraging innovation in accessibility solutions

## 7. TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS

### 7.1. Accessibility Testing Tools

#### 7.1.1. Automated Testing Tools

**Web Accessibility Testing:**
- **WAVE**: Web accessibility evaluation tool for identifying accessibility issues
- **axe**: Automated accessibility testing integrated into development workflows
- **Lighthouse**: Google's accessibility auditing tool integrated into Chrome
- **Pa11y**: Command-line accessibility testing tool for continuous integration

**Manual Testing Tools:**
- **Screen Readers**: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver for manual screen reader testing
- **Keyboard Testing**: Manual keyboard navigation testing procedures
- **Colour Contrast**: Tools for measuring and ensuring appropriate colour contrast
- **Focus Testing**: Tools and methods for testing focus management and visibility

#### 7.1.2. Accommodation and Support Tools

**Communication Support:**
- **Captioning Services**: Live captioning and transcription services for events and meetings
- **Translation Tools**: Tools for translating content into multiple languages
- **Text-to-Speech**: Text-to-speech tools for audio versions of written content
- **Sign Language Services**: Coordination of sign language interpreting services

**Document Accessibility:**
- **PDF Remediation**: Tools and services for making PDFs accessible
- **Document Conversion**: Tools for converting documents to accessible formats
- **Alternative Format Production**: Services for producing large print, Braille, and audio formats
- **Accessible Design Tools**: Design tools that support accessibility from the start

### 7.2. Accommodation Coordination

#### 7.2.1. Individual Accommodation Process

**Accommodation Request Process:**
- **Request Intake**: Clear, accessible process for requesting accommodations
- **Needs Assessment**: Collaborative assessment of individual accommodation needs
- **Solution Development**: Creative problem-solving to develop effective accommodations
- **Implementation Support**: Support for implementing and maintaining accommodations

**Accommodation Types:**
- **Technology Accommodations**: Screen readers, magnification software, alternative keyboards
- **Communication Accommodations**: Sign language interpreting, captioning, alternative formats
- **Physical Accommodations**: Accessible seating, mobility equipment, environmental modifications
- **Process Accommodations**: Extended time, alternative methods, flexible scheduling

#### 7.2.2. Proactive Accessibility

**Universal Design Implementation:**
- **Barrier Prevention**: Designing systems and processes to prevent barriers from occurring
- **Inclusive Defaults**: Making accessibility the default rather than an accommodation
- **Flexible Systems**: Creating systems that can accommodate diverse needs without modification
- **Continuous Improvement**: Ongoing improvement of accessibility based on user feedback

## 8. MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION

### 8.1. Accessibility Metrics and Assessment

#### 8.1.1. Quantitative Measures

**Technical Accessibility Metrics:**
- **WCAG Compliance**: Percentage of content meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards
- **Error Reduction**: Tracking reduction in accessibility errors over time
- **Response Time**: Time to resolve accessibility issues and implement accommodations
- **Coverage Assessment**: Percentage of platforms and content that have been accessibility reviewed

**Participation Metrics:**
- **Community Engagement**: Participation rates of community members with disabilities
- **Event Attendance**: Accessibility accommodation usage and satisfaction at events
- **Platform Usage**: Usage patterns of accessibility features and accommodations
- **Feedback Volume**: Amount and type of accessibility feedback received

#### 8.1.2. Qualitative Assessment

**User Experience Evaluation:**
- **User Satisfaction**: Satisfaction surveys with community members who use accessibility accommodations
- **Usability Testing**: Usability testing with disabled users of community platforms
- **Focus Groups**: Focus groups with disabled community members about accessibility needs
- **Individual Interviews**: In-depth interviews about accessibility experiences and needs

**Community Impact Assessment:**
- **Culture Change**: Assessment of changes in community culture regarding disability and accessibility
- **Awareness Growth**: Evaluation of increased disability awareness amongst community members
- **Leadership Development**: Development of disabled community members as leaders
- **Systemic Change**: Assessment of systemic changes that improve accessibility

### 8.2. Continuous Improvement

#### 8.2.1. Data-Driven Decision Making

**Performance Analysis:**
- **Trend Analysis**: Analysis of accessibility performance trends over time
- **Gap Identification**: Identification of accessibility gaps and priority areas for improvement
- **Resource Allocation**: Data-driven decisions about accessibility resource allocation
- **Goal Setting**: Setting realistic, measurable accessibility improvement goals

**Community Feedback Integration:**
- **Feedback Analysis**: Regular analysis of accessibility feedback and suggestions
- **Priority Setting**: Community input in setting accessibility improvement priorities
- **Implementation Planning**: Collaborative planning for implementing accessibility improvements
- **Progress Communication**: Regular communication about accessibility progress and next steps

#### 8.2.2. Innovation and Best Practice Development

**Accessibility Innovation:**
- **Creative Solutions**: Development of innovative solutions to accessibility challenges
- **Technology Integration**: Integration of new accessibility technologies and tools
- **Best Practice Sharing**: Sharing accessibility best practices with broader community
- **Industry Leadership**: Leadership in accessibility within our industry and community sector

## 9. PRACTICE SCENARIOS AND TRAINING EXERCISES

### 9.1. Scenario 1: Accommodation Request

**Situation**: A community member with a visual disability requests accommodations to participate in community activities. They need content in alternative formats, screen reader compatibility, and modifications to how information is presented. You're not sure what's possible or how to implement accommodations.

**Your Response:**
1. How do you approach this accommodation request?
2. How do you determine what accommodations are reasonable and possible?
3. How do you work collaboratively with the community member?
4. How do you coordinate with technical teams?
5. How do you implement accommodations?
6. How do you ensure accommodations are effective?

**Correct Answer**: Approach with respect and collaboration, work with community member to understand specific needs, consult with technical and accessibility teams, explore multiple accommodation options, implement accommodations promptly, test with community member using their assistive technology, provide ongoing support and adjustments.

### 9.2. Scenario 2: Accessibility Barrier Report

**Situation**: Multiple community members report accessibility barriers on the platform. Some barriers affect screen reader users, others affect keyboard navigation, and some affect users with cognitive disabilities. The barriers are preventing full participation.

**Your Response:**
1. How do you prioritise addressing these barriers?
2. How do you assess the impact of each barrier?
3. How do you coordinate fixes across different teams?
4. How do you communicate progress to affected community members?
5. How do you prevent future barriers?
6. How do you ensure comprehensive accessibility?

**Correct Answer**: Prioritise based on impact and number of users affected, assess each barrier's impact on participation, coordinate with technical teams for fixes, communicate progress transparently, implement accessibility testing processes, involve disabled community members in testing, ensure comprehensive accessibility improvements.

### 9.3. Scenario 3: Universal Design Implementation

**Situation**: The community is planning a new feature that will be used by all members. You want to ensure it's accessible from the start rather than retrofitting accessibility later.

**Your Response:**
1. How do you integrate accessibility from the beginning?
2. How do you involve disabled community members in design?
3. How do you ensure universal design principles are followed?
4. How do you test for accessibility during development?
5. How do you coordinate with design and development teams?
6. How do you ensure the feature is accessible to all?

**Correct Answer**: Integrate accessibility from design phase, involve disabled community members as co-designers, apply universal design principles, conduct accessibility testing throughout development, coordinate closely with all teams, ensure feature works for all users including those using assistive technologies, test comprehensively before launch.

## 10. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

This training document is part of the comprehensive mandatory training curriculum. For complete information about initial onboarding requirements, annual review requirements, training confirmation submission, and compliance policies, see [Mandatory Training Requirements](/staff/handbook#81-mandatory-training-requirements) in the Staff Handbook.

**Key Points:**
- This document must be reviewed during initial onboarding and annually thereafter
- Training confirmation must be submitted at [forms.nhcarrigan.com](https://forms.nhcarrigan.com)
- Failure to complete annual training review will result in dismissal from staff positions
- All training completions are documented in staff records for accountability, legal compliance, and quality assurance

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*This Accessibility Coordination Training document is part of our comprehensive staff development programme designed to ensure universal access and full inclusion for community members with disabilities. For questions about accessibility coordination or to report training completion, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator or designated leadership through staff channels.*

