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ADA Resources for conference and program planners

Resources from the CLA ADA Committee

The CLA Americans with Disabilities Act Committee would like to help you provide the best possible library service to people with disabilities in your community. Established as a CLA task force in 2001, this standing committee now helps CLA plan accessible programs and workshops for the library community and is also committed to helping local libraries make their resources and programs more accessible to people with disabilities.

The committee recommends the use of this language in conference and workshop announcements and registration forms:

Special Accommodations
The Connecticut Library Association seeks to provide maximum accessibility to participants with disabilities in regard to facility, communications, and policy.  Disability-related requests may include, but are not limited to, sign language interpretation, assistive listening devices, or written material in alternative format.

If you have a request for accommodation, please submit information at least 21 days in advance of the conference to [meeting planner or ADA committee chair] at [email address]. Include a description of the accommodations are you requesting, and describe any equipment you are requesting to be provided.

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require the Connecticut Library Association to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Resources:

The committee has developed a number of resources for CLA sections and committees on program planning which will also be helpful to local libraries as they plan programs and services in their community:

 

Links to Other Disability Resources:

Patron services and programs:

 

Accessible buildings:

 

Assistive technology:

 

Accessible websites:

 

Evaluation Tools: 

  • WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool): Developed by WebAIM, WAVE helps identify accessibility issues directly within web pages.
    https://wave.webaim.org/

  • AChecker: An open-source tool that evaluates web content against accessibility guidelines, providing detailed reports on potential issues.
    https://achecks.org/achecker

  • accessiBe: An AI-powered solution that automates web accessibility adjustments to comply with ADA and WCAG standards.
    https://accessibe.com

Guidelines and Best Practices:

  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Adhering to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards ensures digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
    https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Applying UDL principles can help create inclusive and equitable educational experiences.
    (American Libraries Magazine)

ADA for employers:

 

Accessibility links:

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