Braille Works

An ADA Coordinator can help remove barriers, answer questions, and guide an organization toward better accessibility.

But one person cannot review every document, inspect every facility, attend every event, or monitor every vendor.

Accessibility takes a team.

When leaders, employees, departments, purchasing teams, and vendors understand their roles, people with disabilities are less likely to encounter barriers in the first place.

Learn why ADA Title II compliance cannot belong to one person in our blog post, National ADA Symposium Takeaway #1: Who Is Responsible?

When information from your city, county, school district, or another public agency isn’t accessible, you shouldn’t have to figure out which employee or vendor caused the problem.

Under ADA Title II, the public entity is responsible as a whole.

It may assign the work to a department, contractor, or vendor. But it still must make sure people with disabilities can access the final program, service, or communication.

The work can be delegated. The responsibility cannot.

Read the first takeaway from this year’s National ADA Symposium:

National ADA Symposium Takeaway #1: Who Is Responsible? - Braille Works We often hear this question: Who is responsible for ADA Title II compliance? The answer often surprises people.

The best courtesy? Treat people like people.

Speak to the person directly, offer help without assuming it’s needed, and give useful directions when asked. These small choices can make everyday interactions feel more comfortable and respectful.

International Assistance Dog Week also gives us a timely reminder: A working guide dog has an important job, so admire them from a distance.

See the full list in our blog post, 10 Common Courtesies To Offer People Who Are Blind.

What’s the best way to interact with someone who is blind?

Treat them with the same respect and consideration you’d offer anyone else. Speak directly, offer help without assuming it’s needed, and communicate clearly.

One more reminder for International Assistance Dog Week: A working guide dog needs to stay focused, so please don’t pet or distract the pooch.

10 Common Courtesies To Offer People Who Are Blind - Braille Works Show courtesy to the blind. A list of the 10 most common courtesies to exhibit when spending time with people who are blind.

Before choosing a PDF remediation vendor, give them a small test document.

Include a table, image, list, link, and a few accessibility problems. Then compare what each vendor catches, the questions they ask, and how well the finished file works.

Don’t judge the samples by price alone.

A small test can reveal a lot about the quality of the work.

Learn more in our blog post, The Wild West of Accessible PDF Remediation.

Your PDF passed an accessibility checker. Is the document accessible?

Maybe.

Automated tools can catch missing tags and other technical problems, but they can’t fully evaluate reading order, alternative text, tables, or whether the document makes sense to someone using a screen reader.

Software can help. A trained person still needs to review the experience.

The Wild West of Accessible PDF Remediation Finding a reliable Accessible PDF remediation vendor can feel like searching for gold in them thar hills. Learn how to spot the outlaws.

Accessibility isn't one thing. It's thousands of everyday moments.

A wheelchair ramp outside a building.
An ASL interpreter at an event.
A braille document.
An equal chance for employment.

Each one removes a barrier that might otherwise prevent someone from participating fully.

Thirty-six years after the ADA became law, accessibility continues to evolve alongside the way we live, work, and communicate.

The goal remains the same:
Ensure everyone can access the information, services, and opportunities they need.

Learn more in our blog post, Happy 36th Anniversary, ADA!

The ADA's anniversary may have passed, but it's still worth taking a moment to reflect.

For 36 years, the Americans with Disabilities Act has helped expand access to goods, services, and communication for millions of Americans with disabilities.

Accessibility continues to evolve alongside the way we communicate. Today, that includes accessible websites, PDFs, braille, and other formats that help people access information independently.

We've come a long way, and there's still more work to do.

Happy Anniversary, ADA! Here's to 36 Years of Success. - Braille Works Happy anniversary, ADA! See why this 36-year-old landmark legislation is still worth celebrating and learn how you can make a difference.

Thirty-six years ago today, the Americans with Disabilities Act became law.

The ADA affirmed something every person deserves:
The right to participate fully in everyday life.

It helped open doors to employment, education, transportation, public services, businesses, and information. It also gave people a way to speak up when those rights were denied.

Today, we celebrate the progress the ADA made possible and the people who continue working to make its promise a reality.

Happy 36th anniversary to the ADA.

Accessibility isn't only about websites.

It also shows up in letters, applications, statements, forms, bills, policies, and everyday documents.

People shouldn't have to struggle to access information that everyone else receives without thinking twice.

Equal access starts with effective communication.

Learn more in our blog post, ADA Effective Communication Goes Beyond Digital Accessibility.