Last month, I was finally able to attend the in-person National ADA Symposium, in Kansas City, Missouri. Not only was visiting a new city fun (hello KC BBQ) but attending conferences in person is a great way to network (e.g., getting to meet our advisory board members), updating on the latest research, engaging in meaningful discussions, and even improving your presentation and communication skills (skills I found useful when presenting at the virtual version of this event).
After spending some time learning and expanding my knowledge on the ADA, I found some useful information on the following topics: digital accessibility, autism and law enforcement, and mental health in the modern workplace.
Digital Accessibility
Even though the ADA does not explicitly state anything about the web, it still intertwines with the law about providing accessibility in terms of effective communication and preventing unnecessary barriers for people with disabilities. As of recently, Colorado became the first state in the nation to require web accessibility for government.
Most of us are familiar with accessibility features in physical spaces (e.g., public restrooms that can accommodate people who use wheelchairs) or a crosswalk with a curb cut or signal that produces both visual cues and sounds. This same idea can be applied to the digital content we use to make sure that all users have equal access to information and services.
Many people who have disabilities use assistive technologies, which are devices that help them navigate the physical and the digital world. However, the assistive technologies that allow people to use and interact with websites, for example, will only work if we develop accessible content. This means using the right language, design, and structure. Digital accessibility is important in developing communications that can be used and understood by all people, of all ages and abilities.
The session went over digital accessibility across the web, including the discussion of changes that have happened in the last year in both the technical and governmental sides. There was discussion about the similarities and differences between some of the U.S. Federal accessibility standards and the international standards, which should have a final version of a new version 2.2 very soon. As an instructional designer, I found the class informative as updates are important in improving the digital accessibility of the content I produce for our learners.
Autism and Law Enforcement
In our communities, people with autism might find themselves where they might need to talk to or deal with law enforcement personnel. Sometimes, these officers may not have knowledge or prior training on how to deal effectively with the autism community and as a result, it is important to teach people with autism how to interact with law enforcement in a safe and productive manner.
I participated in two courses: Autism and Law Enforcement and Autism Has No Look: How to Positively Engage with Individuals with ASD in Law Enforcement. Both courses gave great insight on how to, firstly, understand what autism is, how police officers respond to calls for service involving individuals with autism and the types of challenges that may arise. The end goal was to engage in dialog with departments and find ways to improve response procedures. I found that the tips for dispelling common autism misconceptions and the interactive group exercises were the most effective in creating positive, inclusive, and safe interactions.
Mental Health in the Modern Workplace
Mental health is an important topic to me and one that impacts us all – whether we realize it or not. As a “non-obvious, often invisible condition,” mental health issues can sometimes take a “back seat” in people’s lives. The instructor provided insight on the various types of mental health issues that arise in the workplace that included themes such as navigating career challenges, disclosing issues, reasonable accommodations, addressing the stigma, and other hands-on strategies for including mental health in inclusion efforts.
Conclusion
Leaving the conference left me refreshed and ready to plan out my next steps in improving my ADA knowledge. I’d like to revisit my digital accessibility knowledge, take some refresher courses, work on an upcoming autism and law enforcement course and work on ways to improve mental health.
It goes without saying that the wealth of knowledge I gained attending the ADA National Symposium is continual. From finding positive ways to interact with individuals with disabilities to improving web accessibility to reasonable accommodations/modifications, every day there is an opportunity to learn something new and find ways to reach more learners.