Alternate Format
Handbook

 

 

RAISE-UP
Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh
2600 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Help Desk: 1-866-668-2250 (V/TTY) Fax: 412-481-0187

Produced by
Project RAISE-UP
A Workforce Investment Grant
Funded by the Department of Labor

To obtain this handbook in alternate format, please contact the Raise-Up Help-Desk at 1-866-668-2250 (V/TTY)

 

Introduction


Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), One-Stops are required to ensure that people whose disabilities affect hearing, vision, speech, or cognition are provided with effective communication through auxiliary aids and services that enable them to fully benefit from facilities, services and programs.

In other words, communication must be equally effective for everyone!

This resource guide will help you…

Accommodations For Printed Materials

Accommodations for Printed Material
Page 1


Each one-stop should identify a standard package of print materials that are consistently provided to customers. The minimum requirement would be to have these materials available in large text, Braille, audiocassette and disk. Further, each one-stop office should include language in all printed materials that informs customers how to request needed special accommodations. One-Stops are also required to provide a certified language interpreter/translator for those individuals with hearing loss who request an interpreter for communication.

In addition, all materials produced by the one-stop should indicate that these materials are available in alternate formats, and include a statement about how a person with a disability who requires an accommodation can request a needed accommodation.

Suggested Notice of Accommodation for Print Materials:

Accommodations for Printed Material
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Text Files on Computer Disks

Text files on disk can assist many different individuals:

To maximize utility, save your file in “MS-DOS Text with Layout” or “ASCII” format by selecting “save as”, then in the “Save As” box, go to “Save as Type” and select “MS-DOS Text with Layout” or “ASCII”. Label the disks with the name of the files on the disk. Labels can be both written and Brailled. See instructions below for Brailling materials.

Large Print Materials

Some people with visual disabilities can read large print. Large print materials can be made at low cost using a photocopier or a personal computer printer. Use an 18- point type size or larger (20-point is preferable). San Serif is the recommended typeface because it has the most simple letter shapes with no frills. The type should be double-spaced and printed on a high-contrast, low glare background. Black lettering on yellow, off-white, or gray paper provides maximum legibility, with less glare than plain white paper.

Production of assessment materials and other color one-stop materials in large print can be obtained from Library Reproduction Services, 1-800-255-5002.  Library Reproduction Services is a low cost source for large print reproduction of color materials.

Audio Tapes

Some people who have blindness or other visual disabilities prefer audiotapes to Braille or large print. Audiotapes are also useful for people with limited literacy or learning disabilities. You can make the recordings yourself or you may wish to have your material professionally recorded.

Recording tips for doing it yourself:

Accommodations for Printed Material
Page 3

Braille

For local Braille transcribers in your area, contact:

Accommodations
For
Spoken Communication

Accommodations for Spoken Communication
Page 1

Sign Language Interpreter Services

One-stops must ensure that its communications with individuals with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. When an interpreter is requested, one-stops should provide a certified interpreter/transliterator who uses the sign language system preferred by the individual needing the interpreter, either American Sign Language or Signed English.

To locate interpreters for individuals with hearing impairments, contact you state’s office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing or:

Accommodations for Spoken Communication
Page 2

Real Time Captioning

Real Time Captioning is another accommodation for communication for individuals with hearing loss recognized in the ADA. Some people with hearing loss prefer to read spoken communication. This is done by having a court reporter type as the person using spoken communication speaks so the individual with a hearing loss can read the spoken communications as text. A list of real time captioners for your area may be obtained from the National Court Reports Association at www.ncraonline.org. Upon entering the site, select “Prof. Services Locator” from the choices on the left of the page. Then select “Search PSL”, then select your state. If you select “Retrieve All” you will get an extensive list of all providers in your state which includes many independent people, as well as large firms which cover a large area.

Amplification

Individuals who are hard of hearing may find it helpful to have amplification for one-to-one communication and program presentations. There are a variety of devices available. There are personal amplification systems that require the speaker to use a microphone that transmits to an FM unit that is about the size of a small portable radio that the user wears and listens with earphones. There are also simple amplification units that amplify to the whole room and are wireless, and are easy to use.

Some state Department of Labor offices have purchased Assistive listening devices for amplification of one-to-one and group communication for each comprehensive one-stop. If this is not currently the situation at your one-stop, contact your state office of the Department of Labor.

State Assistive Technology Projects

Every state has an Assistive Technology Project. For information about your state’s Assistive Technology Project and resources that it can provide to your one-stop, contact:

Job Accommodation Network (JAN) www.jan.wvu.edu

1-800-526-7234 (V/TTY)

JAN has a Searchable Online Accommodation Resource system that is designed to let users explore various accommodation options for persons with disabilities in the work setting.

Assistive Technology can be Found Through:

Accommodations for Spoken Communication
Page 3

Captioning for Video Tapes

Captioning is the process by which the audio part of a video or film is transcribed and made visible on the screen to be read by people with hearing loss. Closed captions are visible only if the television is equipped with a decoder; open captions are always visible. All videotapes made since the passage of the ADA in 1990 that will be used by CareerLink should be captioned. Videos made prior to 1990 are not required to be captioned.

If you have video tapes in your Career Resource Center which are not captioned, one national source that can caption videos is listed below – there may be local companies for your area that provide these services.

Vitac Corporate Headquarters-Pennsylvania

Southpointe

101 Hillpointe Drive

Canonsburg, PA 15317-9503

Phone: 800-278-4822

TTY: 724-514-4000

http://www.VITAC.com

Additional Resources and Acknowledgments

Additional Resources and Acknowledgments
Page 1

For More Information:

If you would like to receive this handbook in an electronic format for reproduction in your area, please contact the RAISE-UP Help Desk at 1-866-668-2250.

Universal Symbols for Use in Materials

The following web site contains universal symbols for accessibility that you may want to use in your materials:

Disability Access Symbols

Graphics Artists Guild Foundation

90 John Street, Suite 403

8th Floor

New York, NY 10038-3202

http://www.gag.org/das/

ADA Signage

Additional Resources and Acknowledgments
Page 2

Resources Used in Producing this Handbook:

“Making Your Handout Materials Accessible”, TASH Newsletter, September 1998

Multiple Conference Calls and “Assuring Access in the One-Stop” Training by Marian Vessels of the Disability Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC), 451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 607, Rockville, MD 20850-4151, 800-949-4232

Website of the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), http://www.janweb.icdi.wvu.edu

1-800-526-7234 (V/TTY)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the many people who reviewed this handbook and made suggestions that have made it possible to produce this comprehensive handbook. We would especially like to thank Tom Krapp, Regional Administrator OVR; Chris Neate, Team Pennsylvania CareerLink; Debra Scott and Teresa Nellans, ODHH; Deborah Armbruster, BVS; Kevin Huwe, Three Rivers Center for Independent Living; and Joyce Driben, OVR Consumer Advisory Council; Dee Lesneski, Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living; Lynn Mester, Beaver County Lighthouse; Celeste Dute, Rehabilitation Supervisor, OVR; Stan Swaintek, Rehabilitation Supervisor, OVR.

RAISE-UP

Regional Accessible Inclusion Service Experts – Users and Providers

RAISE UP logo
RAISE UP stands for Regional Accessible Inclusion Service Experts: Users and Providers

The RAISE UP Project team compiled this Alternate Formats Handbook as part of our effort to assist Pennsylvania CareerLinks and West Virginia Career Centers in becoming Universally Accessible. It is our hope that it will be a helpful tool in your efforts to make your services Universally Accessible as well.

We envision a workforce in which people with disabilities enjoy full inclusion and integration in the workplace, and have opportunities to pursue meaningful careers. Making information accessible for all is an essential part of achieving true Universal Access.

Project Partners

Working together to make the promises of the Workforce Investment Act become a reality for job seekers with disabilities

Workforce Investment Boards

Pennsylvania

West Virginia

Team PA CareerLinks

Pennsylvania OVR District Offices

Work4WV Career Centers

West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services

Life’s Work of Western Pennsylvania

Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh