safety alert

If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call 911 or your local hotline or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233 voice), 1-800-787-3224 (tty). There is always a computer trail, but you can click ESCAPE to leave the site quickly.

Information Environment & Sight

Issues Related to the Information Environment

Our society relies upon printed material to convey news, opportunities, information and alerts. Alternative formats of these materials may be required to allow a person who is blind or who has low vision to participate equally.

People who are blind or who have low vision may have difficulty with any of the following:

reading small fonts
reading text that has poor color contrast with the background.
finding the elevator without adequate signage, lighting, or maps.
finding rooms without a clear route, adequate lighting, or signage in alternate formats.
seeing emergency evacuation routes or exit signs because of lack of signage, poor lighting, or lack of a practice orientation with a guide.
viewing small details on an evacuation map.
reading posted reminder messages, directions, or food labels.
reading controls and buttons on the microwave, sink, stove, and shower.
reading prescription bottles or directions from doctors.
using computers without changing the screen resolution or using separate screen reader technology.
reading and navigating websites that do not have accessibility functions.

Examples of Problems

A woman cannot read the general safety advice brochure she was given because the font is small and it had been printed with images behind the text. She doesn’t want to ask a friend to read it to her because of privacy concerns. She eventually gets counseling from an advocate who helps her create an individualized safety plan. She tries to remember everything said to her during the planning.
Another person does not understand the rules of a shelter because she is unable to clearly read them.

Suggested Solutions

LightHouse International has created two publications that explain and demonstrate principles of using Color and Text when creating brochures and other materials in print or on the web. Even though the guidance was specifically developed for people who have partial sight, the principles are universal to making clear eye-catching information for everyone.

Effective Color Contrast: Designing for People with Partial Sight and Color Deficiencies

Making Text Legible: Designing for People with Partial Sight

The best solutions to providing access to partially sighted survivors are to apply the principles of universal design. By designing text and using the color techniques described below, you improve communication, orientation, and safety for almost everyone. The techniques described below can be combined with MENCAP's Make It Clear Guidelines that simplify communication for people who speak English as a second language or who have cognitive issues.

Sometimes alternative solutions are necessary. When providing direct information to an individual it will be helpful if materials in appropriate formats are already prepared and available on frequently addressed topics. This will go a long way toward making a person who needs an information accommodation to feel welcome. It is always easier to develop such materials in advance of the need. The person who is doing the intake should also be familiar with the material in the handouts so that they can assist in explaining if requested. Alternate formats include large print, Braille, audio and accessible digital formats. Based on the national experience of the regional ADA Centers in the last five years, digital formats have become the most commonly requested.

Printed formats can include producing a large print version (18 point type). For very small quantities of existing documents it is possible to use a copy machine to produce them by enlarging the copy to 120%. A comprehensive resource with guidance for producing accessible formats is available on the web from The American Council for the Blind
Many people like digital versions of text that someone can apply a screen enlarger to. For those that learn through auditory methods, digital CDs or audiotapes may be necessary.
Providers need to trust the communication preferences that survivors request are of necessity to the survivor. Most disability is non-apparent. Making all options available gives the woman the choice to make decisions according to her best interests and need. If it is not her expressed preference, reading to a person as a backup takes away self-determination.
Finally, the provider needs to announce that alternative methods are available by marking symbols on information. Disability Access Symbols are available from the Graphic Artists Guild.

Shelter rules can be audio taped so that the survivor can listen to them on a small hand-held tape player. It is even possible to insert bookmarks into MP3 files so the user can skip to the appropriate section.

Making all options available gives the woman the choice to make decisions according to her best interests and need. If it is not her expressed preference, reading to a person as a backup takes away self-determination.

See also the section of the website dealing with Accessing Computers and the Internet.

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