HomeMy WebLinkAboutCandidate's Guide to Accessible Elections
Accessible Elections
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Table of Contents
Preamble .............................................................................................................. 6
Campaign Literature ........................................................................................... 6
1. Print Media .................................................................................................. 6
2. Audio/Video Media ...................................................................................... 7
3. One-on-One Communication ...................................................................... 8
Campaign Office ................................................................................................. 8
4. Choosing a Location ................................................................................... 8
Accessible Campaign Office Checklist .......................................................... 9
5. Inside the Office ........................................................................................ 10
6. Make Provisions for Service Animals ........................................................ 11
7. Telephone Access..................................................................................... 11
8. Accessible Washrooms ............................................................................. 11
9. Training ..................................................................................................... 12
10. Other ...................................................................................................... 12
Budgeting .......................................................................................................... 12
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11. Sign Language Interpreting .................................................................... 12
Understandin
Your Solutions .................................................................................................. 13
12. Examples of Barriers to People with Disabilities: ................................... 13
13. Types of Disabilities ............................................................................... 14
Physical Disabilities: .................................................................................... 14
Vision Loss: ................................................................................................. 14
Deaf, Deafened or Hard of Hearing: ............................................................ 14
Deaf-Blindness: ........................................................................................... 15
Speech Impairments: ................................................................................... 15
Cognitive Disabilities: ................................................................................... 15
Mental Illness: .............................................................................................. 16
This guide was developed in partnership with the Accessibility Directorate of
Ontario
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Preamble
This guide is intended to draw your attention to the measures candidates should
include: literature through print media, audio and video messages, and access to
your campaign office (if you are intending to campaign from an office that is
separate from your home).
Be sure that all of your campaign activities are accessible to everyone!
Campaign Literature
1. Print Media
Printed campaign materials are one of the most common methods of
communicating with your candidates during your campaign. Consider the
following when preparing your campaign literature:
What is the font size on your material? It should be between 12 and 18
points, except when producing brochures where space can be an issue.
ormats
works for them.
Use a sans serif fonts (sans means and serif are the small
projecting features at the end of strokes; arms and legs). The extra serifs
make text difficult to read. Choose a font without serifs like Arial or
Verdana.)
Use upper and lower case, avoid italics and avoid underlining (underlining
is perceived to mean a website or email link.)
Use good colour contrast black and white is easiest to see and read.
Avoid using watermarks and text as not very readable.
Will you have separate large print copies available?
Do you have magnifying sheets available to help a person with low vision
to read your materials? Could the material be offered in an alternate
format, if requested?
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Can you have key pieces of your literature in alternative formats (e.g.
Braille, large print, e-text versions)?
ailable
Ensure that your print materials provide details on whether your campaign
office (if you have a campaign office) is accessible.
If sending printed material electronically, ensure that it has been designed
to be accessible. If for instance you have created a document in word,
then you would need to use headings and styles to enable an assistive
device to read the material easily. Pictures and links need to be tagged
appropriately so that the images are picked up and described.
Consider accessibility provisions for your website. Do you have scalable
print? Is the font size large enough? Is there sufficient contrast between
the colour of the background and any text? Has alternative text been
provided to describe any images, link and tables, used on your website?
If you elect to provide a TTY number in your campaign office/home, be
sure to include TTY number in all advertising and promotional materials.
Consider the services offered through VoicePrint, a division of The
National Broadcast Reading Service, which broadcasts readings of full-
text articles from more than 600 Canadian newspapers and magazines.
They also provide advertising opportunities through a fee-for-service
program.
2. Audio/Video Media
Radio and Video campaign messages al
campaign portfolio. Consider the following when preparing your campaign
literature:
Recorded messages provide consistent information and access for
individuals after-hours.
Will you offer these messages in alternative formats? Advertise that these
formats are available and how they can be accessed.
You may wish to consider providing subtitles for video communications.
Consider captioning for live video presentation of electoral debates.
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3. One-on-One Communication
Will you consider offering Sign Language Interpreting?
Sign Language Interpreters are knowledgeable in the language and culture of
both hearing impaired and hearing people. They provide communication in
both sign language and a spoken language and are bound by a professional
Code of Ethics.
A Sign Language Interpreter may need to be booked two to three weeks in
advance. If a meeting or event is longer than two hours then two Sign
Language Interpreters will be required. One person will sign for 15 to 20
minutes and then they will switch. If the information they are interpreting is
difficult then they may ask for materials in advance to be better prepared.
The websites below provides a directory of interpreters, as well as tips on
finding an interpreter, negotiating terms for agreements, etc. Link to the
http://www.oasli.on.ca. As well as a link to their online directory:
(http://www.oasli.on.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&It
emid=3)
At candidate meetings, you may wish to consider providing a recording
secretary and have a screen available to broadcast information for the
hearing impaired.
Campaign Office
4. Choosing a Location
Many candidates campaign from their homes, however, if you are thinking of
establishing a campaign office separate from your home, your campaign
office may be your primary venue for meeting one-on-one with the electorate.
You will want to be sure that the location is suitable to accept any elector who
wishes to attend your office. The following is a recommended checklist to
consider:
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Accessible Campaign Office Checklist
Is the office located on a route that is served by accessible public
transportation?
Is the name and address of the building clearly visible from the street and
sidewalk?
If needed, is there a pedestrian crosswalk close by? Crosswalks served by
an audible and visual traffic-crossing signal are preferred. Where there is
a change in level, for example where the sidewalk meets the street, curb
cuts are necessary.
Is accessible parking available for electors? At least one accessible
parking space should be provided on the shortest, safest accessible route
to the accessible building entrance.
Is the accessible parking space clearly marked with the international
symbol of accessibility?
Is the parking space firm and level?
Are curb cuts provided? All sidewalks should have curb cuts at locations
near parking and along the route to the primary entrance.
Is the space large enough to meet the needs of an elector who uses a van
equipped with a wheelchair lift?
Are the parking spaces and route of travel properly maintained? Snow and
ice should be removed and uneven surfaces repaired as soon as possible.
Is the route to the entrance accessible? Accessible routes should be
unobstructed and have continuous, smooth, hard surfaces with no abrupt
changes in level and should not require the use of stairs. Plan to have
routine checks made throughout the day.
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Is the route wide enough so someone using a wheelchair, scooter, or
service animal can travel safely?
Is the campaign office easily identified by signage? Is the sign easy to
read and understand?
Is the entrance accessible? If there are steps, there needs to be a ramp so
people using mobility aids or who have mobility impairments can get in.
Steps, even a small single step, can make the campaign office
inaccessible to many people with disabilities and seniors.
Is the ramp well designed and safe? Does it have handrails on both sides?
Does it have a suitable slope? If the ramp is temporary, is it securely
attached to the steps so it cannot slip or wobble?
Is the door hardware accessible? Are there lever or pull handles? Be sure
a person using a closed fist.
Is the doorway wide enough for a person using a wheelchair or scooter to
pass through?
Is the door easy to open? If the doors are heavy, awkward to open or have
handles that may be out of reach, can you prop them open in a safe
manner? If you do prop
entrance and nearby floor space.
Is the entrance easy to see?
Is the entrance well lit?
5. Inside the Office
Is there level access from the entrance to the office area? Internal stairs
are just as much of a problem as external ones. It may be necessary to
install ramps.
Are doormats level with the floor to prevent potential tripping hazards? If
not, you may consider removing them, provided of course this does not
create further hazards. Beveled edges on doormats helpful.
Is the voting location on a ground floor unless elevator available?
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Is the flooring non-slip, even and level? Highly polished surfaces can be
slippery for some users, while thick carpeting and loose rugs or mats can
cause people to trip or get stuck. Glare from polished surfaces can be a
problem for people with visual impairments.
Is the office area well lit?
Are there seats available for people to rest if needed?
Are corridors inside the office facility spacious enough for a wheelchair or
scooter to pass through comfortably? Obstructions such as stacked
furniture or piles of boxes can cause problems for visually impaired
people, as well as people with limited mobility.
Is there enough space inside the office area for a wheelchair or scooter to
move about easily?
6. Make Provisions for Service Animals
It is prohibited to deny a person access to a place or service because a guide
dog accompanies them. Be sure that the facility use agreement does not prohibit
service animals. Service animals must be allowed to remain with the person with
a disability. Service animals are allowed to go anywhere the public is allowed.
7. Telephone Access
Consider providing a TTY number.
8. Accessible Washrooms
Does your office have washrooms that are large enough to accommodate
scooter and power wheelchair users and are equipped with at least one
accessible stall? A unisex washroom is preferred.
Are the accessible washrooms located on the same floor and in close
proximity to the office?
Do the doors to the washroom have a raised (tactile) male or female sign
or Braille lettering?
Are there L shaped grab bars or a rear bar?
Are taps operable with a closed fist?
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Are hot water pipes under the sink recessed or covered to prevent burning
9. Training
Are your staff/volunteers trained as it relates to Customer Service Standard and
the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation so that you are providing
appropriate services for persons with disabilities?
10. Other
Are you providing refreshments to visitors? If so, provide bendable straws and
lightweight cups and an option for sugar free beverages.
Budgeting
Costs associated with ensuring your campaign is accessible to your electors
must be reported as per the legislated requirements. Make sure you budget for
possible accessibility requests like Sign Language Interpreters, Braille copies,
other alternative formats and website accessibility.
11. Sign Language Interpreting
For sign language interpreting, the cost will be based on how long the service is
needed and whether one or more interpreters will be required. Currently, the
base rate for interpreting service is $110 per interpreter for up to two hours of
service. After that, $55 is charged for every hour or part thereof.
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Understanding Disability: Know Your E
And Communicate Your Solutions
12. Examples of Barriers to People with Disabilities:
Below is a table with a list of barrier types and examples. For instance of
Physical barrier might be a doorknob that cannot be operated. There are 7 rows
and two columns.
Barrier Type Example
Physical
A doorknob that cannot be operated by an elderly person
with limited upper-body mobility and strength.
Architectural
A hallway or door that is too narrow for a wheelchair or
scooter.
Informational
Typefaces which are too small to be read by a person with
low-vision.
Communicational
A speaker at a meeting who talks loudly when addressing a
deaf participant.
Attitudinal
A campaign event that discourages persons with
developmental disabilities from participating.
Technological
Information on a web site, which cannot be accessed by a
person who is blind or visually impaired and who has
reading software on a computer.
Policy/Practice
A practice of announcing important messages over an
intercom that people with hearing impairments cannot hear
clearly.
Disabilities can take many forms and can range from temporary to permanent.
Often disabilities are non-visible and no one should ever make assumptions. A
disability may have been present from birth, caused by an accident, or developed
over time. There are physical, mental and learning disabilities, mental disorders,
hearing or vision disabilities, epilepsy, drug and alcohol dependencies,
environmental sensitivities, and other conditions
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13. Types of Disabilities
Listed below is a brief description of types of disabilities.
needs and challenges may help you better communicate with them. Always
gives a person with disabilities an opportunity to let you know how you can assist
them if they wish you too.
Physical Disabilities:
There are many types and degrees of physical disabilities, and while people who
use mobility aids like wheelchairs, scooters, crutches or canes are most
recognizable, it is important to consider that not all people with physical
disabilities require a mobility device. People who have arthritis, heart or lung
conditions or amputations may also have difficulty with stamina, moving,
standing, sitting or the ability to reach or grasp. It may be difficult to identify a
person with a physical disability. If you're not sure what to do, ask the person,
People with disabilities know if they need help and how you
can provide it.
Vision Loss:
There are varying degrees of vision loss and a distinction between blindness and
low vision. In some cases, it may be difficult to tell if a person has a vision loss.
The majority of people living with a vision disability have some vision, only some
a
affect the range of visual field. Some people can distinguish between light and
dark, or between contrasting colours, or read large print, but have difficulty with
small print or low-light situations. Others may have a loss of peripheral or side
details, like recognizing faces or reading. Vision disabilities can restrict a
to read print and signs, locate landmarks or see hazards. They
may use a white cane or service animal to help with orientation and movement in
an environment. There are specific things you can do to communicate with a
voter with vision loss for e.g. identify yourself when you approach the person
and speak directly to him or her, even if he/she is accompanied by a companion.
Deaf, Deafened or Hard of Hearing:
Hearing loss ranges from mild to profound. Hard of hearing people generally
have a hearing loss ranging from mild to severe, although it is sometimes
profound, and use their voice and residual hearing for communication. Hearing
aids and cochlear implants are often used, augmented by assistive listening
devices, other technology, and speech reading.
Late deafened persons, sometimes referred to as deafened or oral deaf, have
lost all hearing at some point after learning to speak, usually as adults. Growing
up either hearing or hard of hearing, late deafened people continue to use voice
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to communicate and rely strongly on visual forms of communication such as
speech reading, text, and occasionally sign language.
Many Deaf or profoundly hard of hearing people identify with the society and
language of Deaf Culture and use sign language as their basis of
communication.
Deaf, deafened, and hard of hearing individuals may use hearings aids, pen and
paper, personal amplification devices, hearing aid dog or other assistive-listening
and communication methods. Attract the attention before speaking.
Generally, the best way is by a gentle touch on the shoulder or with a gentle
wave of your hand. Look at and speak directly to the person. Address them, not
the interpreter or support person.
Deaf-Blindness:
A person who is Deaf-Blind has some degree of both vision and hearing loss.
This results in greater difficulties in accessing information and managing daily
activities. Most people who are deaf-blind will be accompanied by an Intervenor,
a professional who helps with communicating. An Intervenor is trained in many
adaptive communication methods, depending upon the preferences of the person
who is deaf-blind. The Intervenor may guide and interpret for their client. Identify
yourself to the Intervenor when you approach a person who is Deaf-Blind, but
then speak directly to the person as you normally would, not to the Intervenor.
Speech Impairments:
People with speech disabilities may have difficulty communicating. For many
reasons, people may have difficulty speaking clearly for example, as a result of
a stroke or cerebral palsy which may result in difficulties with verbal
communication. Some people may use communication boards or other assistive
devices to help communicate. A speech disability often has no impact on a
Ask them
Cognitive Disabilities:
Cognitive disabilities may affect understanding, communication, or behavior and
can be attributed to brain injuries, developmental or learning disabilities. It is not
always easy to identify someone who has a cognitive disability. Some conditions,
that are not apparent. People with a cognitive disability may have difficulties
recognizing, understanding and remembering information.
person can or cannot do. And always speak directly to the person, not to their
companion or support person.
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Mental Illness:
Mental illness is a disturbance in thoughts and emotions that may decrease a
take many forms, just as physical illness does. Mental illnesses include
schizophrenia, mood disorders (such as depression and bipolar disorder),
anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders. Treat a person
with a mental health disability with the same respect and consideration you have
for everyone else. Be patient, confident and reassuring. Listen carefully and work
with them to try to meet their needs. If someone appears to be in a crisis, ask him
or her to tell you the best way to help.
During your campaign planning process, consider contacting your local
organizations, such as the CNIB, Canadian Hearing Society, etc and discuss with
them your campaign plans. This will assist you to better understand the needs of
people in your electorate with disabilities. They are a valuable resource in
providing input and feedback.
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