An integral part of inviting and including people with disabilities in your facility and programs is through your outreach, public information and marketing activities. The physical accessibility of your facility and the availability of services such as a sign language interpreter, audio description, or large print brochure enable individuals with disabilities to participate in your programs orservices.Informing and advertising to the public about the accessibility of your facility, program, or services should be included in your organization’s overall public relations strategy and targeted to specific groups. Both the provision services and information dissemination about the availability of such services are necessary to develop audiences with disabilities.The following is applicable to all brochures, print ads, flyers, subscriptions, and press releases:

1) Use disability access symbols to highlight auxiliary aids, and access services available for persons with disabilities in brochures and materials produced by your organization. When using symbols place them where general information is given about the organization or program. The symbols should be displayed prominently. Integrate symbols into the design of an ad, brochure, or flyer when possible.

2) Ensure that all staff are aware of all access services and can answer accordingly. Make sure that all box office personnel, ushers, and staff are familiar with your organization’s overall physical access and access services.

3) Use signage with access symbols in the entrance,lobby, and reception area.

4) For ticket orders and subscription series, indicate if wheelchair accessible or non-step seating is available. Include a floor plan with designated wheelchair-seating areas and the universal access symbol.

5) Include the following on ticket order forms - Please check below any accommodations you may require, and return this form by {specify date}: (Optional: "please include your phone number so that a member of our staff may contact you").

• Wheelchair accessible seating
• Wheelchair accessible room.
• Accessible parking.
• Print materials provided in large type.
• Print materials provided in Braille.
• Print materials recorded on cassette tape.
• Assistive listening devices.
• Sign language interpretation.
• Audio description.
• Oral interpretation.
• Other(Please specify): _______________________________

6) If events are sign language interpreted,include the interpreting symbol on all announcements.

7) In all ads, include a phone number for more information about accessibility next to the symbols (if it is different from the general number for information).

8) Include “TTY” and the symbol next to the number for deaf and hard of hearing people: 555-1234 (TTY) .If the number is the same for general information:555-1234 (Voice/TTY or V/TYY)

9) If a TTY is not available:555-1234 (Voice only or V only)

10) If audio description and/or assistive listening system is available,include the symbols for those, or this line of text:

Assistive listening system is available For more information contact 555-1234 (V/TTY).

Audio description is available.For more information contact 555-1234 (V/TTY).

11) Language: Use words that reflect dignity in reference to people with disabilities in flyers, press releases, radio and television ads, and live interviews that promote programs.

12) Work with your public relations staff, advisory boards, and volunteers to do targeted advertising to people with disabilities. Some resources include:

• Newsletters that target people with disabilities.
• Social service and community organizations that work with people with disabilities.
• Advocacy and recreational organizations whose membership is primarily made up of people with disabilities and their friends and families.
• Schools, colleges, and parent groups.
• Radio reading service.
• Radio or television shows.
• Web sites that advertise accessible events or services.

13) Include access information on your web site and make it is easy to find. Make sure that the web site is accessible to people with disabilities, see http://nadc.ucla.edu/libraries/dawpi.cfm

14) Examples of museum web sites with access information:

• Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/events/ev_vis_dis.asp
• Museum of Science http://www.mos.org/visitor_info/accessibility
• Museum of Childhood http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/your_visit/access/index.html
• Tenement Museum http://www.tenement.org/vizinfo_ada.html
• The Getty http://www.getty.edu/visit/access.html
• The Museum of Modern Art http://www.moma.org/education/moma_access.html
• Whitney Museum of American Art http://www.whitney.org/www/information/accessability.ltl.jsp

15) Examples of performing arts web sites with access information:

• Arena Stage http://www.arena-stage.org/about/plan-your-visit/visit-cc/accessability/
• Barbican Center http://www.barbican.org.uk/documents/AccessGuide2005.pdf
• Guthrie Theater http://www.guthrietheater.org/accessibility
• Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts http://www.kennedy-center.org/accessibility

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