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Re: sample ADA statement for website?

for

From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Mar 21, 2015 12:27PM

Hi, Mike!

Yes, it's an excellent feature to have the e-mail address immediately available, but one of the more important points I hoped to make is that your statement will more favorably impress more people if you take a few minutes to review it using the principles of plain language.

In other words, write as if you were speaking directly to a good friend. You wouldn't tell a chum who was struggling with a tutorial how complaints can be made—you'd say, "If you run into trouble, call me."

Or words to that effect—but, most of all, with simpler words and in that direct, active voice.

Why? Because it's clearer, so people who are distracted by their frustration with the experience will still be able to get your message quickly.

And because this more personal approach makes the point that you added this message because you care about me, the person who has run into a barrier.

In third person, passive voice, and big words, the same message seems to be there because "Legal thinks this wording reduces corporate risk, so they made us put it here."

I'm sure you're doing this because you care, so why not make it come across that way?

Cliff Tyllick

Sent from my iPhone
Although its spellcheck often saves me, all goofs in sent messages are its fault.

> On Mar 20, 2015, at 3:59 PM, Mike Warner via WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
>
> Thanks for the feedback. We do have a sentence following that paragraph
> with contact instructions:
>
> Feedback and questions regarding accessibility in the MindEdge LMS and
> courses can be directed to <EMAIL REMOVED> .
>
> Sorry, I forgot to include that in my original message. I'm working on a
> VPAT now to link to from that same page.
>
> Mike Warner
> Director of IT Services
> MindEdge, Inc.
>
> 2015-03-20 11:17 GMT-04:00 Mike Warner < <EMAIL REMOVED> >:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm looking for a few sample ADA statements to make sure that we've got
>> enough info in ours. I tried section508.gov, but the sample's download
>> link is broken. We test every new course and feature first using JAWS
>> ourselves, then we have a blind consultant re-test. We haven't had any
>> complaints from any of the visually impaired students we've enrolled.
>> We've actually received praise from a couple of students.
>>
>> Here is our current ADA statement:
>> MindEdge, Inc. is committed to the principle of equal access for learners
>> with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
>> (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. We have accessibility
>> experts on staff who thoroughly test our courses and new features for
>> learner experience and compatibility with the most commonly used assistive
>> technologies. Learners are able to contact us through a variety of methods
>> within the course regarding any accessibility issues.
>>
>> Does that need any more detail, or is it fine as it is?
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Mike Warner
>> Director of IT Services
>> MindEdge, Inc.
> > >