The A-Z of Effective, Inclusive Campaigns: Win Elections by Getting Out the Disability Vote combines conceptual explanations to educate campaign teams with practical advice to put concepts into practice.
All parts of the guide illustrate the wide variety in how disabilities affect people, and the many ways disabled people can and do participate in every aspect of society.
The following excerpts provide examples of the various kinds of information included in The A-Z.
Photo by Dessa Cosma: Two Black disabled people raise their fists at a Black Disabled Lives Matter protest in Detroit. One has her walker and guide dog. The other sits in his wheelchair looking directly at the camera. Behind them are other protestors wearing masks and “Black Lives Matter” shirts and holding various signs in support.
From Chapter 3:
Determine whether the tools your campaign uses are compatible with the screen reader apps used by blind and visually impaired people. If not, managers need to identify alternative tools, alternative ways of transmitting information, or alternative tasks for team members. Also, ensure all online campaign content aimed at the public is accessible for screen readers.
Resource B provides specific instructions for your communications people on how to handle text and images so that screen readers can convey the needed information aloud.
From Chapter 2:
The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the rights and needs of disabled people while also recognizing situations where small businesses and organizations are limited in what they can do.
Some managers, especially at small organizations, may worry that accommodations will result in costs or other burdens that will interfere with their operation or even threaten its sustainability. Read on to learn more about the philosophy of the ADA and its enforcement, and how accommodations can be workable and realistic even in smaller campaigns or those depending heavily on volunteers.
From Chapter 3:
Good news: accommodations that effectively serve the groups identified here will also enhance the campaign’s engagement of people who aren’t disabled. And incorporating the inclusion methods provided will also signal that your campaign cares about building institutions that work for everyone.
From Chapter 6:
Your communications plan must take into account the needs and interests of the disability community, as members of your team and as part of the campaign’s audience. Are you conveying your message as clearly as possible? Are you using plain language? Are you sharing your message in accessible formats?