Virtual Communication Access

Hybrid meeting with people around a conference table looking at a screen with remote participants. Image by freepik.

Virtual communication through digital platforms, rather than face-to-face interactions, has changed the landscape of communication access. Everyone should be able to communicate and be communicated with fully and equally in order to benefit from these digital interactions. 

Now that telehealth, online school, and virtual workplaces are common, the Virtual Communication Access group explores what constitutes an accessible communication experience in virtual contexts. And, what makes or breaks access to that communication? 

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Group Content

Government documents

#DidYouKnow: EEOC and Job Accommodation Network Provide Information on Tech Accommodations in the Workplace

Technology continues to evolve at the speed of human ingenuity, which means that the broad antidiscrimination mandates of the ADA must continually be applied to new situations. Fortunately, technology offers many innovative tools to make life more accessible and eliminate barriers to equal opportunity. Some of these technological tools are described in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's…

Government documents

The EEOC and the Justice Department Publish Technical Assistance Documents on Disability Discrimination and Popular Software Tools

The ADA’s equal-opportunity mandate goes beyond making sure that information provided through electronic means is as readily accessible to people with disabilities as it is to those without disabilities. It also means making sure that software and other information technology deployed by employers to aid in the hiring process or to monitor and rate employee performance does not screen out…

Articles/Blog posts

Justice Department Finalizes Rules on Accessibility of Web Information and State and Local Governments

Earlier this year, the Justice Department finalized regulations on Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities, establishing a technical standard for accessibility of web content and mobile apps provided or made available by entities covered by Title II of the ADA. State and local governments provide many of their services, programs, and activities through…

Recorded Events/Videos

Can You Hear Me? Equitable Access To Telehealth For Deaf, Hard Of Hearing, And Deaf-Blind Patients

Hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center in February 2024, this archived webinar provides an overview, highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of telehealth accessibility for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind patients. The panel guides you through real-life scenarios, showcasing successful approaches as well as areas that need improvement. From effective communication…

Government documents

Justice Department and HHS Provide Guidance on Nondiscrimination in Telehealth

The Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) partnered to publish guidance on the protections in federal nondiscrimination laws requiring that telehealth be accessible to people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons. Protections for people with disabilities include among other things effective communication. Providers must communicate effectively…