Accessibility is More than a Wheelchair Ramp Providing

Accessibility is More than a Wheelchair Ramp Providing Exceptional Services to EVERYONE Alayna Milby Director of Community Engagement Hope Harbor, Inc. Bowling Green, KY

Today’s Objectives View accessibility needs past legal requirements Walk away with ideas for improving accessible programs and services Recognize the benefits to not only the clients we serve, but including the agency, staff, volunteers

What do we think of when we hear accessibility? Who are we leaving out? What is the message if we only focus on legal requirements? ADA Compliant Accessibility is more than just in the context of a disability (read: physical disability)

Programs and Services We know who we ARE serving, how do we know who we aren’t? Free services doesn’t mean you are accessible to all who experience poverty or are poor Poor: No money Poverty: No resources Intersectional lens Saying you serve everyone is not the same as serving everyone

Programs and Services Population served: i. e. SA, DV, CAC What services are available? How do you get those clients? If they aren’t coming from multiple places, your clients will look the same/similar Who is referring clients to you? Who doesn’t come back? Are the same clients using all these services? If yes, the program isn’t diverse enough If you are struggling to get those clients in your building, where can YOU go to reach them? Are you offering services outside of therapy and the legal system? Is getting into therapy a multi-step process? Can it be streamlined? Ex: Phone call, call back to make appt. , intake for paperwork, call to schedule with therapist, first session is psychosocial: potential six-week process

Support Groups Are they offered? What day/time? Targeted? How often? Attendance requirement? Food? Childcare? If there’s a barrier, how can this be solved differently? Can you travel to another agency? Build off your community.

Volunteer Program Who are your volunteers? Where are you recruiting? Are they trained to work with diverse populations? What are the volunteer options? Are your volunteer opportunities, paperwork, and communication accommodating? How is your scheduling system? Do you only allow volunteers to communicate one way? Ex: Volunteers with dyslexia may benefit from you calling them for the schedule or coming into the office to discuss continued education

Your Agency Location Office Hours Accommodations Outreach Staff Support

Your Agency Location What part of town? Public transportation Stairs/Ramp Safety Office set up Office Hours Bank hours? If you are open during typical work hours, how can folks make it to your agency? After school appointments Flexible?

Your Agency Accommodations The legal requirements are important but just a component Interpreters Languages, deaf/hard of hearing Blind, dyslexia, difficulties reading If you have a client that needs something different, are you able/willing to accommodate? If you cannot within your agency, can you make a referral? Childcare Cancellation policies Text/Call reminders

Your Agency Outreach Are you letting people know you are accessible in these ways? Shout it from the rooftops! People will assume no unless you state otherwise

Your Agency Are you offering the same treatment to your staff? Survivor identity Marginalized identities

Results and Goals We should be leaders in the community in diversity and accessibility. Our clientele will represent our communities Our staff and volunteers will recognize the benefits in being innovative and accommodating Listen to the community! We will never reach perfection. We can always grow and learn more.

Maya Angelou “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ”