Communications Resources for Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
Independence First is Metro Milwaukee’s leading nonprofit resource for people with disabilities, empowering them to live independently, advocate for their rights, and fully participate in community life.
Ravenwood Design Group has had the privilege of working with Independence First over the last year, first on a program awareness campaign, and later on brand functionality, and work that equipped their internal team to communicate faster and more consistently.
Through working with Independence First over the last year, I have become more aware of accessibility needs in design, and I have also become aware of many great design resources related to disability.
This article is a compilation of my favorite resources. My hope is that these resources will be helpful to other people working on communication projects for this community. Please reach out if you have a resource to add.
Resources
Low Vision Simulator App
This application simulates symptoms of low vision vision. It can reproduce blur, glare, tunnel vision, central scotoma and nystagmus. It can also simulate complex situations such as glare and tunnel vision at the same time. It allows users to share their low-vision settings and take photos and videos during the simulation.
https://apps.apple.com/lt/app/low-vision-simulator/id6480382551
Sim Daltism
An open source color-blindness silumator. From the perspective of a color blind person, some colors are impossible to distinguish. Sim Daltonism lets you visualize colors as they are perceived with various types of color blindness. Use the camera on your iOS device, or use the Mac app to filter a region of the screen.
https://michelf.ca/projects/sim-daltonism/
Accessible Icon Library
A library of Accessibility Icons, available for download on Noun Project, free for everyone to use as public domain. From terms like “accessibility” and “curb-cut effect” to “mobility aid” and beyond, this collection of 25 icons celebrates accessibility and inclusive design.
https://disabilityin.org/resource/accessible-icon-library
Accessible Icon Project
The Accessible Icon Project is an ongoing work of design activism. It starts with a graphic icon, free for use in the public domain, and continues its work as a collaboration among people with disabilities and their allies toward a more accessible world.
Contrast Analyzer
A free color contrast checker to optimize your content – including text and visual elements – for individuals with color-blindness or low vision impairments.
https://vispero.com/color-contrast-checker/
Atkinson Hyperlegible® Font
A family of hyperlegible® fonts designed to improve legibility and readability for individuals with low vision. These carefully crafted fonts feature clear, highly distinctive letters and numbers that make reading easier and more accessible.
https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont/
Overlay fact sheet
A fact sheet explaining the limitations and risks of web accessibility overlays—tools that promise to make websites accessible through automated fixes or widgets. It explains why overlays cannot make a website fully accessible or compliant, may interfere with assistive technology, and should not replace accessibility built directly into a website.
https://overlayfactsheet.com/en/
Disabled & Here stock library
This is a disability-led effort to provide free & inclusive stock images from their own perspective, with photos and illustrations celebrating disabled Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC).