Accessibility

For anyone with access needs or volunteers planning XR events and actions.

Access Summary

1. Disabled Rebels Network contact

2. Really important things!

3. Regenerative and Inclusive Approach

cartoon of woman with mask and hands over ears. Speech bubble with words, What I need to access The Big One is somewhere quiet to go that isn't the toilet! Further text, Quote from an autistic rebel.

4. All written information and signage / visuals

coloured bars top left overlaid with text Choose Your Future 100,000 people houses of parliament 21-24 april. Extinction Rebellion sympbo and words left of a black and white picture of the house of parliament. On the bottom right a QR code

5. Speaking

6. Automated Close Captions [CC]

7. Sign Language and Speech to Text interpreters

people on a stage with a BSL interpreter

8. Public Transport

Accessible transport websites are useful, e.g.:

9. Disabled Parking

person in wheelchair at the top of a set of steps. Their arms are outstretched with palms up

10. Physical and Visual Access at the space

van with ramp and wheelchair on the ramp

11. Toilets

toilet sign

12. Power for power chairs and scooters and other aids

two people in wheelchairs in front of a stage

13. Event Accommodation

All the above applies as well as:

14. Marches

two people in wheelchairs at the front of a march

15. Disability Access Training

If you’d like training, please contact the Disabled Rebels Network using the contact info at the top of this page. For more information and to learn more, view the Disability Access Training slides

Principles Of Inclusivity

In order to build an inclusive approach towards involving all sections of society in the struggle to highlight the climate emergency, it is necessary for XR to pay particular attention to five activity areas:

What is inclusivity?

An inclusive product, service or environment does not exclude any section of society. Inclusive solutions consider all users and participants, including disabled people, and is a positive step towards a holistic, universal system.

The Principles of Inclusivity

Learn more about oppression

Reading list on Disability & Oppression

Disabled Rebels Network

For further advice you can reach out to the Disabled Rebels Network either on Facebook or by Email at wellbeing+drn@exinctionrebellion.uk

Organising Inclusive Meetings

When considering an accessible and inclusive meeting, there are 3 aspects you need to think about:

You should always build access in from the start of your planning. Not as an afterthought.

1. Planning - Choosing a venue

When considering whether a venue is accessible, the first obvious thought may be to avoid entrances with steps.  There are however, many other things to watch for or that you can provide to make the venue accessible:

Consider:

If you have been unable to get an ideal venue, plan how you will overcome issues to accommodate individuals, e.g. arranging help to get people down slopes.

Always:

2. Providing Information and Equipment

Planning
Publicising
Prior to Meeting

3. Conduct - During the meeting

Making your zoom meetings more accessible

Top tips

Creating Accessible Actions

Quote from a disabled rebel: “Making actions accessible is the simple act of asking, What do you need?”

Extinction Rebellion is committed to equality and to enabling people who have been marginalised by systemic oppression to act now and give their message in solidarity. See XR's Principles of Inclusivity.

This page contains a checklist to help action planners consider possible barriers to marginalised groups. These guidelines are designed to be practical and manageable, whilst ensuring diversity, inclusivity and accessibility are embedded in action planning and design.

Diversity and inclusivity is important all the time. This page focusses on actions, but remember that diversity, accessibility and inclusivity is just as important for the planning meetings as it is for the action itself.

Actions need to be designed to be as inclusive as possible. While total inclusivity is impossible, actions should aim to be inclusive for the widest range of people possible.

Where an action may exclude people, for example climbing Big Ben to drop a banner, there are additional considerations such as necessity and proportionality. However, try not to make assumptions about individuals’ limitations. Think of paralympian James Brown on top of a jet at City Airport.

The larger the action is, the greater the issue of diversity and inclusivity will be. With smaller actions, resources may be limited but the same issues must be considered and those affected should be consulted. If action planners receive requests from representatives of marginalised groups, they should be treated as a priority.

Inclusive Actions

Actions that aim to be inclusive for all marginalised groups

Disability

There is a significant probability that disabled people have experienced discrimination and oppressive behaviour by the police and others. The process of being arrested can be particularly harrowing for those with disabilities who may have to rely on the police for greater support and care whilst in custody. Many, with good reason, will feel excluded if the action is designed to have a high risk of arrest.

Mobility/Accessibility

Hearing impaired

Contact xr.bsl@protonmail to request interpreters

Vision Impaired

Neurodiversity

There is a wide range of considerations for neurodivergent people. Offer help and be directed rather than asking about needs.

Ethnicity

There is a significant probability that people of colour have experienced discrimination and oppressive behaviour by the police and others. Many, with good reason, have no confidence in the justice system. If the action is designed to have a high risk of arrest then this will tend to exclude people of colour, LGBTQ+ and disabled rebels.

LGBTQ+

There are parallel issues with ethnicity and disability in that there is a significant probability that LGBTQ+ people have experienced discrimination and oppressive behaviour by the police and others. Actions with a high risk of arrest may exclude LGBTQ+ people. Participating in Direct Action: A Guide for Transgender People.

Families

Families can be marginalised with children and be members of other marginalised groups. The exclusionary issues listed in this process can have a heightened effect on young rebels.

Faiths

Protection of the planet is important to all faiths and it is important to ensure that all feel welcome.

Exclusionary Actions

Actions that may exclude marginalised groups

It is accepted that the nature and requirements of some actions will exclude some rebels from taking part. It is important that this is recognised at the design stage and assessed to ensure that the exclusionary aspect is necessary, has been minimised and is deemed proportionate to the purpose of the action.

Accessible Documents

Readable fonts

Headings and structure

Use headings and styles to create consistent structure to help people navigate through your content. In OnlyOffice [XR Cloud document creator] and Word, you’ll find these tools in the ‘Home’ tab. In Google Docs, they are in the standard top toolbar.

Ensure that contact details for the group organising the action or sending out the document are clear and easy to find.

Headings

Colour

Layout

Writing style

Audio information

Audio information is especially important for people with a visual impairment, dyslexia, learning difficulties, non-English speakers and people who struggle to understand maps; non-disabled people may also find it reassuring and helpful.

Etiquette for producing your own audio CD: use people with clear speaking voices.  Give an introduction and a summary e.g. this is an annual report of 20 pages.  Have gaps between sections; state page number at appropriate points so that people can retrieve information; give contact details at the end; if pictures are important to the text describe them.  Allow time for taping to be done in stages so that the reader does not sound bored.

Website Accessibility

Text

Use a sans serif typeface, like Arial or Karla as it is easier to read for visually impaired people. A large font equivalent to Arial 14 is a good size – the alternative is to have a Large Print button at the top of the home page.

The text should be colour-contrasted with its surroundings– like black/white, yellow/blue, green/white. Many visually impaired people find it easier to read reverse coloured text – e.g. white characters (#FFFFFF), on racing green (#006600) background. See this page for examples.

Images

Pictures / pictograms / icons help many people with learning disabilities, but can be a hindrance to people using voice software like Hal / Supernova (text-reader software). Where pictures are included, make sure the alt tags say what they are or what they do (e.g.: click here for Toyota cars)

When creating graphics with text, make sure the text doesn't overlay an image. This can make the text difficult to read for the visually impaired, as screen readers may not be able to identify the text, and some people with dyslexia may also find it hard to differentiate the text from the image. Further information

Frames

Frames are about the most unhelpful thing for blind and visually impaired people, firstly because it is not easy to see what is going on, secondly, because most Text Reader software works from left to right (in the West), so someone using, for example, Supernova or a screen reader may be jumping from frame to frame and what they hear wont make sense.

Tables

Tables are inaccessible for many with visual impairments and some screen readers.

Forms

Web-based forms can usually be read by text readers, but it’s worthwhile including a “print” button, for people who can’t use the online version.

Document downloads

If written in Adobe Acrobat 7 or above, .pdf files can be read by text readers like Jaws, but not all screen readers, therefore it is best practice to offer documents in Word and in pdf

Structure

A logical and easy-to-follow structure may be the most important thing in making a website accessible:

  • avoid clutter
  • keep the homepage as simple as possible
  • pay particular attention to how you map out the site – the fewer clicks for a person to get to the information they want, the better – it is a resource not a Treasure Hunt

    • Check Out

    Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Available at: www.w3.org/WAI/

    Good practises when communicating with Disabled and neurodiverse people

    Good practises when communicating with Disabled and neurodiverse people

    Communication Checklist

    Written communication

    Verbal Communication

    Signage

    Good practises when communicating with Disabled and neurodiverse people

    Good Practice in Communicating with Disabled People

    The following information is a guide to issues which affect different groups of people with impairments in terms of communication. It is important to remember each individual has their own needs and strategies – ask them what their particular needs or issues are where possible.

    Who have visual impairments

    Face-to-face Communication:

    Who have physical impairments

    Ascertain the degree of personal independence of the individual in advance, for example, will they:

    Some individuals with physical impairments may have communication aids, or use speech that may be difficult to follow, or attend the meeting in a wheelchair and/or come with a personal assistant. Be prepared for these eventualities.

    Who have communication related impairments

    What implications are there for face to face communication?

    Having a speech impairment can be very tiring especially when in a new environment. Also consider that some speech impairments are affected by a person's emotional state. Patience and respect for what they have to say is very important. When talking with someone with a speech impairment:

    There may be other communication barriers to consider:

    Who have a history of mental ill health

    "Mental ill health" is an all encompassing term used to cover people who experience a range of conditions that are grouped together. These conditions may include: mood related disorders (depression), anxiety-related disorders (phobias, panic, post-traumatic stress, compulsive behaviour), psychosis (schizophrenia), eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia nervosa) and personality disorders.

    For some people with a history of mental ill health the following issues may need additional thought when organising a meeting:

    Who have dyslexia or some types of neurodiversity

    People with dyslexia are not a homogenous group. They are all individuals and the impact of their dyslexia will vary according to their degree of difficulty, the timing of their diagnosis, their particular strengths, and their coping strategies.

    When planning and undertaking a meeting it is vital to:

    Communication with a deaf person

    with a sign language interpreter
    Good practises when communicating with Disabled and neurodiverse people

    Closed Captioning

    Zoom

    1. Ensure Enhanced Encryption is enabled and NOT End-to-End Encryption otherwise some features won’t be available - Here's the list

    2. Ensure you have updated your Zoom account to the latest version. Then enable Automated CC before the event in Zoom Account settings

    3. When you are in the meeting- at the bottom of your screen, select closed CC/Live Transcript. This must be done by the host of the meeting.

    You or participants can always Hide Subtitles if you don't want to see them. Alternatively, once everyone has arrived, ask participants whether anyone wants them running. If they are not required, they can be turned off.

    captions button.PNG

    Youtube

    YouTube Closed Captions setting must be activated when streaming. This is found in Create Stream > Settings > Setup > Turn on Closed Captions

    Facebook

    Turn on Closed Captions for Facebook Live broadcasts and Live Streaming- Instructions here

    Big Blue Button

    Big Blue Button: closed captions are available via a browser. However, be aware that CCs aren’t available if accessing a BBB meeting on a phone. BBB FAQ