Building an Effective Model to Disseminate Accessible COVID-19 Guidance

ABSTRACT

In July 2020, the CDC Foundation partnered with the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) at the Georgia Institute of Technology to deliver critical COVID-19 guidance to people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. The project made information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accessible for audiences with vision and hearing disabilities and extremely low literacy levels. The dissemination challenge was communicating the availability of the products in digital and embossed Braille, American Sign Language videos, and simplified text products to the intended users. Working with the American Association on Health and Disability, a project partner, CIDI constructed a network of organizations to disseminate information about project services through virtual speaking appearances, webinars, and social media messaging to organizations that reach the intended audiences. The accessible products are distributed to the target audiences through a website and key partnerships for the physical distribution of embossed braille products.