title: Communication access to businesses and organizations for people with complex communication needs.
abstract: Human rights legislation and anti-discrimination and accessibility laws exist in many countries and through international conventions and treaties. To varying degrees, these laws protect the rights of people with disabilities to full and equal access to goods and services. Yet, the accessibility requirements of people with complex communication needs (CCN) are not well represented in the existing accessibility literature. This article describes the results of surveys completed by disability service providers and individuals with CCN due to cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and acquired disabilities. It identifies accessibility requirements for people with CCN for face-to-face communication; comprehension of spoken language; telephone communication; text and print-based communication; Internet, email, and social media interactions; and written communication. Recommendations are made for communication accessibility accommodations in regulations, guidelines, and practices.
authors.affiliation: Augmentative Communication Community Partnerships Canada (ACCPC), Toronto, Ontario, Canada. barbara.collier@sympatico.ca
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: Sarah W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Blackstone
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003146:Communications Media; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009938:Organizations / Q000458:organization & administration*