Inaccessible feedback mechanisms

Allow anonymous feedback opportunities

• Make it clear that anonymous feedback is allowed and welcomed.
• Don’t ask for extra personal details unless they are truly needed.
• If you use an online form, don’t require people to log in.
• Explain what information will be kept private, and what might be shared.
• Tell people how the feedback will be used, and who will see it.

• Let people share feedback without having to share their name or email publicly. For some people, being anonymous helps them feel safer and more comfortable being honest.
• Make sure anonymous feedback is treated seriously and not dismissed.

• Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
• Lack of public awareness of the standards feedback process

Check and improve accessibility

• Create a permanent dedicated accessibility group within the organization to track inclusion over time.
• Celebrate improvements in accessibility and inclusion to show the group’s progress.
• Regularly assess the inclusiveness and accessibility of meetings and processes through feedback
• Consider accessibility across formats, devices, and languages.
• Design digital content so people with disabilities can access, understand, and use it.
• Conduct accessibility audits with usability and assistive technology experts to ensure all digital platforms including websites, member portals, application sites and feedback mechanisms are accessible.
• Offer alternative ways to participate: in-person, phone, relay services, video calls, or paper applications.
• Proactively consult with D/deaf and D/disabled committee members to determine specific access needs
• Provide accommodations to participants, including:
  • Sign Language interpreters (ASL, LSQ, etc.)
  • Real-time captioning (CART)
  • Note-taking services
  • Clear and consistent turn-taking protocols
  • Accessible digital files and materials in advance
• Ensure physical spaces (if used) are accessible for mobility devices, sensory needs, and rest requirements. (Physical Space)

• Inaccessible registration systems
• Inaccessible digital documents
• Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
• Inaccessible virtual meetings
• Recruiting for diversity

Ensure websites are accessible

• Test websites on multiple browsers and devices, including mobile phones and tablets.
• Offer help or support for users who encounter accessibility barriers.

• Involve people who use assistive technologies like screen readers, switch devices, or captioning tools in the testing and feedback processes.
• Test for keyboard-only access across all steps including registration, login, confirmation and uploading documents. If someone can’t complete the process without a mouse, it’s not accessible.
• Use plain and simple language
• Ensure all images have descriptive alt text for people who use screen readers.
• Use high-contrast colors for text and backgrounds
• Avoid relying on color alone to convey information.
• Make forms accessible, with clear labels, instructions, and error messages that screen readers can detect.

• Inaccessible registration systems
• Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
• Inaccessible digital collaboration tools

Establish continuous feedback loops

• Let people share feedback anytime, not just during scheduled review periods.
• Accept input from individuals, organizations, and communities whenever issues or improvements are noticed.
• Clearly explain how to give feedback and what supports are available (e.g., plain language, captions, sign language/interpretation, screen-reader friendly).
• Make feedback channels easy to find and use, such as online forms, email, phone lines, or mail.
• Track and respond to feedback promptly so people know their input matters.
• Regularly review and act on feedback to improve standards over time.
• Share updates with communities on what changes were made because of ongoing feedback.
• Ensure feedback loops are inclusive, so all voices, especially from underrepresented groups, can be heard.

• Publishing standards does not guarantee awareness or access
• No way to track the real-world impact of a standard
• Lack of transparency in how feedback is processed
• Lack of public awareness of the standards feedback process
• Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
• Consultation fatigue in D/deaf and D/disabled communities

Measure the developed standard's impact with affected communities

• Check how the standard works in real-life situations, not just on paper.
• Use surveys, community meetings, or one-on-one consultations to hear from people most affected.
• Focus on feedback from D/deaf, D/disabled, and other equity-denied communities.
• Track whether the standard meets its goals and solves the problems it was meant to address.
• Use the findings to decide whether to keep, revise, or retire the standard.

• Publishing standards does not guarantee awareness or access
• No way to track the real-world impact of a standard
• Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
• Lack of public awareness of the standards feedback process

Provide more than one way to give feedback

• Explain clearly how people can send feedback, and what help or support is available.
• Give people more than one accessible way to report problems they encounter during submitting feedback.

• Let people share feedback in different ways, like an online form, email, physical mail, phone, or small group sessions.
• If you want feedback from a specific group, use a method they already trust and feel comfortable using.
• Choose feedback options that fit the community you’re working with.

• Inaccessible feedback mechanisms
• Lack of public awareness of the standards feedback process
• Lack of transparency in how feedback is processed