• Braille
• Audio CDs or cassettes
• Large print type
• Text on computer diskette or CD-Rom, compatible with screen readers
Please contact the Center for Independent Living of Middle Tennessee at 615.292.5803, toll free at 1.866.992.4568 or TDD/TTY 615.292.7790 for pricing information.
Why Alternative Formats are important
Making accessible documents available for the persons that are visually impaired will not only
comply with state and federal laws, but more importantly, it will demonstrate that your company is
committed to serving their needs. You will demonstrate to your clients and customers that you are a
caring and compassionate organization, dedicated to meeting the needs of all of your customers.
Many federal and state laws require that accessible documents be provided in certain situations. Obligations to
provide accessible documentation can vary. Some examples include:
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a national
law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination, based on their disability. It applies to employers
and organizations that receive financial assistance from any Federal department or agency, such as hospitals,
nursing homes, mental health centers, colleges and universities and human service programs.
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to all activities
of state and local governments,
regardless of entity's size or receipt of federal funding. It requires that all state and local governments
give people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from all programs, services and activities,
such as public education, employment, transportation, recreation, health care, social services, town meetings, etc.
They are required to be able to communicate effectively with people who have hearing, vision or speech
disabilities.
• Title III of the Americans with
Disabilities Act applies to all businesses and non-profit service providers
that are public accommodations, such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, movie theaters, private schools,
colleges, universities, convention centers, hospitals and doctor's offices, etc. These businesses must comply
with requirements that prohibit exclusion, segregation and unequal treatment. They must provide effective
communication to people with hearing, vision or speech disabilities.
• The Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies
to people of all ages with learning disabilities offering protection against discrimination and gives them a
right to different forms of assistance in the classroom and workplace.
