What is Advocacy?

Advocacy involves organized efforts to influence policies and attitudes, specifically addressing problems faced by minorities. It includes activities that involve working to promote positive change, raise awareness, and shape policy. Advocates work strategically to address discrimination and foster inclusivity for minority groups.

Dominant Majority Dynamics

Within any given society, a dominant majority may sustain discriminatory practices to maintain power dynamics and uphold prevailing social hierarchies. This tendency is often driven by historical biases, cultural norms, and institutional structures that solidify discriminatory behaviors. Stereotypes, perpetuated through various channels like media and education, amplify a lack of awareness and empathy toward minority groups. Insufficient education on diverse perspectives further contributes to the persistence of discriminatory practices.

In simpler terms, the majority arranges things to fit their preferences, generally ignoring the problems and barriers this creates for minority groups.

Identifying People with Disabilities (PWD) within a community requires a thoughtful and respectful approach to ensure inclusivity and privacy. Here's a best practices method:

Ever since the advent of the On-line Conference and the addition of the Chat feature, both Event Speakers and Conference Attendees have struggled with this common problem.  That is rude and distracting side conversations taking place in the chat during the presentations.

Many, if not all of us have witnessed this problem.  We sign up for a Conference and look forward to a particular Speaker.  That Speaker comes on and begins their presentation.  Just then a pop up on the screen to Everyone says something like,  “Hello from Judy from Sunny Florida!  How is the weather where you are?  Who is this guy that is talking?  Anybody heard of him?”  Then of course several friends of Judy are compelled to respond, creating a side conversation during the presentation.

As we strive to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities, it is imperative for our Institutions and their subsidiaries to center their efforts on Inclusive Design when disseminating content and information. Otherwise, the published content would only be available for an exclusive, elite subgroup of the community.  Excluding marginalized community members because of discriminatory and unusable publication design should never be tolerated!

“If any discrimination is at all to be tolerated”, Shoghi Effendi has stated when discussing the corrosive effects of prejudice, “it should be a discrimination not against, but rather in favour of the minority, be it racial or otherwise.” - Universal House of Justice letter, 27 December, 2017

The Importance of providing Accessible Materials

Any time you are holding meetings or conferences it often involves handing out various printed materials to the attendees.  This may involve anything from a simple agenda or copies of something for the group to have as reference materials. It might even be something the group will be studying together in depth.

It is important to include Blind people who will be attending by providing an Accessible copy of these materials as well.

Here is an example of a case where as a part of a Cluster Feast held in Colorado, friends were invited to submit a video of themselves sharing a reading.  Yolanda chose the Prayer for the Western States which she is reading from Braille.

If you think carefully for a moment, Yolanda could not have shared this reading if all she had was an Audio version of the Prayer. Braille is "Literacy" for Blind People!  It is the way Blind people are able to read and write.

Because she has this Prayer Book in Braille, she was able to participate!

Caption: A young Black woman, who uses a wheelchair, appears teary-eyed and disappointed as she encounters the insurmountable barrier of the inaccessible steps of a religious building, preventing her from entering. A sign out front reads, "All are Welcome Here." Her expression underscores the hypocrisy and injustice of the situation, highlighting the need to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the long-standing hypocrisy of religious organizations regarding their treatment of People with Disabilities. While the pandemic prompted swift accommodations for the general population, those with disabilities, who have advocated for such considerations for years, continue to face denial and exclusion from essential programs, services and materials. 

It is also essential to abstain from hypocrisy and blind imitation, inasmuch as their foul odour is soon detected by every man of understanding and wisdom. -Shoghi Effendi, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 1

In today's digital age, videos are an essential part of our daily lives, from entertainment to information to education. However, for people who are Blind or have Low Vision, watching videos can be a problem. While Closed Captioning has been a popular accessibility tool for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, there is another feature that is just as vital for people who are Blind or have Low Vision: Audio Descriptions. Audio Descriptions provide an immersive experience for the Blind and Low Vision audience by conveying visual information that would otherwise be lost. This includes details about characters, settings, and action that is not otherwise apparent. In this article, we will explore the importance of Audio Descriptions, how they work, and their impact on the lives of people who are Blind or have Low Vision.

The on-line meeting has become a common way of getting together virtually. Since the Pandemic of 2020 it has become even more prominent.  This has made it possible for many of us to continue to meet and conduct business and have our gatherings and even reach out to larger numbers of people across vast distances.

As you plan your virtual or on-line event, also be sure to see: Tips and Suggestions for how to Plan for a Welcoming and Inclusive Accessible Event or Gathering. This will help with more information regarding the overall event planning process for Accessibility in general. There are many recources included.

There are different types of on-line meeting of conference apps and utilities that are commonly used.  Some are more accessible than others.

The internet has revolutionized the way people communicate, learn and work. However, there are still many barriers that prevent some people from accessing the internet, including Older People and People with Disabilities. With the increasing number of older internet users, it is important to design products that are easier for them to use. Designing for older users is similar to designing for people with disabilities.

Older people have age-related impairments that can affect how they use the web, such as reduced contrast sensitivity, color perception, and near-focus, making it difficult to read web pages. They may also have reduced dexterity and fine motor control, making it difficult to use a mouse and click small targets. Difficulty hearing higher-pitched sounds and separating sounds can make it challenging to hear podcasts and other audio, especially when there is background music. Reduced short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, and being easily distracted can make it difficult to follow navigation and complete online tasks.

Imagine embarking on a noble and inclusive Community Building project that would be supportive and inclusive for one or a few marginalized individuals, only to discover that your ideas and actions not only make a significant difference in their lives but also have an even more far-reaching impact, positively affecting thousands or even millions of other people every single day.  This would describe how the Curb Cut Effect actually works.  However, the reality of the history of the phenomenon we call the Curb Cut Effect stands not as a result of well-meaning individuals designing a better world, but instead, as the outcomes of hard-fought advocacy by People with Disabilities struggling against a system which continuously denies Accessibility as a right to them as a marginalized minority. 

Originating from the ongoing passionate advocacy of disability rights activists, the Curb Cut Effect is the result of arduous uphill battles to remove physical, social, and on-line barriers. It serves as a catalyst for change, urging communities to move beyond simple compliance. Embracing Inclusive Design and Accessibility is crucial as we work to remove these barriers. This process is essential for building diverse, vibrant, inclusive, and accessible communities.

Our view of people with disabilities varies depending on factors such as our interactions with them and societal conditioning. TV shows and movies often portray people with disabilities as objects of pity or inspiration, which objectifies them and is a form of ableism. People with disabilities are underrepresented in advertising, which reinforces the belief that those without disabilities are superior. 

Abdul-Baha, the perfect exemplar and extoller of all of the virtues of what it means to be what we are intended to be as humans, was the host of many gatherings and events.  From the many stories of his travels and engagements, we know that his attention, care, and focus, was on Unity and Justice, and always on Inclusion of those who were considered to be historically marginalized populations, including those with disabilities. 

For Baha'is, almost everything that happens in our communities can be considered an event. When organizing a community or other event, regardless of its size, it's essential to incorporate accessibility at all levels. 

A Public Accessibility Statement is a Key Component in Establishing Just Relationships with People with Disabilities 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 Adults in the United States have some type of Disability.  The International Accessibility Standards have been in place now for nearly three decades. Yet, consider this revealing statistic: Only 3% of the internet is accessible to People with Disabilities. How effectively does your website and communication prioritize accessibility for People with Disabilities?  Do you follow Inclusive Design constructs when creating content for distribution and publication? Do you have a Public Accessibility Statement?

Accessibility Training is vital in knowing how to use and follow the ever-evolving International Accessibility Standards.  Fortunately, the same people who develop and maintain these standards, along with People with Disabilities offer a free self-paced training course. One of the measurable outcomes of this training is a Public Accessibility Statement which is covered in detail in Module 5.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 adults in the United States have some type of disability. This statistic emphasizes the importance of people who produce electronic documents, videos, audio, and online courses participating in the free training offered by WAI (Web Accessibility Initiative) and following the International Accessibility Standards to promote the human and civil rights of people with disabilities, eliminate discrimination and oppression, obey the laws of a just government, and remove barriers.

By producing content that is accessible, producers are ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to information and educational opportunities. Accessible content helps to eliminate discrimination and oppression by removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in society. This promotes social inclusion and diversity, creating a more just and equitable society.

Furthermore, many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, have laws and regulations that require accessibility. Producers who do not comply with these laws could face legal action or fines, and will also contribute to a culture of discrimination and oppression.