Access
These policies are a living document that may change based on the needs of our community. Because of this, we do not have an ASL recording available. However, if you would like them signed for you, please email access [at] DisabilityCulturalCenter [dot] org and we will happily connect you with an interpreter.
General In-Person Access
Do you have a masking policy and are you Covid conscious?
Yes! Please read our Illness and Masking Policy section on the Policies page.
Do you provide ASL interpreting?
Yes! We have ASL interpreters at all our events (unless we know that that there won’t be any signers present), and we have Language Line for times when we don’t have an interpreter in the house.
Do you have assisted listening devices?
Yes! Just ask a DCC team member and we’ll get you set up.
Do you have seating that will meet my needs?
We hope so! We have couches, straight back chairs, yoga mats, loungers, perches, and more. If you can’t get comfortable, please let us know and we’ll try to figure it out together.
Can I bring my animal?
Service and support animals are welcome at the DCC. We just need to make sure that they are quiet and non-disruptive for other guests. You can read our Pet and Animal Policy section on the Policies page.
Do you use scented products?
No. We use mild and unscented products. That means that our soap, hand sanitizer, and daily cleaning products are scent-free. We also ask everyone not to use scented products before entering the DCC or while you’re there.
Do you use anything with a chemical scent or fumes?
Not while we’re open, but certain maintenance tasks like paint touch-ups, carpet cleaning, and disinfecting may require the use of chemicals. We schedule these tasks when there is time to ventilate the space after use. We also track your access needs, so if you’re a member with chemical sensitivities, please let us know so we alert you when we’re using chemicals or scents.
Do you have a quiet or low-stimulation space?
During large events and gatherings, our work room serves as a quiet space. We ask that folks keep sound to a minimum in the low-stim space. If the workroom is in use for a meeting, we have several portable nook options we can help you set up you can still have a little pocket that’s all your own.
How many restrooms do you have and how accessible are they?
We have two restrooms. The first restroom in inside the DCC space. It’s a fairly large ADA-accessible all-gender single stall with a locking door. The second restroom is in the courtyard. It is very large, all-gender, single stall, ADA accessible, with an adult changing table.
Is the DCC family friendly?
We love when families come to the DCC, and we have fun things for all ages. There are definitely events with explicit content that are not appropriate for kids, and other programs about navigating benefits, for example, that would be just plain boring.
Please be mindful when bringing children into the space that a lot of folks need the DCC to feel calm and the DCC isn’t always going to be the best outing when a kiddo is feeling loud or high energy.
What if I get cold? What if it’s too hot?
We have heating and air conditioning, as well as a giant collapsible wall to our patio. So we have some options for temperature control. That being said, everyone’s body is different. We have blankets, heating pads, and space heaters as well as fans.
Do you have a place where I can charge my device?
Yes! We have many outlets inside and outside the space available for our guests to use.
Does the DCC have food or drink options?
We offer coffee, tea, water, and snacks! We try to keep our snacks nutritious, delicious, and minimally packaged. There are lots of different options to meet your dietary needs. They’re always free but if you have a few dollars, you’re welcome to contribute.
Are there security cameras in the DCC?
There are no security cameras in the DCC. Any cameras you see are used for our hybrid programming. The building, The Kelsey Civic Center, does have some external cameras that we do not control or have access to.
I have an access need that's not on this list. What do I do?
Please email us as access [at] DisabilityCulturalCenter [dot] org! We are here for all the access needs.
In-Person Event Access
Can I sit outside and still be a part of the event?
Yes! We have a large collapsible wall that connects the indoor community space and the patio. We have outdoor speakers, screens, heaters, etc. We do our best with setup, but depending on the event, your view of the presenter may be obstructed.
Is there reserved seating?
We set aside space near the ASL interpreters for signing participants, but other than that it’s opening seating. When you register for an event you’ll be asked for your seating needs. We plan around those when we’re doing setup to ensure that everyone has a comfy spot to enjoy the event!
Do you provide breaks during events?
It depends on the event and the access needs of our presenters. Generally, if the event is 90 minutes or less, we welcome guests to get up and take care of themselves as needed during the program.
If I bring a guest or my child with me, do we need separate registration?
Yes! We want your whole crew to come, but each person much register separately. Since our space is small, we don’t have a lot of wiggle room for unregistered attendees. It also helps us track everyone’s access needs and preferences!
Is it okay if I come late or leave early?
Totally! Crip time is our love language. We will start events at the publicized time, but you’re welcome to join when it works for you. We want to minimize disruption of the event so we won’t be able to move chairs or make a lot adjustments to seating for late arrivals. Please note, that we do stop ASL after 15 minutes if no signers are present.
Will the event be recorded?
It depends. We often record workshops, lectures, panels, wellness classes, and performances so folks can access them later on YouTube. We do not record events that are focused on the folks in the room, such as Together Time, care circles, Cafe Crip, and writing retreats.
If you feel uncomfortable being recorded, please let us know. We have lots of work arounds, but it depends on the event format.
Will participation be required?
Nope! We will never call on you or pressure you to participate. There are some smaller events such as care circles and writing workshops that may work better if folks actively participate, but it’s never required. You can always show up just as you are.
Virtual Event Access
Will there be ASL interpreters at DCC events?
All of our programs will have an ASL interpreter present by default. For many of our programs, we also hire Deaf interpreters as well. However, due to the national interpreter shortage and the high number of programs we will provide, there are some events and programs where we require guests to submit a request ahead of time. Our chance of booking an interpreter is best if we have at least 48 hours’ notice; however, we will always try our best to offer an interpreter even if the reservation deadline has passed.
Will visual materials be audio described?
Yes! We give descriptions of all visual materials and ask all presenters to do the same.
Will I have to participate or be on screen?
Usually, no. Certain interactive events may require participation, but you will know ahead of time.
Do you have a policy about how often someone can speak at an event? What if a guest is dominating the conversation?
We do have a policy. When we find that participants are struggling to make space for others, and it is causing conflict, the event’s access team will approach them in four steps.
- We communicate with the person privately and ask them to step back and make space for others.
- If their behavior doesn’t change, we give them one more nudge and notify them that we will remove their audio and/or video privileges for a period of time if they are not able to make space.
- If they are still having trouble, we will remove their audio and/or video privileges for an appropriate period of time and communicate that boundary.
- We follow up after a program to make a plan for future participation.
Who will see or respond to any questions/comments I post in the Q&A?
Representatives from the Disability Cultural Center will facilitate and respond to questions at the event.
The Zoom subtitles/transcript are not accessible to me. Where can I stream the live captioning directly?
Our programs will offer captions on Zoom but also on Streamtext at: dcc.page/captions. This offers a more reliable captioning service and provides options for personalizing.
Why is the chat feature turned off?
For certain programs chat may be turned off to meet the specific access needs for that program. We recommend participating on our Discord server during or after our programs for more community conversation at: dcc.page/discord. If it’s a zoom webinar, you can use the Q&A space as if it’s a chat. If not, you can always email access [at] DisabilityCulturalCenter [dot] org, which we monitor during live programs for tech support or other questions you might have.
Is this event being recorded? Will I be able to access the recording, materials, etc. after this event?
We aim to record public events when possible, but we don’t record events where the privacy of participants is a concern. Ideally, we will post the program within 1-2 weeks, and you’ll receive a notification if you registered for the event.
Can I share the recordings and materials with others?
Yes! We would love for you to share your experience with others.
What will access be like in the physical space?
We are working to make our physical highly accessible. More details about the access provided will be shared soon!
Who can I contact if I have other questions?
If the question is about an immediate technical issue or access need, please use the Q&A box in Zoom. Otherwise, please email us.
Website Development
The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for as many disabled people as possible. We strive to create an outstanding experience for everyone on our websites. Website by Access Design Studio. Date of approval: 04 December 2024.
Measures to Support Accessibility
Website: DisabilityCulturalCenter.org. This accessibility statement informs users of the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center website’s current level of accessibility and limitations. It also provides contact details for the dedicated accessibility support team at the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center for feedback and further assistance if required.
Conformance Status
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. There are three levels of conformance within the four success criteria principles Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust:
- Level A,
- Level AA, and
- Level AAA.
The standard for web accessibility globally is WCAG 2.1 Level A & AA. The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center website strives to be conformant with WCAG 2.2 Level A & AA, so that:
- All images have alt-text provisions.
- The user can zoom in on the website content up to 500% without screen visibility loss.
- Assistive technology users will be able to understand and access links, lists and forms, although some still require optimization (see below).
- The heading structure is optimized for use with assistive technology.
- Contrast ratios for text and non-text elements are accessible.
- Keyboard-only navigation with the correct focus order is enabled.
Compatibility with Browsers and Assistive Technology
The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center’s website platform was tested for accessibility using the Google Chrome browser and JAWS screen reader. The web platform is compatible with a JAWS screen reader. It is therefore expected to be compatible with assistive technology on recent versions of operating systems (desktop and mobile) mac OS X, Microsoft Windows & Android, and Apple iOS.
The web platform is expected to be compatible with the following:
- The use of up-to-date versions of JAWS screen readers and browser versions of Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, IE 11 and with assistive technology on recent versions of operating systems (desktop and mobile) mac OS X, Microsoft Windows & Android, and Apple iOS.
The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center website platform cannot be expected to be compatible with:
- Any browsers that are older than 3 major versions or assistive technology and mobile operating systems that are older than 5 years.
Additional Information
Any third-party, externally controlled elements or software installed on or linked to from the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center website platform currently or in the future may not be standards-compliant. We are unable to make changes to their platforms.
The San Francisco Disability Cultural Center website platform is designed and developed in accordance with the four WCAG principles – perceivable, operable, understandable, robust – and with a broad spectrum of physical, cognitive, and situational limitations in mind.
Feedback
We would love to get feedback from website users on the accessibility of the San Francisco Disability Cultural Center website platform. Please let us know if you encounter any accessibility barriers on our website so that we can help you and others who may be experiencing the same:
