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Monet Sanchez

Professor Kelli Lycke

ENGL 109H

Inclusive Communication

Annotated Bibliography

Cipr-Influence. “Why Public Relations Should Be More Accessible.” Influence Online.co.uk,

May 19, 2022,

https://influenceonline.co.uk/2022/05/19/why-public-relations-should-be-more-accessible

/.

This is an independent news source and is a “periodical” among the genre of popular

sources. The authors chose to highlight the statistic of how nearly one billion people

globally are faced with a disability, and thus, nearly one billionth of the population is

struggling to access various forms of communication and content. The article was written

by four people, some of whom experience disability themselves, and who head accessible

communications from four separate companies (Propel PR, AllthingsIC, Activity

Alliance, and Bromford Housing Association). They reference the framework of ESG

(Environmental, Social, and Governance) to build their arguments. These authors work in

positions of communication and have credible firsthand experience with seeing

accessibility issues. A valuable point they made is encouraging people living with

disability to begin working with the PR industry.

Ghannami, Saeed Al. “How Engaging People With Disabilities in Public Relations help produce

accessible communications that raise brands reputation.” LinkedIn.com, articles Design

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and Communication, October 9, 2021.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-engaging-people-disabilities-public-relations-help-a

l-ghannami/?trk=articles_directory.

This is a popular source article (blog), distributed through LinkedIn. The context behind

this article shows that the number of people with disabilities are increasing, and yet, only

4% of businesses are bringing accessible services and products to people with disabilities.

Several government sources were used, the World Health Organization, as well as

interview clips from an executive from Microsoft, and statements from large companies

such as Google and Starbucks. The author uses credible examples like Capt. Andrea Hall

who signed the pledge of allegiance in ASL, during the 59th US Presidential Inauguration

(2021), and The 2021 “Upstream” Super Bowl ad, to support his point about

representation. The article is trying to reach people who are ignorant to the issue,

especially big businesses. An important point is that people with disabilities can actually

become the head of efforts to design with accessibility, and will have the best ideas and

improvements to offer.

Gov.UK. “Using a range of communication channels to reach disabled people.” Cabinet Office,

Disability Unit. March 15, 2021.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1m_zo3G_OS3zGoUq43p_BLHr7pCWo_zYqADU

WGBzKwAE/edit

This popular source functions as a practical guide to accessible communications, and is

published by Government Digital Service to give access to HM Government services.

The guide was specifically written for government communicators, so they would be
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better equipped when distributing information through different sorts of media. The

background behind this source was that there are not nearly enough accessible formats

for people with disabilities when they want to access information. This UK government

source is merely displaying practical ways to enhance accessibility through 8 different

genres of media (Press, radio, tv/film, advertising etc). The guide itself was based on an

Ofcom report titled, “Disabled Consumers’ ownership of communication services,”

which gave heavy numbers on how little the disability is being able to access

information they need. A critical point of the article urged communicators to work with

disability publications.

Gerard Goggin & Christopher Newell (2007) The Business of Digital Disability, The

Information Society, 23:3, 159-168, DOI: 10.1080/01972240701323572

This is a peer reviewed academic source and concludes that disability should be

“incorporated into all aspects of designing accessible technology.” This article was

written in the context of offering a solution to the Public Relations industry, as they are

trying to build accessible tools for people with disabilities. The author gives a case study

of digital accessibility through examining telecommunications, mobile phones, and the

internet. He includes personal experience, diagrams, cites the “Americans with

Disabilities Act,” the British “Disability Discrimination Act,” and includes a person

living with disability in the reviewing process. A vital point he made was that companies

will give a half-hearted or ill-informed attempt at accessibility, which results in

information that is somewhere in between “somewhat accessible” or not at all.

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“How a blind person uses a computer.” YouTube, The Tommy Edison Experience, July 16, 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzffnbBex6c.

This is a non-traditional primary source. The purpose for this Youtube video is to show

viewers what it’s like to navigate the internet, and use basic functions of a computer

without being able to see. The context behind videos like these are to illustrate what sport

of software a blind individual might need, and how important it is for them to have it.

The host of the video, Tommy Edison, has credibility since he happens to be blind and

uses various accessible software on a regular basis. He gives a thorough demonstration of

how to operate these different types of software, and how he uses them in his everyday

life. Videos like these show just how much people living with disabilities rely on

accessible technology. Without it, communicating and staying involved in the digital

world becomes much more difficult.

Miller, Rachel. “PRCA Publishes New Accessible Communications Guidelines.” All Things IC,

25 Apr. 2021,

https://www.allthingsic.com/prca-publishes-new-accessible-communications-guidelines/.

This blog fits into the genre of a “periodical” in popular sources. Context behind this

article says that nearly 1 in 8 people are faced with a disability, and are unable to access

information from a multitude of brands and organizations.The author is making an appeal

to a broader audience of communicators to make their content accessible. She suggests

that communicators include captions, enhanced audio, lip reading, translators, contrast,

and inclusive imaging in whatever presentations they may use. While describing these

formats, the author cites PRCA’s accessible communication guidelines. She supports her
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arguments with global data, and also cites MAGNA and IPG Media lab, while including

interviews from PCRA and current global directors. Along with statistics and personal

testaments, she argues that there is a moral obligation to correct how audiences with

disabilities are currently being excluded.

Mkhize, Gabi (2015) “Problematising rhetorical representations of individuals with disability –

disabled or living with disability”, Agenda, 29:2, 133-140, DOI:

10.1080/10130950.2015.1040692

This was an academic source, which argued that while creating accessible spaces, PR and

Communication teams need to be mindful of the language they use. Language has a

powerful effect in how something is viewed or perceived. For example, a person “living

with disability” does not reduce the individual to someone as non-functional like the term

“disabled.” The article was written out of the context of how current media reinforces

improper language or cultural norms. The author included quotes from people

experiencing disabilities, and made references from conventions such as the National

Organization on Disability, and the 37th Annual Scholar & Femenist Conference. Her

arguments stem from an analysis of how media misuses terms, and proceeded to give a

list of what she calls “people first” language.

Orlando, Angie. “Deaf, Blind, and Determined: The Meaning of Disability.” Blogger. August 11,

2017. http://dotbug3.blogspot.com/2017/08/deaf-blind-and-determined.html

The purpose of this primary (non traditional) source seeks to inform readers who are not

living with disability about accessibility struggles. The blogger - Angie Orlando -

narrates her journey from being born with full sight to becoming fully deaf and blind. She
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noted that companies do not think of DeafBlind individuals when designing software,

because it is cost-inefficient. What may be somewhat accessible to a blind reader, is not

accessible to a deafblind reader. Her credibility is rooted in the fact that she has

personally experienced a real issue, but is also documenting it through her blog, and

traveling across the country to conferences and colleges to share her story. She presented

this particular blog as a speech to West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and is

included in a video.

Remund, David L. “The ART of Responsible Communication : Leading with Values Every Day.”

First ed. 2015. Giving Voice to Values on Business Ethics and Corporate Social

Responsibility Collection.” Web.

https://arizona-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01UA_

ALMA51564752120003843&context=L&vid=01UA&lang=en_US&search_scope=Ever

ything&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=default_tab&query=any,

contains,Public%20Relations%20accessibility%20communication&sortby=date&facet=f

rbrgroupid,include,2509322303&offset=0

https://a-cloud-igpublish-com.ezproxy3.library.arizona.edu/iglibrary/search/BEPB000031

7.html?0

This is a peer-reviewed academic source. Through referencing a term called the

“Leader-member-exchange” theory (or LMX), the author believes that the leadership

process is essential in accessible communication. The author’s credibility and reason for

writing the article comes out of a common occurrence where consumers often perceive or
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experience information being “controlled or released from the top,” instead of being

given and pursued. It concludes that communicating should not only be an exchange of

information, but building foundational trust with recipients, in order to better improve

accessibility. In addition to this the author brings in multiple perspectives including

through citing “Conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities,” Ketchum: Global

Public Relations Firm, and ethics professor Mary Gentile’s book “Giving voice to

Values.”

Schuman, Nicole. “How to Provide a More Accessible Experience in PR.” PRNEWS, 24 Nov.

2020, https://www.prnewsonline.com/pr-accessibility/.

The article is a “periodical” in popular sources. The author cites the CDC statistic that

around 61 million Americans live with disability, and speaks to PR professionals about

the inaccessible information and resources they receive. The author uses an interview

with senior specialist Rachel Carver at Outlook For Business Solutions, who was the first

blind woman to receive accreditation. They suggest using tools such as text to speech,

braille, large-print, sign language at live press events, audio recordings, captions, image

descriptions, and clear-cut images or contrast, all of which can be built in through

common software applications. This periodical source was based on another article “Is

your brand accessible to the disabled,” in which Carver vividly details the reality of the

disability community. This source’s credibility takes into account Carver’s own personal

experience, and makes arguments based on that knowledge.

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Thorne, Rebecca. “Disabled Voices Online: Interview With Angie From Blog Deaf, Blind, and

Determined.” EveryoneCan.

https://www.everyonecan.org.uk/news/disabled-voices-online-interview-with-nicola-from

-view-from-a-walking-frame/ https://viewfromawalkingframe.co.uk

The purpose of this primary (non traditional) source is to reveal the types of resources

that blind individuals use to communicate their stories with other people. Her audience is

the vast amount of readers who do not share her experiences. Angie Orlando, a woman

who happens to be DeafBlind, detailed how being able to blog about her experiences was

freeing, and only possible through platforms such as Deaf e-zine, and Blogspot, and

BrailleNote Apex. Even so, these platforms are not fully accessible and she explains why.

Her credibility is rooted in the fact that she has personally experienced a real problem,

and is also documenting it through her blog. She also runs several groups and facebook

pages on these issues such as Northeast Ohio Deafblind Association, DeafBlind Parents,

and Deaf Night Out. A key point that Angie reveals is platforms or software that claim

they are “accessible” are not necessarily accessible to all types of disabilities.

Vidali, Amy (2020) “The biggest little ways toward access: thinking with disability in

site-specific rhetorical work.” Review of Communication, 20:2, 161-169, DOI:

10.1080/15358593.2020.1737195

This article is an academic source, and examines the relationship between communicators

and their audiences and how “site-specific-rhetorical-work” increases the angle of

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accessibility. The context behind this conclusion stems from how little the Public

Relations industry implements disability focused access work, and was written

specifically for communicators. There is a severe lack of leadership when it comes to

connecting with communities of disability. The author’s credibility includes figures and

visual aids to display the problem, while including over 25 citations on disability in

communication, while giving examples from the Disability and Accessibility working

group, and University of Nevada . She also introduced an interesting point of a

“rhetorical rhombus,” which differs from the more commonly known rhetorical triangle.

Quintero, Christian (2022) A review: accessible technology through participatory design,

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 17:4, 369-375, DOI:

10.1080/17483107.2020.1785564

This was an academic peer reviewed article which argued that computer science

technologies must step in, in order to make information and services more accessible

while communicating. The context behind our lack of understanding while creating

accessible products, stems from the fact that communicators do not directly work with the

people for whom this affects. Computers have the ability to track human to computer

interaction, and through machine learning can better develop products and services to

individuals living with disability. The authors used a systematic review of scientific

papers and case studies to support their arguments. They also utilized a high criteria

search to scan databases for these sources of information. One of the key points was that
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PR and communicators must work with people with disabilities, and work alongside them

in the creation and development of these new technologies.