A one-page checklist for a new program, service, or digital application. It covers people and purpose, access, language, the effort required of people, evidence, partners, decision responsibility, and review.
Guidance. A practical job aid or checklist from this program. Confirm policy questions with the person responsible for that policy.A practical job aid or checklist from this program. Confirm policy questions with the person responsible for that policy.
Why this matters
Use it as a working document for your program, with a responsible person for each follow-up and a review date. This makes the next steps clear and accountable.
Use the checklist
People and purpose: who it is for; who may be missing; what result would show that a disparity was reduced rather than shifted elsewhere.
Access: screen reader, keyboard, magnification tested; equally effective phone, in-person, or paper path; documents meet the accessible-document standard.
Language: languages people will need; vital documents identified for translation with human review; interpreter reachable at first contact.
Time and effort: count the steps, documents, and visits from the person's point of view; consider when deadlines or office hours become barriers to eligibility.
Evidence: current use and denial patterns by community, language, disability, and place; missing community knowledge named with a respectful way to get it.
Partners: Equity Director informed; accessibility and language access leads involved; community partners with purpose, authority, compensation, and report-back; Tribal consultation first where applicable.
Decision responsibility: who decides; which rights, rules, and obligations set the limits; what can still change if a rule must remain.
Review: who is responsible for each follow-up; the next review date; what would lead you to pause, redesign, or seek further guidance.
