As we continue in our mission to create a healthier, better-educated world by supporting projects that strengthen people, programs, communities, and countries, Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) is pleased to announce our two newest contract wins with the U.S. Department of Education and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

For the U.S. Department of Education, we will provide technical assistance, web design and maintenance, and communications support services for the Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will provide schools, from early childhood centers to institutions of higher education, with best practices, Federal resources, and guidance documents on operational strategies to support schools and campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will primarily focus on safely reconvening in-person teaching and learning services while providing support to the whole campus and school community.

The contract will also address equity to help ensure the whole campus and school community is equally supported and has the same access to services. The Clearinghouse will work to address equity for all subsets of minority populations within the campus and school community, including racial and ethnic minority students; students with disabilities; English learners; low-income students; first-generation college students; students of urban, rural, and suburban areas; students experiencing homelessness; students in foster care; students whose families migrate for work; among others.

In addition to this new contract, Synergy continues to support the U.S. Department of Education in other areas. To date, Synergy has created 19 courses and 9 micro-learning events (Click & Go’s) for out-of-school time practitioners under the U.S. Department of Education’s You for Youth portal. All these courses are narrated, animated, comprehensive, engaging, and developed according to IACET standards. Synergy has supported the U.S. Department of Education in retaining almost 6,000 engaged learners since October this year and upwards of 30,000 since the start of the pandemic.

In May, Synergy was selected to support SAMHSA’s mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities through the Public Awareness Support Activities contract. Synergy will provide front office communications and educational outreach for the agency’s priorities as well as trends and emerging issues in the mental health and substance use disorder field. In addition to this new contract, Synergy provides communications support on SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” Underage Drinking Prevention Campaign.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic made “business as usual” challenging on multiple levels, Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) worked with our clients to navigate their business rhythms, pivot through numerous hurdles brought on by work and at-home challenges, and continue delivering work at the highest level. In addition to our professional commitment to excellence, many of our staff members made a personal commitment, volunteering their time within their communities to make a meaningful and positive impact.

At the start of the pandemic, Calynn Evans, Senior Technical Assistance Liaison, heard there was a shortage of PPE for healthcare workers. As a problem solver and helper, she answered the call. Calynn pulled out her sewing machine and got to work. At that point, stores were running out of elastic and fabric, but she was able to find patterns online and make masks out of some old clothes that were 100 percent cotton. By following CDC guidelines on homemade masks and partnering with her mom’s church and a local seamstress, Calynn was able to make 50 masks for a nursing home in Annapolis, several for a labor and delivery unit in Arizona, and recently, masks for teachers and students returning to school. “Mask making started as a way to give back to others, but it has also allowed me to give back to myself. I rekindled my creative side and I have enjoyed fine tuning this craft, as well as a few others,” said Calynn.

Later in the pandemic, Ashley Foley, Operations Specialist, helped in a different way. As part of the Maryland Vaccine Hunters, she assisted low-income and vulnerable populations in navigating the Maryland COVID-19 vaccine appointment system. She spent numerous hours on various websites “chasing appointments.” Ashley’s advanced technology skills have enabled her to get many seniors and non-tech-savvy individuals signed up for the vaccine.

On the other side of the country, in her home state of California, Project Director Bronwyn Roberts assisted with providing more than 2,000 vaccines to community members at a drive-up vaccine clinic. Although she has no medical experience, she received on-the-spot training to help fill syringes and document patient information for public health records. “It’s such an incredible experience to help out in this capacity—you really feel like you are a part of history, and people are so grateful!” Bronwyn said. Many volunteers are receiving vaccines in exchange for their time and effort, and Bronwyn was fortunate enough to receive one. Like many others, the first thing she did was hug her mom for the first time in a year.

We are proud of the dedication, commitment, and resilience that Synergy’s employees have shown in both their professional lives and personal communities. We will continue to make this same commitment to our clients and our work. Although we may be one person or a small group of people, when we come to together, we can make a big difference—because here at Synergy we believe in “Small Teams, Big Solutions!”

Synergy Enterprises, Inc. (Synergy) offers a range of strategic communications services. From communications research and content development to social marketing and stakeholder outreach, we pride ourselves on our integrated approach to planning, execution, and evaluation. However, one of our lesser-known communications and information technology (IT) capabilities is in Section 508 compliance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26 percent (1 in 4) of adults in the United States have some type of disability. Section 508 is a section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a collection of laws and guidelines requiring information to be made available to the public regardless of sensory disability. This includes individuals with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairment. Added in 1998, Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in IT and to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities. This law applies to federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and IT to develop Government Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Examples of ICT include, but are not limited to:

• Government websites
• Webinars and teleconferencing
• PDF documents
• Desktop and mobile applications
• Online training
• Video and multimedia
• Copiers, printers, and fax machines
• Technical support call centers

Section 508 may be foreign to you if you’re not a federal office or contractor. However, many organizations may still abide by Section 508 standards, and if you create content for an organization that receives federal funding, you may be required to meet 508 standards. These regulations are overseen by the U.S. Access Board, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

At Synergy, we ensure your content is accessible for this important audience. Our compliance specialists keep pace with the latest technical developments and trends for comprehensive accessibility. We conduct quality assurance reviews using up-to-date, gold standard tools and 508 compliance diagnostic software. Additionally, we can provide formal training or tips to help simplify 508 compliance testing and assurance. Our clients include the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, National Center for Homeless Education, NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health, among others. Learn more about our Section 508 compliance clients here.

When checking ICT for 508 compliance, ask yourself: Can the user navigate the website without using a mouse? Are the items readable by screen reader for visually impaired users? Is there closed captioning for audio or video content? These are just some of the requirements for Section 508 compliance. Below we offer some tips you can use to ensure your content is up to code:

Technology makes things easier to access, but design still needs to be addressed for ease of use for everyone. Thanks to Section 508, there is now a federal standard set for the commercial industry to adhere to. It shows that accessibility can and should be prioritized. Even if your business is not required to follow Section 508, improving the accessibility of your digital assets promotes equal access for all.