Strategic & Accessible Communications
Ensuring your message reaches and connects with the people you serve.
Plain language. Public trust. Real results.
Because true communication leaves no one behind.
What We Do
Full-Spectrum Accessible Communications
From strategy to execution, we specialize in crisis and public-facing communications — including executive-level messaging. We help government agencies and public-facing organizations communicate with their entire audience, not just the easy-to-reach ones.
Plain Language Strategy
Writing and editing that meets plain language standards, reduces cognitive load, and increases comprehension across literacy levels.
Section 508 & ADA Compliance
Accessibility audits, remediation, and training to ensure your digital and print materials meet legal standards and reach all users.
ASL & Deaf Community Access
Coordination of ASL interpretation, captioning, and culturally appropriate communications for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences — grounded in Deaf Studies expertise and RID NIC-Advanced certification.
Cultural Competence & Literacy
Messaging strategies that meet audiences where they are — across languages, cultures, and literacy levels — for genuine community reach.
Crisis & Emergency Communications
Rapid, accessible, multi-channel messaging for emergencies — built on direct experience in emergency management and government External Affairs operations.
Strategic Communications Consulting
Stakeholder mapping, messaging frameworks, and communications plans tailored to the complex accountability environments of government and public-sector work.
Training & Workshops
Hands-on training for communications teams in plain language, accessibility, cultural competence, and crisis communications best practices.
Messaging Campaigns
End-to-end public information campaigns that reach diverse stakeholder groups across channels, modalities, and accessibility needs.
☷ Ready-Made Communications Packets
Need accessible, vetted messaging fast? Our communications packets are pre-built, a-la-carte toolkits designed for agencies and organizations that need professional, compliant communications without the lead time of a full engagement. Each packet is pre-vetted for plain language, 508 compliance, cultural competence, and broad audience appeal — and comes with fill-in templates and a plain-language guide for completing them in-house.
Request a Packet or Custom Toolkit
About
Shelli Holmes
Principal Consultant
Shelli Holmes brings 20 years of communications expertise across every level of government and the private sector — with a practice built on one conviction: communication is only effective when it is truly accessible.
A native Austinite with a global professional footprint, Shelli has served city, county, state, and federal agencies, including as an External Affairs Officer in federal emergency management — leading communications in high-stakes crisis and disaster response environments.
Her A.A.S. in Deaf Studies and B.S. in Human Resource Management, combined with her Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf NIC-Advanced Certification, anchor a distinctive approach spanning plain language strategy, Section 508 compliance, ASL coordination, cultural competence, and literacy-responsive messaging.
Resources
Tools to Help You Communicate Better
Practical resources developed by Capital City Communications — built on the same standards we apply to every client engagement. Plain language. Accessible by design. Free to use.
Accessible Communications Do's & Don'ts
A one-page quick-reference guide covering 10 essential accessible communications practices — plain language, digital accessibility, ASL, accommodation, multilingual access, and more. Free download, no email required. Developed by Capital City Communications for public-facing agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations.
- Plain language — writing level, active voice, acronyms, calls to action
- Digital accessibility — alt text, PDFs, color contrast, headings
- ASL & Deaf access — interpreter standards, virtual meetings, CART
- Access & functional needs — accommodations, venues, signage
- Multilingual access — translation, graphic iconography, community reach
- Communications strategy — debriefs, lessons learned
Download the Guide
Enter your details below. We will send it to your inbox instantly — no wait, no follow-up pressure.
No email required. Click below to download instantly.
Download Free ↓Want to go deeper? The full Communications Diagnostic is available free after booking a consultation.
Check your inbox for the Accessible Communications Do's & Don'ts. If you have questions or would like to discuss your communications challenge, reply to that email — we would love to help.
This guide gives you a practical starting point — plain language standards, digital accessibility, ASL, accommodations, multilingual access, and more. Use it to identify gaps, train staff, or start a conversation with your team. Ready to go deeper? A free consultation includes a full diagnostic and a clear next step.
More Resources
New resources and guides are published in phases. When something new drops, CCC contacts hear about it first. If you'd like to be notified of new releases, reach out directly or connect on LinkedIn.
Capabilities Statement
Built for Local & Regional Procurement
Our capabilities statement is formatted for contracting officers at city, county, and state agencies — covering NIGP codes, core competencies, past performance, and differentiators in a single-page document ready for vendor portals and proposal packages.
Download the PDF or request a version tailored to a specific solicitation.
- Plain Language & Section 508 Compliance
- ASL Interpretation Services — RID NIC-Advanced Certified (NIGP 952)
- Crisis & Emergency Communications
- Cultural Competence & Multilingual Messaging
- Strategic Communications Planning & Training
- Ready-Made Communications Packets & Toolkits
Get in Touch
Let’s Talk About Your Communications Needs
Not sure exactly what you need? That’s fine — reach out and we’ll figure it out together.
Austin, Texas — serving clients nationwide
Message Received
Thank you for reaching out. We will be in touch within 2 business days.