Author: Sky Alton
You might have heard the term accessibility being used before (particularly here on HOL). It’s a general term for adaptations that give everyone equal access to things, regardless of any disabilities or other needs they might have. The onus is really on companies, tech developers and governments to make the huge changes that are needed but there’s plenty of tiny and simple steps you can take to help as well. If enough people take them, one day they might be second nature.
Here are just a few examples:
1. Describe images you post on social media for people with a visual impairment.
Accessible technology might have come a long way but a computer still can’t describe what’s in a picture you post with any degree of accuracy (for instance, a picture I shared of my freshly manicured fingernails got this description from Facebook: ‘image may contain 3 people, standing and indoor’). The description doesn’t have to be super detailed, just a quick summary of the key points of the image in brackets is a great addition.
2. Be aware of colour blindness.
There are several different types of colour blindness and they all affect how well someone can read or interact with something they’re seeing. If you’re putting together a poster or website, use an online tool to check whether there’s enough contrast for someone with colour blindness to access the information comfortably (also consider using symbols to differentiate things). This can also help those with dyslexia or who otherwise struggle to focus.
3. Pay attention to captions
If you’re using a video to illustrate a point, check to see whether captions/subtitles are available for those who can’t rely on hearing what’s said. You should also check how good those captions are as sometimes they can be awful!
4. Listen to those around you.
It’s impossible to cater for absolutely everyone as there are as many different needs as there are individuals. The person with accessibility needs is always the best judge of those needs, so make sure you pay attention to what they have to say. Keep an open mind and don’t beat yourself up for not foreseeing something. It’s all about how you react once you’re aware.