Social media is an important tool for connecting with others, sharing stories and speaking up about what matters. It should be about bringing everyone together, but not everyone finds it easy to join the conversation.
Accessibility issues mean that the 1.5 million people in the UK with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
often find it difficult to read, watch, or understand what is being posted.
Nobody should be left out of the conversation
That’s why we are sharing our top tips for making content more
accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
.
By following a few simple rules when posting in online spaces you can make the world of difference making your messages inclusive.
- Use clear language
Write in a way that is easy to follow. Avoid technical terms, abbreviations and jargon when they aren’t necessary.
- Add image descriptions (Alt text)
When posting pictures, make sure to include a short description of what the image shows. This keeps people using screen-readers involved
Involved is being included in something or taking part in something.
in the conversation.
- Use CamelCase for hashtags
If you use a hashtag, capitalising the first letter of each word can make it easier for people to understand and for screen readers to process what you are saying. For example, instead of #learningdisabilityweek, you can write #LearningDisabilityWeek.
- Limit emoji use
Emojis are a great tool for expression, but overusing them can be distracting. Limiting emoji use to 1-2 per post or paragraph helps screen readers process what you are saying.
- Add subtitles to videos
Not only are subtitles essential for people who are hard of hearing, they are also helpful for people with sensory issues. There are many tools available now that can automatically generate subtitles for your videos, making it an easy modification that helps your TikToks or Youtube videos to be more inclusive.
Those tips are small changes, but they can make a huge difference.
If we all get into the habit of following these simple rules whenever we post online, together we can make social media a more welcoming and inclusive place. One that makes sure every voice is heard.
Want to learn more? These tips are just a starting point, if you are interested in going further to making the internet accessible for people with a learning disability, you can read our full accessibility guidelines. You can also check out our
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
guidelines for social media for some basic rules for keeping online spaces respectful.
Want to learn more about making your social media posts more accessible?
The above tips are just a starting point, but if you are interested in going further to making the internet accessible for people with a learning disability, read our full accessibility guidelines.
Amy Clarke