This featured article is brought to you by: Erin Perkins, Accessibilty Educator

What is digital ableism? 

Digital ableism asks people with disabilities to accept a less-than user experience while non-disabled people are provided the best user experience possible.

The most recent example is when Threads launched in July of 2023. Threads was launched without basic accessibility functions such as alt text field, or in-app captioning, barriers with using external fonts and gifs which has shown that they are incompatible with screen readers.

Accessibility educators started sharing ways to be accessible on Threads, and there was a response from one person who said “Great list, I’m sure the team is working to get the platform to be more accessible, but for now I appreciate the tips!”

The simple assumption that the team is working on the accessibility features is ableism. Mosseri had already posted multiple things that they’re working on, none of which included any accessibility features. 

Let me be clear, this isn’t complaining. 

Basic human rights should be at the forefront of any new business development, but unfortunately, it is often given little consideration. 

This tells me, as a deafblind consumer, that my needs aren’t profitable enough to matter. 

This is why I shifted my business to focus on Accessibility Education because Accessibility isn’t really taught in business school, nor is it included in the majority of the business offerings that are available online. 

Most people encounter accessibility when they meet me or someone else with a disability. When the realization of, “Oh gosh, I hadn’t even thought of that!” leads to “How can I do better?”

That’s where I come in, I’m here to tell you, that you don’t know what you don’t know. I want to share with you how you can do better without making it feel hard or making you feel shitty about not knowing any better. 

Let’s start by making your social media accessible! 

A simple approach to begin is by writing your hashtags using Pascal Case (initial capitalization) or Camel Case. Let’s see how it looks! Which one do you find more reader-friendly?

Hashtag: #accesibilityforall

Pascal Case: #AccessibilityForAll

Camel Case: #accessibilityForAll

Another helpful tip is to regularly review your branding colors and ensure they meet the color contrast standards. A great tool I personally recommend is Coolors.Co. With this tool, I can easily input two colors from my brand and instantly determine if they meet the required standards. This helps me guarantee that when I design my social media posts, the contrast is perfect and visually appealing.

Eliminate visual clutter. Use concise and digestible elements. Avoid overwhelming users with long blocks of text. Instead, divide your content across multiple slides, create a carousel, or utilize bullet points for a more user-friendly experience.

Benefits to Making Your Social Media Accessible

1. Better user experience for all: Accessibility makes it possible for anyone to access your content, regardless of their disabilities. By making your social media more accessible, you create a better user experience for all, including those with hearing or visual impairments.
2. Gives your followers different ways to consume your content: Accessibility features like captions, alt-text descriptions, and transcripts provide different options for users to consume your content. This valuable addition not only increases engagement with your brand but also provides more flexibility to your followers to digest information.
3. Improves your brand image: Inclusivity has become a crucial metric to measure the credibility of a brand. By establishing a reputation for accessibility, you boost your brand image and show that your company values individual needs and showcases brand sensitivity.
4. Competitor’s advantage: Since only a small proportion of businesses prioritize accessibility, making your social media accessible can give you a competitive advantage. You are able to reach a wider audience and engage with those who may have previously overlooked your brand due to accessibility barriers.
5. Improves SEO: Accessibility features, such as alt-text descriptions and transcripts, provide search engines with important information about your content. This can improve your search engine rankings and increase the visibility of your social media posts.

It can be easy to feel like this is a lot. The one thing I always tell folks is to, “Start from where you are at now.” Don’t try to start at the beginning because you’ll never get ahead. It’s about progress, not perfection. 

You have the potential to be part of driving this change by making these changes that create an equitable experience for all users. Start by making one change at a time to your process! What’s the first thing you’re going to do? I’d love to know!

This featured article is brought to you by: Erin Perkins, Accessibilty Educator

Erin is deafblind, though she can still hear with the help of her hearing aid & cochlear implant (without them, she’s profoundly deaf). She can see only 50 degrees (most people see 180 degrees)… if you’re waving to her, and she doesn’t wave back…the chances are pretty high that she didn’t see or hear you! 

She started Mabely Q under the guise of being an operations manager and graphic designer.  It wasn’t until she worked with business owners and mentors that she realized how few actually understood what accessibility was. She pivoted right into accessibility education. 

She loves that she gets to teach businesses how to be accessible by leaning on her life experiences which she shares with others to foster true inclusion at all levels, and also teaching in a way that feels good. Her mission is to make the world more accessible one business at a time. 

Erin Perkins is a champion of disability rights and an inspiring entrepreneur who advocates for greater accessibility, inclusiveness, and understanding within the business world. As a deafblind woman herself – founder of small online business Mabely Q – as well as an experienced speaker/educator, Erin’s message has been heard by CEOs around the country. 

Her unique gifts are her life experiences which she compassionately shares with others through keynote speeches, private workshops or one-on-one consulting sessions to foster true inclusion at all levels — allowing people with disabilities equal opportunities to succeed professionally.

>>>>> Access Erin’s FREE Social Media Accesssibility Checklist Here. This Social Media Accessibility Scorecard is for small businesses to increase the visibility of their posts by appearing in more online searches and engaging in a wider audience to create a more accessible business. This scorecard will guide you effortlessly in conducting a comprehensive self-assessment of the accessibility of your social media platforms.

>>>>> Get Erin’s $197 Accessibility Made Easy Course Here. This course will walk you through the step-by-step process to make your entire business accessible across seven key areas, without the overwhelm. Accessibility Made Easy includes a custom learning map for a variety of business owners to help prioritize what will make their business the most accessible, the fastest. Access the course today and get on the fast-track to an accessible, inclusive business.

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Get 40% off your first year of membership using my code, BROOKE!

>>>>> Book An Accessibility Audit With Erin Here. Unlock the potential of growth and opportunity within your business with a personalized, professional Accessibility Audit. Get the expert insight and action plans you need to introduce maxim inclusivity in your business.

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