#14: August 2021

Reframe your thinking

Aug 3, 2021

I very recently had a conversation with a gentleman on LinkedIn who couldn’t understand why the deaf community was pushing so hard for captions to be added to Clubhouse. He said, “The whole platform is audio-only. If you can’t hear, what’s the point of an audio-only platform? It would be like a blind person watching a movie with no sound.”

I calmly explained, “Just because someone is deaf doesn't mean that their hearing is completely gone. Even if it is, that doesn't mean they should be excluded from a conversation or receiving information. And captions can also provide a better experience for viewers with learning disabilities, attention deficits, or autism. A lot of people who aren't disabled (like myself) also rely on captions to make it easier to comprehend audio information, especially if the speaker is talking quickly or has an accent. And there is technology to make the visual aspects of a movie accessible for blind and low-vision individuals. It's called audio descriptions and it can be found in the audio/subtitles section of most streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.”

Alexa Heinrich (she/her) @HashtagHeyAlexa

There are a lot of reasons why someone may need captions or choose to turn them on: - Hearing loss - Attention deficit - Learning disability - Noisy environment - Poor audio - Fast talker - Speaker with an accent Don’t assume you know everyone’s situation or their needs.

He thanked me for my thoughtful response and for teaching him something new.

Initial reactions like this person’s don’t usually come from a place of malice, but from a place of ignorance and lacking basic information. And sadly, a lot of people are also comfortable with their narrow perception of the world.

Educate yourself beyond your own lived experiences and the world will be better for it.

Alexa

PS: Sorry this newsletter is a day late. I had a lot going on yesterday and just didn’t feel like sending it out when I was so tired.

The Good Stuff from July

Captions Arrive for Voice Tweets

Last summer, Twitter released the beta version of Voice Tweets. The platform received a world of backlash from the deaf community and accessibility advocates when it became obvious that the feature didn’t have captions or a transcription option. This ultimately sparked a massive accessibility overhaul for Twitter, and it seems we have come full circle, as captions are finally available for Voice Tweets!

Twitter Support @TwitterSupport

We took your feedback and we’re doing the work. To improve accessibility features, captions for voice Tweets are rolling out today. Now when you record a voice Tweet, captions will automatically generate and appear. To view the captions on web, click the “CC” button.

Twitter Support @TwitterSupport

Transcription for audio and video is part of our larger plan to make Twitter accessible for everyone across all features, both existing and new. https://t.co/c9LTPiE003 (2/2)

Delta Launches New Safety Video

It’s no secret that Delta is the internet’s favorite airline. The company recently teamed up with the Fab 5 and premiered a new safety video that was diverse and accessible. It featured captions and several cameos of people who were recently on Queer Eye. Overall, a lovely video with a great message.

Delta @Delta

What would the Delta safety video look like if reimagined by the Fab 5? We’re glad you asked. Enjoy this special version of our safety video, and on your next Delta flight, don’t miss a new episode of Netflix’s @QueerEye featuring one of our employees.

Google Docs Gets an Update

I love that Google decided to update its Docs feature to make it more user-friendly for anyone using a screen reader or Braille display. Solid move!

BlindNewWorld @BlindNewWorld

#DigitalAccessibility matters - and @Google Docs is getting an #accessibility upgrade that offers people using a #ScreenReader or refreshable #braille display a simpler, more interactive experience. #a11y #BlindNewWorld

Google Docs is getting a major accessibility upgradeBoost to braille mode in Google Docstechradar.com

Instagram Adds Translation Ability

As Instagram places more importance on sharing videos, it’s finding new ways to make sure that videos on the app are accessible. This now includes the ability to translate text in stories.

The Verge @verge

Instagram can now automatically translate text in stories trib.al/AexHKvz

Teach For America Learns Something New

We love to see a learning moment. Teach For America recently learned that ASCII Art in its traditional form isn’t accessible for screen reader users, and make sure to share how to post ASCII Art in an accessible way. Shout out to my friend Eliza for being the one to educate TFA.

Teach For America @TeachForAmerica

Shout out to @ElizaEatonStern, who kindly reached out to let us know that one of our tweets last month wasn't accessible for people who use screen readers. Hot tip: @Twitter has a descriptive text feature that lets you add a description to images. We're all in this together!

stars around text that reads, friendly reminder that you are a student's favorite teacher and your work matters.

Twitter Creates Sensory Guide for Spaces

The accessibility team for Twitter continues to do excellent work and released a useful sensory guide for Spaces so users have a better idea of what to expect when people do certain interactions in a Space.

Lauren Race @Lauren_Race

We created a sensory guide and social narrative designed with a #neurodiverse team for @TwitterSpaces, and SO happy that @TwitterA11y gets to go to @sigaccess this year! https://t.co/KmSpQle1j0

A Breakdown of A11y

Have you ever wondered what a11y was or how to say it? My friend Ashlee does an excellent breakdown of the number-based word that I found very helpful!

Ashlee Boyer 🦻🏻 @AshleeMBoyer

Find yourself confused when you come across "a11y"? Not sure how to say it? Wondering why we even need it? I've got a post for you! ✨ ashleemboyer.com/what-the-heck-… #a11y #accessibility #DeafTechTwitter

What the heck is “web a11y”?The “a11y” numeronym, why it’s important, and how to pronounce itashleemboyer.com

UX Principles that include Cognitive Accessibility

This is an excellent write-up on UX design principles that includes a neurodivergent perspective from Gareth Ford Williams.

Gareth Ford Williams @GarethFW

Cognitive Accessibility and Usability are very closely related. Here are classic usability principles re-written that taking into account what we now know about neurodiversity and cognitive accessibility. lnkd.in/dhBUmRZ #coga11y #a11y #accessibility

Gareth with a post-it stuck to his head that reads, #coga11y

The Bad Stuff from July

Theater Captioning Devices Suck

I never realized how bad the captioning devices that theaters offer were so bad. Like this is straight-up terrible. I personally have captions turned on for almost everything I watch and wouldn’t mind at all if open captions in movie theaters became the default. If you feel the same, consider signing this petition.

Ebony R. Gooden @Ebonyrgooden

"But movie theater have a captioning device for deaf community!" Also:

The AccessiBe Saga Continues

It’s truly sad to watch AccessiBe continue pitching their overlay service, which does not make your website accessible like the organization says it does.

Chancey Fleet 🌈👩‍🦯 @ChanceyFleet

Please alert your networks about this campaign. #AccessiBe is co-opting Disability Pride Month to pedal a product that falsely promises to make sites accessible through full automation. Learn more at overlayfactsheet.com and the #AccessiBe hashtag

Disability Partnerships @dpp2016

We are proud to support accessiBe as they work to make the internet accessible for all! @AccessiBe Check out their new Unstoppable commercial at the link below! #WeAreUnStoppable National TV Commercial | Web accessibility is accessiBe https://t.co/s81MSMuzoz https://t.co/Ox2HIQ9NWk

Stop Using Alternative Characters

Not sure how many times I’ll need to say it before major brands get: you should not use alternative characters in your content because not all assistive devices and programs can read them. I also just don’t understand anyone going out of their way to add alternative fonts to their content when most social media professionals talk about being short on time for their tasks. This tactic adds time to your work.

ESPN @espn

Name something that 𝙞𝙨𝙣'𝙩 an Olympic sport, but 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 like an Olympic sport 🤔

Reframe Your Thinking

A lot of people need to get better at thinking outside of their own lived experiences and stop making rash assumptions based on limited knowledge, myself included. I really appreciate how my friend Ashlee pointed out why something like an ear of corn would be packaged a certain way so that people with limited mobility could easily unpackage it. Really makes you look at packaging differently!

Ashlee Boyer 🦻🏻 @AshleeMBoyer

If you are in a store and see food for sale that isn’t in its natural packaging but it’s been re-wrapped in plastic, consider this: Many people cannot remove food from their natural packaging. It’s not laziness and it’s not uncommon. Stop shaming accessible packaging.

John Rush 🐶🌱 @JohnRush32

If only there was some way for us to not have to wrap corn in so much plastic, like if they came in their very own natural protective case… https://t.co/EcpRpopofW

Have you recently spotted a major digital accessibility win or fail on social media? Send it to me! I might just feature it in my next newsletter. Feel free to email me at hello@therealalexa.com or you can DM me on Twitter. My inbox is always open!

Excellent Resources

I find some of the best tips and resources on Twitter from other creators and advocates, and I want to share them with you, too!

Marie O'Neill @marie_librarian

The dos and don'ts of designing for accessibility from GOV.UK. Further information at: bit.ly/3BXG6Nu

Lisa Marie Walters @TheLisaWalters

Reminder to journalists and other non-disabled people who are talking about wheelchair users: don’t say we are “wheelchair bound” or “confined to a wheelchair.” Those terms are rooted in ableism. Say we “use a wheelchair.”

Please don't use text art... @asciiArtHelpBot

@Skangelita @alexa99 On it, @Skangelita! Hey @alexa99, Art text is extremely hard on poeple who rely on screen readers. How bad is it? Here's a video of your tweet being read. In the future, tweeting a photo of your creation (with alt text) will mean everybody can enjoy your content.

Vincent Orleck @VincentOrleck

DID YOU KNOW... if you reply to a tweet that contains uncaptioned video and mention @HeadlinerClip, they will reply back with a captioned version. Good stuff!

Chancey Fleet 🌈👩‍🦯 @ChanceyFleet

Great post, with one caveat: graphics help sighted kids make sense of orientation and mobility too. It's just that most sighted ppl aren't raised in image poverty. Tactile graphics & maps = equity https://t.co/wfNqlTWMlX

Paths to Literacy @PathstoLiteracy

Tactile graphics are especially important in helping students who are #blind or visually impaired to develop O & M (Orientation and Mobility) skills. 🗺️This blog post explores "tactile graphicity" or the ability to read and write #tactile images. https://t.co/ei3oS3vaqj

Barb Chamberlain, All Vaxxed/Still Masked @BarbChamberlain

Synonyms for "see" you can use in official documents to convey actual meaning: Refer to. Consult. Review. Cross-reference. Determine. This PSA inspired by 58 occurrences of "see" in a 42-page document, only one of which referred to actual use of the sense of sight. #WordsMatter

Patrick Garvin @PatrickMGarvin

Thanks to @A11YProject for putting this @3playmedia post about audio descriptions on my radar. 3playmedia.com/blog/did-you-k… The post is informative, and I *LOVE* this comic. #a11y

A cartoon. CC cartoon says to AD cartoon: "Hi, AD. How are you doing? Rumor has it you are not required on videos." Then the AD cartoon replies: "Actually, I am! I'm required under the same accessibility laws that you are. Now that Section 508 references WCAG 2.0 standards I'm written directly into the law! That's right, CC, it's time for AD to share the spotlight!"

Are you looking for an online community where you can learn more about accessible social media practices? Join the Facebook group I created! Accessible Social is a group dedicated to helping anyone working in social media, marketing, public relations, communications, or advertising learn more about accessibility best practices for digital content. All are welcome!

Join the Group

Scroll Stoppers

These bits of wisdom and insightful reads made me immediately stop scrolling. Hopefully, they get your brain fired up as well.

Ginny & Tonic 🥤 @GinnyAndT

It's #DisabilityPrideMonth and all I'm going to say is - Hire disabled people - Pay disabled people - Promote disabled people - Represent disabled people - Platform disabled people - Include disabled people - Support disabled people That's it.

Rachel Charlton-Dailey @RachelCDailey

Ableism and disability shouldn't make you sad or pity us. It should make you angry to see the way disabled people are treated #DisabilityPrideMonth

Dominick Evans @dominickevans

It's been 31 fuckin years since the Americans with Disabilities Act has passed and all of you reading this have benefited from it. Accessibility benefits everyone even you nondisabled folks – because you use curb cuts, elevators, and all the other stuff that the ADA has provided.

sarah o'brien @Sarahmarieob

When you realise that needs aren’t special or additional and are in fact just access needs, which everyone has, you break down some of the stigma that society builds up. Some people have more access needs than others and generally good access is just good practice.

Sommer Panage @Sommer

This is your app without VoiceOver support. Don’t be this app! #accessibility

Screenshot. Blank white screen with center text, “Image.” Under image text are 3 buttons which each say “button.” At the bottom are three tabs, each tabled, “tab.”

Mark Your Calendar

August 24–25: I’ll be speaking at the State of Social conference in Australia again this year! My dear friend Meg Coffey asked me back, and my session will be pre-recorded (because hello time difference). Snag a ticket if you can!