What if accessibility was more than compliance?
In the field of audiovisual translation, accessibility is a central concern.
However, for me, accessibility is more than a professional obligation: it’s a fundamental value. It is the cornerstone of a society where everyone has equal access to spaces, information, and experiences.
The Importance of Simple and Clear Language
On Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), I had the opportunity to attend the Access Talks webinar.
The presentation of the iDEM Project EU was particularly interesting, highlighting that official forms and documents are often written in language that not everyone understands.
iDEM develops linguistic tools to help people with disabilities, the elderly, and migrants participate fully in democratic processes by overcoming language barriers.
This conference made me reflect on how unconscious biases can prevent us from truly understanding other people’s experiences. In fact, I had never seriously considered this issue before.
Yet, there are small things we can do to promote a more inclusive world.
Here are some suggestions.
Alternative Text (Alt Text) for Image Descriptions
Like captions in videos, Alt Text is essential for the accessibility of images on the internet. In my publications, I carefully choose photographs that enrich and add context to my writing. However, if we don’t describe them using Alt Text, people who use screen readers won’t have access to the full context.
Text Formatting with Special Characters
Some platforms, such as LinkedIn, do not allow text to be formatted in bold and italics directly. For this reason, many people choose to overcome this limitation by using special characters. This practice, however, can inadvertently create accessibility barriers.
Why?
For visually impaired readers who use screen readers, special characters pose a significant obstacle. Screen reading software reads these characters literally, resulting in meaningless text.
Canva Accessibility Tools
Many platforms offer accessibility features that help us ensure the documents we share on social media are accessible to all audiences. For example, when creating a carousel in Canva, we can analyse its accessibility. The application provides a report detailing the document’s accessibility issues and suggests solutions.
Does the chosen font colour have low contrast? Do the images lack alternative text? Are there decorative elements that don’t require a description? The solution is often quick and easy. The result is a document that can be read in its entirety by a screen reader.
Small Adjustments, Big Impact
Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that everyone has equal access to experiences and information. And, indeed, small adjustments can have a significant impact:
- Simplifying language in official documents to promote democratic participation
- Using Alt Text, so screen readers can accurately interpret images.
- Formatting text without special characters to ensure compatibility with screen readers.
- Using Canva’s accessibility features to create inclusive documents.
The practices I describe here focus mainly on spoken and written language.
Accessibility is undoubtedly a much broader and more complex issue.
Image by wirestock on Freepick