Did you know that one in six people worldwide experiences a disability?
That’s a lot of people, and each one is different. So in order to be an inclusive business, we need to look at the experiences of people who interact with us and work out how to remove any barriers, to create accessible branding.
What does accessibility mean?
accessibility.blog.co.uk says:
“Accessibility means that people can do what they need to do in a similar amount of time and effort as someone that does not have a disability.”
Imagine not being able to read the text on a website, or hear what’s said in a super-informative video that you want to watch. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
According to the University of Rochester in the US, the most common disabilities are:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Learning Disabilities
- Mobility Disabilities
- Medical Disabilities
- Psychiatric Disabilities
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Visual Impairments
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Concussion
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
This list is wide-ranging so it can be difficult to imagine how we can make it straightforward for EVERYONE.
I decided I needed help with all this, but luckily I have great people right here in the same building as me!
I went to the Maker Lab at the DMC01* and found out how to remove barriers to accessibility by using captions, audio, video recording, and so much more!
What can I do?
Here’s a quick rundown of a few of the changes that we can all make to become more accessible…
- make sure the font, size and colour of the text you use is legible.
- add alt text to your images.
- offer audio descriptions of documents.
- use video.
- include captions on your videos.
Is that it?
Nope! Accessibility isn’t just about what you put on your website or your socials – the way you work can be more accessible too!
For example, I recently worked with a client who told me he was autistic. He said he could get overwhelmed by too much visual stimulation. Flicking through a Pantone colour swatch to choose his brand colours was not right for him, so I displayed some colour choices in a different way which was easier for him to digest, and we sailed through that part of the process!
I was so pleased that he shared this information because it meant that I could lead him through the project in a way that was relaxed and comfortable for him. It highlighted that my clients’ enjoyment of the process is really important to me.
Now, I know there is no single way to suit everybody’s needs. It would be super-complicated trying to solve everything with one blanket solution.
I would like Black Bee Creative to be an accessible brand, so if you work with me, please don’t be shy in sharing any suggestions for how I can be more accommodating – I like to be flexible in the way I work. I love the fact that each project is as individual as my clients are!
Accessible branding
I’d like to weave what I’ve learned through my business, so it’s part of my brand.
I intend to assess how I do things. Now, I’m not Wonder Woman, so don’t expect huge changes or perfection overnight! But take my word for it that I will be trying my best, which, at the end of the day, is all any of us can do!
What do you do to be accessible? Drop me a line – I’d love to hear about it, so I can learn from you too!
*If you’d like to learn more about making your business more accessible, get in touch with DMC Maker Lab. The workshops are part of the Digital Innovation for Growth Programme which offers 12 hours of fully funded access to the Maker Lab and Creator Lab, and the opportunity to work with Sheffield Hallam University’s academic experts. The programme is available for SMEs across Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham, as well as Chesterfield, North-East Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales, Bolsover, and Bassetlaw.