Making your social media posts accessible and inclusive: How to do it and why it's important.

"Before hitting post on Instagram, do you think about how accessible your post is? Did you include closed captions, descriptive alternative text for photos or use dyslexia-friendly fonts? If not, then it's time to consider how to make your posts more inclusive. Imagine if someone who is deaf or hard of hearing comes across your TikTok. Without captions, they have no way to follow along. Or think about someone who is visually impaired. Could a clear image description help them better understand your Instagram post?"

"When producing visual content, graphics or statements, it's important to think about how easy it is to see, read and interpret your content. Visual accessibility can help make a difference for people with low vision, colorblindness or reading difficulties. Use high contrast colors between image and visual content. Avoid text-heavy images or ensure text is large and easy to read. Use simple, clear visuals and avoid flashing content. Use dyslexia-friendly fonts."

"Screen readers use descriptive alternative text to describe content and purpose of an image for those who can not visually see the image. Add custom alt text in Instagram's advanced settings (Settings > Accessibility > Write Alt Text). Describe what's important in the image, not every detail. Keep alt text concise and objective, less than 100 characters if possible. Captions are a great tool to communicate with an audience, but it is important that captions are not confusing or overwhelming to different kinds of audiences."

Accessible social media posts improve usability for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired, colorblind, or have reading difficulties. Use high-contrast colors, large readable text, simple visuals, and dyslexia-friendly fonts to enhance visual accessibility. Add concise, objective alt text that highlights important image elements and stays under 100 characters when possible. Provide clear, descriptive captions and ensure captions are not confusing or overwhelming. Consider accessibility practices for both organizational and personal content to broaden audience reach and inclusion.

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