Lauren Sherrard’s Post

A super quick guide to the difference between Alt Text and Image Descriptions. What each are for, and how/when to use them. I get asked about this a lot so whenever I see this mentioned and explained well, I'll always reshare a good post on this! Robbie Crow often shares great content like this, so be sure to give him a follow. Bonus tip - Alt Text helps your SEO! While your purposes and focus for using it should always be about inclusion and you should never SEO pack Alt Text, it's worth knowing that using it and being good at it will help your search rankings. This is something that's helpful to know what making the case to your colleagues or decision makers on whether or not Alt Text becomes standard practice in your organisations comms.

Really great and simple explanations from Robbie Crow on Alt Text

The difference between image descriptions and alt text:

Alt text vs image description - a very helpful summary. #InclusionMatters #accessibility

A lesson for how to handle (not just to answer) but to handle a question that is intended to unjustly corner you. (Please skip the topic although it is an important one for now focus on the approach and how the question was handled) Simply it became a storytelling session and he started involving us in it… now, we can see the characters of the story, feel their joy and then their sadness… their confusion and their desperation for help … I am sure at some point we all wanted to help them. By the end we all answered the question with them. #storytelling https://lnkd.in/g8N-edGk

In a world where suicide and suicidal ideation are often taboo topics, brave voices like Raine Crandall shed light on the experiences within the trans and queer communities. This article shares personal narratives, coping strategies, and moments of joy amidst the struggle. **Content warning: This article may be triggering for some readers but aims to offer insight, support, and resources for those dealing with similar issues. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gbWzP5hx #TransJoy #MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #transdayofvisibility

Agreement on #EuropeanDisability & #Parking #Cards https://lnkd.in/eHn3YGwn The European Commission welcomes political agreement between the European Parliament & the EU Member States on the Directive establishing the #EuropeanDisabilityCard and the #EuropeanParkingCard for persons with disabilities proposed by the Commission in 09/2023. These cards will ensure easier recognition of disability status and equal access to special conditions and preferential treatment across the EU, during short-term stays in other EU countries. They will facilitate the mobility of persons with disabilities. The Directive include: - Recognising the European Disability Card as proof of disability across the EU. During short-term stays in other EU countries, persons with disabilities will be guaranteed equal access to special conditions and preferential treatment with respect to public and private services, activities and facilities. This may include priority access, reduced fees, personal assistance, and braille or audio guides for transport, cultural events, museums, leisure and sport centres as well as amusement parks. The card complements existing national cards or certificates and acknowledges the role of each Member State in assessing disability status. - Providing European Parking Card holders with the same parking rights across the EU. The European Parking Card ensures equal access to designated reserved parking spaces and other parking conditions and facilities. It replaces the EU parking card for people with disabilities created on voluntary basis through a Council Recommendation. To address issues of inconsistent recognition across the EU, the improved European Parking Card uses a common binding template. It also includes security features to prevent forgery and fraud. - Requiring Member States to issue and renew the European Disability Card free of charge, in both physical format (with digital features) and in digital format. - Requiring Member States to issue and renew the European Parking Card free of charge, or for a small fee to cover the administrative costs, in a physical format with digital features. Each Member State may provide this card also in digital format. - Ensuring publicly accessible information on the conditions and procedures for obtaining these cards, as well as general information about the special conditions and preferential treatment offered to persons with disabilities. Each Member - State will establish a dedicated website for this purpose. In addition, the EU will also create a dedicated website linking to all national webpages. - Guaranteeing enforcement and compliance by empowering persons with disabilities and their representatives to take legal action under national law. Member States must establish mechanisms for these legal actions and implement fines and corrective measures for violations. European Disability Forum Fundación Academia Europea e Iberoamericana de Yuste

I've recently started to watch almost everything with subtitles. I've found it massively helps me to focus and I can process much more dialogue than I ever could before. It just goes to show that accessibility options work for different people in different ways. Subtitles designed for people with hearing difficulties can be just as helpful for those who brains process information a little differently. This is why accommodations should be available for everyone! (This article is from a couple of years ago but I just found it now.) https://lnkd.in/gmcA6iZE #Accessibility #Inclusivity #DisabilityInclusion

BBC News have done an important feature on the dangers of 'sextortion'. People with learning disabilities are more likely to be victims of sextortion, so I'm proud to have worked with SeeAbility to create an Easy Read version of the BBC article. BBC article on sextortion - easy read https://lnkd.in/eN6fZ6D4 Sextortion is when a person asks you to take personal photos of yourself and then demands money not to share them. The article features a story from a person with learning disabilities who reached out to SeeAbility for support when they were being 'sextorted'. It's heartbreaking and really important for people with learning disabilities to understand how to be safe online. BBC article: ‘I thought my life was over’: Escaping the sextortion scammers https://lnkd.in/egr954BG SeeAbility Easy Reads on staying safe online: https://lnkd.in/e_iNSTXy #EasyRead #Accessibility #Sextortion #SeeAbility #BBC #LearningDisabilities

🎥 Dive into this teaser video from 6 employees who share their inspiring personal story. Let's amplify the voices of individuals with disabilities and focus on what one can do rather than what one can't do. Join our journey to a barrier-free workplace. #MyCompany #InclusionMatters Tiffani Pfister