At Memria we often raise the question of who “listens” to stories that are collected. With our partner Invisible Giants, we ask a similar question: how to make the invisible visible. But “listening” and “visibility” are both metaphors and woefully imprecise ones, at that, especially for, respectively, deaf or hearing-impaired people or blind or visually impaired individuals, for whom we (and our partners) absolutely want to make stories as accessible as possible. In many projects, we are working with partners to help make stories accessible to multiple communities with auditory, visual, or physical disabilities. We are learning more and more about how to do this, and do it well.
Collecting stories is the (relatively) easy part of the equation, although there are also often impediments to being broadly inclusive at this stage of the process too.
But if a tree falls in the forest … In other words, if a partner organization such as a library or museum collects, say, 300 stories in audio formats from their community but no one actually listens to these stories, then something about the project has probably fallen short of expectations. Indeed, many storytellers only choose to record their stories if they believe that someone, at some time, will listen or see them. This is why our tools and methods emphasize storylistening and storysharing.
As we begin to build Biografika, moreover, we are building accessibility and inclusion into the platform from Day One.
The Challenges of Digital Media
Too many people are unaware of very basic ways that digital media is not accessible to people with disabilities, and they are also unaware of how easy this can be to fix, in many cases. (Note: join us for a webinar on this topic on July 24th, 2024).
Digital media, including websites and social media platforms, is integral to modern communication, education, and entertainment. However, for many disabled individuals, accessing this media remains a significant challenge. The reasons for this include:
Lack of Accessible Content: The core issue lies in the absence of universally accessible content on digital platforms. Many websites and social media networks are not designed with accessibility in mind, making navigation difficult for those with visual, auditory, or physical disabilities.
Visual Content: For visually impaired users, the digital media landscape is fraught with obstacles. Visual content such as images, videos, and GIFs often lacks alternative text (alt-text), making it inaccessible via screen readers. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have started integrating features that allow users to add alt-text, but adoption is not widespread.
Inconsistent User Interfaces: The complexity and inconsistency of user interfaces on different platforms can pose significant challenges, especially for individuals with cognitive disabilities. Frequent changes to layouts and functionalities without clear communication can disrupt the user experience and accessibility.
Auditory Content: For those with hearing impairments, videos or audio content that lacks captions or sign language interpretation remains inaccessible. This limits their ability to engage fully with media, which is increasingly reliant on sound.
Some Solutions to Enhance Accessibility
Implementing and Enforcing Web Accessibility Standards: Adhering to international web accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), can dramatically improve accessibility. These guidelines provide a framework for creating web content that is accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities.
Development of Accessible Content by Default: Social media platforms and website creators can incorporate accessibility features as a default setting. Features like automatic alt-text for images using AI, and prompts reminding users to include captions in videos, can make a significant difference.
Enhanced Customization Features: Allowing users to customize their interface according to their needs, such as changing text sizes, contrast modes, and layout preferences, can accommodate a broader spectrum of disabilities.
Regular Accessibility Audits: Platforms should conduct regular accessibility audits and involve disabled users in the testing phases to ensure all features are user-friendly and accessible. Feedback from these users is crucial in identifying and rectifying accessibility barriers.
Community and Developer Education: Raising awareness about the importance of digital accessibility through workshops, online courses, and resources can motivate and educate developers and content creators about the need for inclusive design.
Policy and Regulation: Government regulations can play a pivotal role in ensuring digital media complies with accessibility standards. Laws that require digital media to be accessible can drive systemic change across platforms.
Conclusion
The digital divide for disabled individuals remains a significant issue despite advancements in technology. By recognizing the challenges and implementing robust solutions, developers, content creators, and policymakers can ensure digital media is accessible to all. This not only enhances the user experience for disabled individuals but also enriches the digital ecosystem with a diversity of perspectives and interactions.
by Louis Bickford