Inclusive Public Relations

Accessibility resources all comms pros should bookmark (including this blog!)

May 18 2023 marks the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day. For comms professionals, accessibility continues to increase in importance. From inclusive language to tools for accessible meetings there are now many fantastic resources to ensure our communications and PR campaigns are as inclusive as possible.

This post aims to include as many links as possible, broken down by area (e.g. inclusive language) or subject. My goal is to keep updating this list as new tools become available or existing ones change. Bookmark it to keep it on hand when you’re looking for accessibility tools and resources.

Inclusive Language resources

CIPR – Inclusive Language Guide (disclosure: I wrote this guide.)

Business Disability Forum – A global guide to the language of disability

Dictionary of ableist phrases (regularly updated)

Scope – The Social Model of Disability and language

Disability Wales – Inclusive language and imagery

LinkedIn – How do you foster a culture of inclusivity and respect in your workplace through your language choices?

Google – Developer tools – inclusive language

Web accessibility resources

Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) – Guidelines

Advice on using overlays for accessibility – Scope and Accessible web

Web accessibility testing – Scope and Accessible web

Laws relating to web accessibility (UK) – Accessibility.com

Meeting accessibility

One thing to note here, the tools listed are helpful in terms of accessibility but please don’t rely on software in place of skilled live captioners and interpreters for online events. Almost all automated caption tools are not yet good enough to provide an accurate and equitable experience.

Fireflies.ai – Meeting transcripts, audio capture and summary of key points from meetings.

Otter.ai – Automated meeting transcription and notes service

Rev.com – Add captions to video (including recorded meetings) and get transcripts of meetings.

Hear Me Out! – How to organise and run an awesome deaf accessible virtual event guide.

Inclusive imagery

Media Trust – Where to find free diverse and inclusive stock images for your charity

Disability:IN – Disability Inclusive Stock Photography

Activity Alliance – Picture yourself active stock photography

Stock Photo Secrets – Disability images for inclusive design

Affect the verb – Disabled and here collection (focus on disabled Black, Indigenous, People of Colour)

Pexels – Free disability photos

Canva – Free disability photos

Document accessibility

Adobe – How to create an accessible pdf

Gov.uk – Publishing accessible documents

Scope – Making word documents accessible

Fresh Spectrum – Accessibility in Canva

Social media accessibility

Gov.uk – Planning, creating and publishing accessible social media campaigns

RNIB – Guide to Accessible Social Media

Hootsuite – Social media accessibility – inclusive design tips for 2023

Scope – Accessible social media guide

European disability forum – Accessible social media toolkit

Accessible social – Resource hub for digital marketers

General accessibility and inclusion tools

Google – Live Transcribe extension

CIPR – New EDI Guides (disclosure: I worked on these guides as part of my volunteering commitment with the CIPR)

Upcoming accessibility tools to look out for

Apple accessibility tools – Apple accessibility previews

Something missing?

Know of an awesome tool or resource for improving disability inclusion in public relations that needs to be added to this list? Email me and let me know where it needs to go.