How can I make my tweets accessible?
Twitter is dedicated to improving it's user's accessibility and has built their site with a number of accessibility features already. It is, however, your responsibility that you use these tools to increase your accessibility. With some key take aways, and come awareness about accessible design, you can craft more inclusive tweets.
1. Add alt text to your images
Adding alt text to your images makes it so screen reader users can still understand the entirety of your tweet even if they can't access the image itself. Follow Twitter's advise on improving your images alt text.
2. Use good color contrast for your graphics
Having good color contrast is very important for making sure low vision and color blind users can still see an image in context. Make sure to double check that any images associated with your tweets meet color contrast guidelines.
Learn more about color contrast.
3. Limit your emojis
When a screen reader encounters an emoji, it speaks the entirety of the emoji's name. Though this does increase accessibility, it can become very annoying or difficult for screen reader users to navigate through. Keeping your emoji's limited helps improve this experience.
What do emoji's sounds like on a screen reader?
4. Use CamelCase hashtags
When using hashtags, it is considered best practice to write them in a CamelCase style. CamelCase is the practice of making the first letter of each word in a hashtag have an uppercase letter. This allows screen readers to understand how words are separated in a hashtag, while also making it easier for sighted users to read as well.
#thisisntaccessible, but #ThisIsAccessible
What do hashtags sound like using a screen reader?
5. Write in plain language
Minimize your use of jargon, unnecessary technical lingo, and make your information as simple to understand as possible. You are reaching a wide audience with only so many characters to spare - choose them wisely.
Learn more about plain language.
Additional Resources
Accessibility at Twitter - Twitter
Still Need Help?
Let us know! We are happy to help you make your social media more accessible.
Please contact accessibility@uada.edu
