Substack offers so much to and for, those of us with a history of being excluded for a wide range of reasons.
A lack of awareness and not being included in discussions so that decisions have been made for us, but ‘without us’ continues.
I really appreciate the time, knowledge and work that has gone into this piece, and hope it starts an important discussion that the Substack founders read and respond to.
A few other suggestions I would add are:
Always include recordings, especially of workshops and courses offered to paid subscribers. I need to watch everything in small chunks, and will often listen and read a transcript too.
Related to this, please make it clear in all information sent out, and at the start of a class that everyone can attend in the way that is best, most comfortable and safest, for them…for example, I will always need to have my camera off.
I appreciate those who already do this, but still too often have to explain why this is. It is so often assumed that it’s due to some kind of camera shyness. It isn’t, it’s due to how the neurological impact of my conditions affect how my eyes track and process movement.
At it’s mildest it causes motion sickness, but that can trigger a cascade of other responses throughout my body and nervous system, that at it’s most severe has caused blackouts. Having to explain this is both exhausting, and though not intended, it is intrusive, and othering.
I have learned how to manage this through very hard experience, as I know many others living with chronic illnesses have, and I would now like to not have to explain, or be put under pressure.
Inclusion and equality of access makes good business sense too. There are millions of us worldwide waiting for this illusion of ‘normal’ to become history, and to finally have the freedom of access and opportunity so many take for granted.
I know exactly what you mean about camera off. I do it too. I'd also love the option of NOT going into break-out rooms in workshops and meetings. Context-switching is tough for a lot of us, especially adding in the extra social expectations.
I'm also waiting for this illusion of ‘normal’ to become history. I hope it arrives soon!...
I’m completely with you about break out rooms, I’ve come to dread them, but love being tucked in the waiting room so I can rest. Zoom brought so many benefits and awareness is definitely increasing. Being given the option makes such a huge difference and I find it takes a lot of the stress out of attending Live calls
That's exactly it, It's being given the option. Some people love them which is great. Others really struggle with them. Being pushed into them makes an otherwise enjoyable experience feel awful.
🥹 Thankyou Jaimie! I try and remind folks about cameras on or off every other time but I will do this every-time now. I’ll also re curate this and add into the article. ✨✨✨
You’re brilliant at flagging it up and so many others are too 💕 I added it in case it may be useful for anyone creating their Substack now, or just as an additional perspective that may be more generally useful, as the piece is shared
So appreciate this awareness for things I hadn’t thought about.
I’m particularly sensitive to anything flashing as well as GIFS, also long paragraphs make me sad that I’m missing out on someone’s brilliance because I literally can’t read them, they make me nauseous!
This is a really great article with a lot of things to consider and I am 100% with you on the plea to stop flashing images! One thing I have struggled to find (I am probably missing something really obvious) is how to add alt text to photos on notes. If anyone can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.
Thank you Kelly, I'm glad you found it helpful :-)
I'm not sure about adding alt text to a picture on notes. I haven't seen that function anywhere. For the desktop version you click on the three dots in the top right corner of the image and select "Edit alt text". Then enter your text and click "OK". I haven't figured out how to make this work for notes though. I'll keep checking back because I'd love to know how to do it too!
Accessibility is challenge because it forces to reconsider things many of us take for granted. I sort of knew that a yellow or yellow-tinged background makes writing easier to read for people with dyslexia and dyspraxia (but my branding all has a white background!) , but a website guru pointed out to a webinar that I was in a couple of days back pointed out that that is true for web pages too. And I didn’t know that centred paragraphs are really hard to read for people with dyslexia; left-justified text is easier.
I've found there's always something more to learn and do in regards to accessibility. It's a continual learning curve!
I have dyslexia, but I cannot look at a yellow-tinged screen, even though that's the general recommendation. I keep mine white because that's what works for my own needs, but I'm also aware that it might not be helping others who also experience dyslexia. As Claire said, we're all just doing the best we can :-)
This is a wonderful WONDERFUL WONDERFUL post. Thank you Jo and Claire.
I am so with you Claire about flashing glyfs...oh my! they affect me so much I just leave straight away. The article could be amazing, however I am gone as soon as the flashing comes.
I have just recorded my 41st meditation podcast and always turned the transcript off...Now though, I will go back and turn them all on! Maybe I can hear my words, yet maybe someone else is unable too, or maybe someone else prefers to read rather than listen. Thank you for that reminder.
Attending video courses live is an interesting thing for me particularly if it is recorded. I really like the live aspect of the call, I really like to be in the space and connect, ask questions etc however I am conscious that in most cases the call gets put up on multiple platforms and I find that an invasion of my privacy. I am unsure how to go about that. If anyone has any ideas on how I can attend live calls and feel safe that would help me.
Hi Sam, thank you so much. I'm really glad you found it valuable :-)
I know what you mean about safety around live calls being disseminated widely. Like Claire said, perhaps let the host know what you're comfortable with in terms of sharing the recording afterwards.
To feel safer I almost always keep my camera off and rarely add anything more than my first name. I also ask questions via the chat function that you get on Zoom/Teams so I can participate but not feel 'in the spotlight'. It feels a bit more protected that way.
Hi Sam... with this I do a couple of things. My replays are only for members so if you see it on youtube it's unlisted / unsearchable there. Every few calls I stop recording and do mentoring at the end. You can ALWAYS assume your needs are reasonable and ask the host?
Check out my a-z. My top tip is to use apple plug in headphones and open a separate window to read from because the recording pop up blocks your words.
Yeah - just press the 3 dots - it won't give you the option after edit to send it round anyway. The only way you could send it round is to duplicate it so you're safe, x
Substack offers so much to and for, those of us with a history of being excluded for a wide range of reasons.
A lack of awareness and not being included in discussions so that decisions have been made for us, but ‘without us’ continues.
I really appreciate the time, knowledge and work that has gone into this piece, and hope it starts an important discussion that the Substack founders read and respond to.
A few other suggestions I would add are:
Always include recordings, especially of workshops and courses offered to paid subscribers. I need to watch everything in small chunks, and will often listen and read a transcript too.
Related to this, please make it clear in all information sent out, and at the start of a class that everyone can attend in the way that is best, most comfortable and safest, for them…for example, I will always need to have my camera off.
I appreciate those who already do this, but still too often have to explain why this is. It is so often assumed that it’s due to some kind of camera shyness. It isn’t, it’s due to how the neurological impact of my conditions affect how my eyes track and process movement.
At it’s mildest it causes motion sickness, but that can trigger a cascade of other responses throughout my body and nervous system, that at it’s most severe has caused blackouts. Having to explain this is both exhausting, and though not intended, it is intrusive, and othering.
I have learned how to manage this through very hard experience, as I know many others living with chronic illnesses have, and I would now like to not have to explain, or be put under pressure.
Inclusion and equality of access makes good business sense too. There are millions of us worldwide waiting for this illusion of ‘normal’ to become history, and to finally have the freedom of access and opportunity so many take for granted.
Thank you Jaimie, these are such good points.
I know exactly what you mean about camera off. I do it too. I'd also love the option of NOT going into break-out rooms in workshops and meetings. Context-switching is tough for a lot of us, especially adding in the extra social expectations.
I'm also waiting for this illusion of ‘normal’ to become history. I hope it arrives soon!...
I never do break outs as I personally dislike them. I feel like it’s so unclear who is in charge.
Yes, it's something else to have to figure out...
I’m completely with you about break out rooms, I’ve come to dread them, but love being tucked in the waiting room so I can rest. Zoom brought so many benefits and awareness is definitely increasing. Being given the option makes such a huge difference and I find it takes a lot of the stress out of attending Live calls
That's exactly it, It's being given the option. Some people love them which is great. Others really struggle with them. Being pushed into them makes an otherwise enjoyable experience feel awful.
Yes I have waiting room on and also like that feature.
🥹 Thankyou Jaimie! I try and remind folks about cameras on or off every other time but I will do this every-time now. I’ll also re curate this and add into the article. ✨✨✨
You’re brilliant at flagging it up and so many others are too 💕 I added it in case it may be useful for anyone creating their Substack now, or just as an additional perspective that may be more generally useful, as the piece is shared
This is very much appreciated. Specific fonts for easier reading and contrasts with background color is huge.
I enjoy adding audio for all my posts and describe the photos. It gives me some liberty to add other details that come up as I’m reading my post.
Providing accessibility to everyone is what makes this community so powerful and connected.
Thank you!❤️
Thank you, Janine. It's lovely to find out what others do too, and learn different ways to improve access :-)
Aw you’re welcome. Thank you for being here. ✨✨
So appreciate this awareness for things I hadn’t thought about.
I’m particularly sensitive to anything flashing as well as GIFS, also long paragraphs make me sad that I’m missing out on someone’s brilliance because I literally can’t read them, they make me nauseous!
Same!! I love that we are having these convos now
Brilliant tips thank Claire - colour contrast is one of the biggest issues I see especially in traditional social media and email marketing
Same - I really struggle with it.
This is a really great article with a lot of things to consider and I am 100% with you on the plea to stop flashing images! One thing I have struggled to find (I am probably missing something really obvious) is how to add alt text to photos on notes. If anyone can point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.
Thank you Kelly, I'm glad you found it helpful :-)
I'm not sure about adding alt text to a picture on notes. I haven't seen that function anywhere. For the desktop version you click on the three dots in the top right corner of the image and select "Edit alt text". Then enter your text and click "OK". I haven't figured out how to make this work for notes though. I'll keep checking back because I'd love to know how to do it too!
Accessibility is challenge because it forces to reconsider things many of us take for granted. I sort of knew that a yellow or yellow-tinged background makes writing easier to read for people with dyslexia and dyspraxia (but my branding all has a white background!) , but a website guru pointed out to a webinar that I was in a couple of days back pointed out that that is true for web pages too. And I didn’t know that centred paragraphs are really hard to read for people with dyslexia; left-justified text is easier.
It’s complex. Not a white background saves the planet too. I wrote about it on Creatively Conscious - we are all just doing our best. 💞
Thank you for your comment, Julie :-)
I've found there's always something more to learn and do in regards to accessibility. It's a continual learning curve!
I have dyslexia, but I cannot look at a yellow-tinged screen, even though that's the general recommendation. I keep mine white because that's what works for my own needs, but I'm also aware that it might not be helping others who also experience dyslexia. As Claire said, we're all just doing the best we can :-)
I appreciate your input Jo
This is a wonderful WONDERFUL WONDERFUL post. Thank you Jo and Claire.
I am so with you Claire about flashing glyfs...oh my! they affect me so much I just leave straight away. The article could be amazing, however I am gone as soon as the flashing comes.
I have just recorded my 41st meditation podcast and always turned the transcript off...Now though, I will go back and turn them all on! Maybe I can hear my words, yet maybe someone else is unable too, or maybe someone else prefers to read rather than listen. Thank you for that reminder.
Attending video courses live is an interesting thing for me particularly if it is recorded. I really like the live aspect of the call, I really like to be in the space and connect, ask questions etc however I am conscious that in most cases the call gets put up on multiple platforms and I find that an invasion of my privacy. I am unsure how to go about that. If anyone has any ideas on how I can attend live calls and feel safe that would help me.
Thank you again, Claire and Jo.
Hi Sam, thank you so much. I'm really glad you found it valuable :-)
I know what you mean about safety around live calls being disseminated widely. Like Claire said, perhaps let the host know what you're comfortable with in terms of sharing the recording afterwards.
To feel safer I almost always keep my camera off and rarely add anything more than my first name. I also ask questions via the chat function that you get on Zoom/Teams so I can participate but not feel 'in the spotlight'. It feels a bit more protected that way.
Hi Sam... with this I do a couple of things. My replays are only for members so if you see it on youtube it's unlisted / unsearchable there. Every few calls I stop recording and do mentoring at the end. You can ALWAYS assume your needs are reasonable and ask the host?
These are some very useful tips, thanks so much! I'm going to try adding audio to my posts!
Thank you Michelle :-)
Yes give it a try. I do have more posts on how to help with that if you need those.
Oh, perfect! I'll look for those.
Check out my a-z. My top tip is to use apple plug in headphones and open a separate window to read from because the recording pop up blocks your words.
Good to know about the headphones. I'm off to check your a-z.
Good tip! Thanks Claire :-)
✨✨
Thank you for this. Very inspiring. Is there a way of editing an old post without sending it round everyone on your list?
Yeah - just press the 3 dots - it won't give you the option after edit to send it round anyway. The only way you could send it round is to duplicate it so you're safe, x
Thanks for bringing up this topic Claire. I will from now on think about accessibility for all my Substack works.