How can you assess the inclusivity and accessibility of a video production?

1 What is inclusivity and accessibility?

Inclusivity and accessibility are related but distinct concepts that refer to how well your video production accommodates the needs, preferences, and identities of diverse viewers. Inclusivity means that your video respects and represents the diversity of your audience, such as their culture, gender, race, age, ability, and background. Accessibility means that your video is easy to access and understand for people with different abilities, such as hearing, vision, cognition, or mobility impairments.

2 Why are they important?

Inclusivity and accessibility are important for several reasons. First, they can help you reach a wider and more diverse audience, and increase the impact and engagement of your video. Second, they can help you avoid potential pitfalls, such as stereotyping, bias, discrimination, or exclusion, that can harm your reputation and credibility as a media producer. Third, they can help you comply with ethical and legal standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), that require you to make your video accessible for people with disabilities.

3 How to assess inclusivity?

Assessing the inclusivity of your video production requires you to consider how your video portrays and includes different groups and perspectives. You should ask yourself questions such as: who are the main characters of your video and how do they reflect the diversity of your audience? Additionally, consider how you use language, tone, and style to communicate with your audience without using offensive or insensitive words or expressions. Visuals, such as images, graphics, colors, and fonts can create a positive and inclusive impression for your video. Audio elements like music, sound effects, and voice-overs should be used to enhance the mood and message of your video. Avoid using sounds that might be culturally inappropriate or insensitive. Finally, think about how editing techniques such as transitions, cuts, and effects can create a coherent and engaging narrative for your video without confusing or alienating your audience.

4 How to assess accessibility?

Assessing the accessibility of your video production requires you to consider how your video can be accessed and understood by people with different abilities. To do this, you can use captions and subtitles, which are text versions of the audio content that appear on the screen, helping people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who speak a different language to follow your video. Audio description is another tool, which is a narration that describes the visual content of your video and can help people who are blind or have low vision, or who have cognitive or learning difficulties, to understand your video. Transcripts are text versions of the entire content of your video that can help people who have trouble accessing or viewing your video, or who prefer to read rather than watch your video. Finally, there are keyboard and mouse alternatives such as voice commands, touch screens, or switches which can help people who have physical or motor impairments, or who use assistive devices, to control your video.

5 How to get feedback?

One of the best ways to assess the inclusivity and accessibility of your video production is to get feedback from your audience and from experts. You can use different methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, or usability tests, to collect and analyze the opinions and experiences of your viewers. You can also consult with professionals, such as media consultants, accessibility specialists, or diversity and inclusion experts, to get advice and guidance on how to improve your video production. Feedback can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your video, and make changes and adjustments to enhance its inclusivity and accessibility.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?