How can you stay on top of digital accessibility and inclusion trends?

1 Understand the basics

Before you dive into the trends, you need to understand the basics of digital accessibility and inclusion. Digital accessibility means that your content can be accessed and used by people with different abilities, preferences, and devices. Digital inclusion means that your content respects and represents the diversity of your audience, and does not exclude or discriminate anyone based on their identity, culture, or background. Both concepts are closely related and aim to create a more inclusive and equitable digital space.

2 Follow the guidelines

One of the best ways to stay on top of digital accessibility and inclusion trends is to follow the guidelines and standards that have been established by experts and organizations. For example, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a set of criteria and best practices for making web content accessible to people with disabilities. The Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB) provide a framework for assessing and improving your diversity and inclusion efforts. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your content meets the minimum requirements and follows the best practices for digital accessibility and inclusion.

3 Use the tools

Another way to stay on top of digital accessibility and inclusion trends is to use the tools and resources that are available to help you create and publish accessible and inclusive content. For example, you can use online tools like WebAIM, WAVE, or Lighthouse to check the accessibility of your web pages and identify any issues or errors. You can also use tools like Hemingway, Grammarly, or Readable to check the readability and clarity of your content and make it easier to understand. You can also use tools like Canva, Unsplash, or Pexels to find and create diverse and inclusive images and graphics for your content.

4 Learn from the experts

Another way to stay on top of digital accessibility and inclusion trends is to learn from the experts and leaders in the field. You can follow blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or social media accounts that share insights, tips, and updates on digital accessibility and inclusion. For example, you can follow blogs like A11y Project, Accessibility Insights, or Inclusive Design 24. You can also listen to podcasts like A11y Rules, The Inclusive Designers Podcast, or The Good Practice Podcast. You can also subscribe to newsletters like Accessibility Weekly, A11y Collective, or The Diversity Style Guide.

5 Join the community

Another way to stay on top of digital accessibility and inclusion trends is to join the community and network with other digital publishers who share your interest and passion. You can join online forums, groups, or platforms where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others. For example, you can join forums like Web Accessibility Initiative Community Group, Accessibility Slack, or Stack Overflow. You can also join groups like Digital Accessibility Professionals, A11y Meetup, or Inclusive Designers Network. You can also join platforms like Medium, LinkedIn, or Twitter where you can follow and interact with other digital publishers.

6 Experiment and iterate

Another way to stay on top of digital accessibility and inclusion trends is to experiment and iterate with your content and see what works and what doesn't. You can test your content with different users, devices, and scenarios and collect feedback and data. You can also use analytics, surveys, or reviews to measure the impact and performance of your content. You can also use A/B testing, prototyping, or user testing to compare and improve your content. By experimenting and iterating, you can learn from your mistakes, discover new opportunities, and optimize your content for digital accessibility and inclusion.

7 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?