BBP 107: Accessibility Myths Busted: What You Need to Know with Erin Perkins

Shownotes:

In this episode of the Blogger Breakthrough Summit podcast, Liz Stapleton and Erin Perkins emphasize the significance of accessibility in blogging. They caution against using accessibility overlays, which can interfere with personal setups of people with disabilities, and advocate for building accessible websites from the beginning. Erin shares practical advice on making websites accessible without needing to code, listen to learn how!

Synopsis

Today, we’re diving into an often-overlooked yet crucial topic: accessibility on your blog. Trust me, making your blog accessible is not only the right thing to do but also a smart move to grow your audience. With insights from the wonderful Erin Perkins, let’s explore how to make your blog more inclusive and user-friendly.

The Importance of Accessibility

Accessibility isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. As Erin Perkins points out, many people rely on screen readers and other assistive technologies. Ignoring accessibility means potentially alienating a significant portion of your audience. 

But there is something you shouldn’t do when focusing on accessibility…..

Erin strongly advises against using accessibility overlays on your website. These are often marketed as quick fixes but can interfere with the customized setups that people with disabilities already use. Instead, focus on building accessibility into your website from the ground up.

Building an Accessible Website from the Start

I can relate to the challenges of retrofitting accessibility into an existing blog. Trust me, it’s easier to build it in from the beginning. Erin and I both had our share of learning moments, like using headings based on appearance rather than functionality. 

The key is to start with the basics and build from there. Here are a few ways to do that:

• Use Proper Headings: Don’t just create graphics that look like headings. Use actual heading tags to help tech understand the topics and subtopics on the page to ensure they are readable by screen readers.
• Check Mobile Compatibility: Make sure your site looks good and functions well on both desktop and mobile devices. Most platforms, like Squarespace, offer easy ways to do this without coding.
• Alt Text for Images: Always include descriptive alt text for your images. This helps screen readers describe the content to visually impaired users.

Understanding WCAG Guidelines

If you need more help understanding accessibility the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a great resource. While it may seem intimidating, it’s there to help. Think of it as a rulebook for creating accessible websites. Start with the basics and gradually incorporate more advanced elements as you go.

Bottom Line

Making your blog accessible is both a moral and strategic decision. By following these tips and focusing on inclusivity from the start, you can create a more welcoming space for all readers. Remember, accessibility is a journey, not a destination. Take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to revisit and improve your site as you learn more.

https://youtu.be/ThgIvqrO6Fw

Tools and Resources Mentioned

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Related Content

• BBP 105: 5 Accessibility Features You Can’t Afford to Miss with Ami Hook Ireland
• BBP 101: Why Creating Good Content Should Be Your #1 Focus as a Blogger (feat. Grayson Bell)

Transcript

[00:00:00].00] – Liz Stapleton

All right, welcome back to the Blogger Breakthrough Summit podcast. I’m your host, Liz Stapleton. And today we’re going to chat about something super important that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves: accessibility on your blog. Trust me, making your blog accessible is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a smart move to grow your audience. So with the help of the wonderful Erin Perkins, let’s dive in.

[00:00:26].22] – Erin Perkins

Screen readers are very commonly used used by a lot of people more than you realize. And so the one thing I am going to tell people, do not have accessibility overlaid on your website. That’s just a hard no. No accessibility overlay. The reason being, these companies are going to sell you on it. I’m going to be like, no, they’re going to charge you outrageous amount of money, It’s not a good thing because when you think about it, most people with disabilities, we have already created our own system for what works. We have our own setup. For me, for example, my setup was when I use this loop that I have around my neck, the black loop is stream stuff to my hearing aid, my cochlear implant, and it works for me. When I’m asked to wear a different iPhone, it’s not going to work for me because it’s not compatible. I’ve already created a system that works for me. The same thing true for a lot of people with disabilities. They may use only their keyboard because they can’t use a tracking pad or a mouse. Sometimes when you have an overlay, it interferes with the tech that they bought and set up for themselves because it worked well for them.

[00:02:02].23] – Erin Perkins

Overlays are literally a bandaid fix. If you want to think about it that way, they’re a bandaid fix. Those bandaid always fall off, don’t they? As you know, they sucks. So let’s not do that. Do it from the beginning. Build your website. Create access that way with your website. Don’t just slap on bandaid fixers….

[00:02:29].23] – Liz Stapleton

Yeah, and I will say, I think it’s easier to build an accessible website from the beginning than it is to go back and fix it. Because I’m definitely in that boat where I didn’t know any better when I started some of my websites. And I’m still, years later, being like, oh, wait, that is missing an alt text. Or my very first blog, do as I say, not as I do, I totally use for a while headings based on how they looked and not necessarily…

[00:02:59].24] – Erin Perkins

I did, too. 100%.

[00:03:03].11] – Erin Perkins

I think we all did. So the website, accessibility content, a tech building guideline, WCAG guideline, that is still a relatively new concept in terms of age. I don’t even know how long ago it came out, but that concept is still new. Honestly, it is really hard for a lot of people to understand. I like tech, but I’m not a super nerdy, all into coding. I don’t do any of that. I can’t do any of that. My brain doesn’t look like that. What I did was I went in and tried to learn so that I can turn around and teach all of you how to make your website accessible without even needing code. You don’t need code. You don’t need to need no code. You just need to know how to do certain things to ensure that it’s accessible. And you’re right, it is better to do it from the beginning. But if you have to take a step back, it’s okay. Yes.

[00:04:10].22] – Liz Stapleton

You said there are some certain things that people do need to know how to do without coding to make their site accessible? You want to give a couple of examples?

[00:04:21].14] – Erin Perkins

So one of the examples is you said that dropping in heading and maybe you would create a graphic so that it is your look. Don’t do that. Just find a good picture, resize it according to how it is, put in the text that you need, and then look at how it looks mobile versus desktop. That way you can see how it looks and make sure it flows on either one. You always want to check both sides. You want to make sure things are mobile-friendly. Most websites do allow you to push things up on either side. I use Squarespace. I don’t use any coding whatsoever. It’s literally like I can rearrange things on mobile and it doesn’t affect my desktop. I really like that. If you’re just starting out as a blogger, that’s something you might want to consider. How are things laid out so that you can be able to make it how you want it to look without throwing in all the things.

[00:05:33].15] – Liz Stapleton

Remember, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines might sound intimidating, but they’re here to help. They’re like the rulebook for creating accessible websites. Yes, it is a lot to take in, but you don’t have to be a coding genius to make your site more accessible. Start with the basics and build from there. Be sure to join us next time to learn all about tailoring your email automations.