Peter Armstrong from Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) spoke about website and social media accessibility during the JOIN inclusive employment conference in Toronto on Dec. 6, 2016.

1. For an accessible world.

2. Accessible Media
If media isn’t inclusive, it’s not
social media

3. AGENDA
• Accessible Media: Who we are
• Redesign of AMI.ca
• Accessible social media
• Future of accessible video content
• Questions

4. Accessible Media: Who We Are
• Canadian non-profit national cross-platform
media organization
• Local offices from coast-to-coast serving
over five million Canadians with disabilities
• Focus on blind and low vision community

5. Accessible Media: Research
• AMI Research Panel is comprised of over
1,100 Canadians who are blind or partially
sighted
• Focus groups, online and phone interviews
• Research results guide AMI’s programming
and platform priorities

6. Video/Audio Description
• Narration of visual onscreen elements
• Costumes, settings and body language
• Leverages gaps in dialogue

7. Video
Watch: We Believe in an Accessible World

8. Website Accessibility
Redesign of AMI.ca

9. Former AMI.ca

10. Redesigned AMI.ca

11. ITERACTIVE
DEVELOPMENT
• Test early, test often
• Listen, learn and adjust

12. USER
EXPERIENCE
• AMI.ca website should be a joyful,
meaningful and seamless experience to all
users
• Social media should be equally inclusive

13. Accessible Social Media
If media isn’t inclusive, it’s not
social media

14. Accessible Social Media
Our audience wants the same media experience
as everyone else … to consume content at the
time and on the device of their choosing
• What does “socially accessible” mean?

15. 82%
Have internet access
*Source: AMI Research Panel

16. 76%
Want “on-demand” access to content
*Source: AMI Research Panel

17. 86%
Use YouTube to find and consume content
*Source: AMI Research Panel

18. 74%
Are active Facebook users
*Source: AMI Research Panel

19. 81%
Want information about media accessibility,
tools and best practices
*Source: AMI Research Panel

20. Accessible Social Media: Tools
• AMI leading by example
• Described and curated accessible video on
YouTube and AMI.ca
• Alternative text for images

21. Kelly’s Twitter Accessibility Story

22. Alternative Text on Twitter
Launched this spring
• Only able to add via mobile app
• Assistive technology users couldn’t
add alt text for their own images
• Not a mandatory field for photos

23. Accessible Social Media
• Mainstreaming accessibility
• Social Media Week
• SXSW: United Nations’
#SXgood

24. Future of Accessible Video: Hub
• AMI websites should be a joyful, meaningful
and seamless experience for all users
• Social media should be equally inclusive
• YouTube = hub for creating accessible video

25. Closed Captions Start on YouTube

26. Value of Quality Closed Captions
• Brand reputation
• Re-purpose YouTube
CC across platforms
• ROI

27. What is the Future of
Accessible Video?
Differentiate Your Brand

28. Future of Accessible Video: Evolution
• Evolving user consumption habits
• Accurate captions increase video views
• YouTube Accessibility Summit demonstrates
strength of online accessibility community

29. Video
Watch: YouTube Accessibility Summit

30. Future of Accessible Video: Benefits
• Removes isolation and builds communities
• Improved SEO and unintended benefits
• ROI: Prepare brand for growing demographic

31. Partnerships – Online Advocacy
• Weekly Twitter
chats with global
accessibility
leaders:
#AXSChat

32. What can Employers do?
• Test with real uses and recruit expertise from PwDs
• Prioritize accessibility at the beginning of every web
and social media project
• Develop workflows and training to ensure website
and social media content is always accessible

33. What can Job Seekers do?
• Network within accessibility communities: a11yTO
meetup group, online chats and forums
• Mentors and information interviews
• Define your personal brand as leader in accessibility
and inclusion

34. We’re here to help
• AMI: committed to an accessible world
• Create accessible video and social media content
• Share research, expertise and best practices
• Seek partnerships

35. Video
Watch: K9-Online
For those with vision loss, navigating the
Internet can be a challenge. K9-Online
believes it has the solution!

36. Continue the Conversation
Peter Armstrong, Manager, Digital Content, AMI
Peter.Armstrong@ami.ca, @PeterBArmstrong
Learn more: AMI.ca/media-accessibility