For each and every Global Accessibility Awareness Day (#GAAD) post a company puts out today, ask:
- Does the announcement page support basic accessibility considerations (underlined links, captioned videos, valid markup, etc.)?
- Does the announcement include alternative descriptions for its promotional images? And if so, do they sufficiently describe the image’s content?
- Are the social media announcements of the post accessible?
- Is there a public, written commitment and plan to support the announced initiatives after GAAD is done?
- Does the announcement use inspiration porn to communicate its message?
- Does the announcement prop up a disability dongle in an attempt to solutioneer something?
- Does the announcement tout a product that is designed for, and not with, or at the request of disabled people?
- Is that product prohibitively expensive, exclusive, or have no long-term support plan?
- Does the announcement try to use AI as a “solution” for disabled people?
- Does the announcement pressure the disclosure of disabled status and experience for one-day social media clout?
- Does the announcement have a paternal tone?
- Does the announcement use ableist language?
- Does the announcement de-center the disabled experience by trying to communicate in terms of value for all?
- Does the announcement de-center the disabled experience by trying to communicate value in terms of SEO benefits?
- Is there a public, written support from the C-level for the company’s commitment?
- Is there a public, published accessibility statement?
- Is the announcement from, or ghost written by an overlay company?
- Is the announcement an overlay company sock puppet account?
- Does the company provide material aid for overlay companies participating in reputation washing?
- Are there prematurely closed, downplayed, unaddressed, or openly ridiculed accessibility issues on their issue tracker?
- Does the company handle pointing out issues with prior negative behavior towards accessibility concerns with tone policing, or claims the critic should be grateful?
- Is the announcement published by an individual who has previously been hostile to accessibility work, both internally or on social media?
- Does the company’s DEI efforts include disability?
- Has the company laid off its DEI employees?
- Has the company fired its accessibility team?
- Does the company hire disabled people as permanent, full-time employees?
- And if so, does it allow full-time remote work?
- Also if so, are the full-time roles for anything other than accessibility work?
Further reading
- Against Disability education Robert Kingett