Each month, I'll be writing about what's going on in the disabled community, my top tips for improving accessibility and anything else that's on my mind.
This month marks the start of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Arguably the biggest sports event in the disabled calendar, the Paralympics has brought mainstream attention to some of the most incredible human beings on the planet. Team GB gold medallists over the last few decades include wheelchair racer Tanni Grey-Thompson, swimmer Mike Kenny, cyclist Sarah Storey and swimmer Ellie Symonds - to name but a few.
Televised on Channel 4 for the last three years, the event's marketing has never sat right with me. The network's favourite tagline "Super. Humans" is one thing, but the additional billboards are problematic.
Image credit: https://twitter.com/WheelerDax
The above is just one example of Channel 4's attempt to subvert common conceptions of disabled people. However, there are a few issues with this. Firstly, it completely erases the existence of invisible disabilities. Yes, many disabled people are used to being stared at... but many people live with disabilities that cannot be seen and, therefore, are not accustomed to this concept.
My biggest problem with the campaign is that disabled people like myself are sick of being spoken to. This campaign feels like Channel 4 is talking about us, rather than with us. A better option would have been talking heads from the Paralympians themselves, or even the young aspiring athletes who look up to the amazing athletes.
Comparatively, I love this campaign from #WeThe15, which "is sport’s biggest ever human rights movement to end discrimination." Launching at the 2020 Tokyo Games, #WeThe15 is a campaign created by disabled people for disabled people. It is fully inclusive of all disabilities and stays away from tongue-in-cheek humour in favour of clear, hard-hitting statements.
The campaign covers "inspiration porn" and other common issues that disabled people face in every area of their lives, from work to sport, romance to parenting... it's fantastic. Watch the campaign film below.
Let me know what you think about these two (very different) campaigns over on Twitter @DeanFReynolds!
Accessibility tip of the month
This month, I've been working with organisations to educate marketing teams about accessibility on social media. Did you know that most social media platforms allow you to add Alt Text to images? Other than Facebook's Creator Studio, only Hootsuite offers the opportunity to add Alt Text when scheduling content.
Facebook has also removed this from the Business Manager platform, so you can only do it on Creator Studio or when scheduling on Hootsuite.
What I’ve read this week
Some articles that have caught my eye this month...
Microsoft inclusive lead reveals there's a 'bit of a plateau' in accessibility tech (PC Gamer)
Ellie Simmonds: ‘I’ve found the expectations harder as I’ve got older’ (The Guarden)