#hearing impared

I was wondering about blind and sight impared readers and how I can make my posts accessible for their reading software. So I called my local institution and they pointed me to a website that lists tips on how to make a website accessible for any surfer, be it blind readers, readers who can’t use a mouse, deaf readers, colorblind readers, epileptic readers, readers with RSI etc. Because about 15% of the population is not able-bodied.

The reading software I mention is software that reads a website out loud, based on the code behind it. Not only blind and sight impared people use it, but also people whose body isn’t fit to work with a mouse and/or a keyboard.

Since the list they pointed me to is not in English, I want to translate it for you. Here’s what I learned for tumblr posts. Spread the word!

1 Navigation

1.1 Use the structuring tools tumblr provides

Use the title feature for (sub)titles, so that the software knows it’s a (sub)title. A text in bold, cursive, or in a different or larger font type is just a plain text for the software. It doesn’t know that it’s a title.

If you make a list, don’t write a dash (-) or an asterisk (*) in front of the listed elements. Use the list feature, like I did in this list.

Don’t write *** between paragraphs to structure your text.

1.2 Your links are meaningful

The reading software makes a list of all the hyperlinks in a text. It’s confusing for your reader if it lists the word “here” five times. Provide context and meaning in your hyperlinked text.

Don’t write: “You can find more interesting articles here.” but write: “You can find more interesting articles here.”

Don’t write: “Sources: (x), (x) and (x)”, but write “Source 1, source 2 and source 3.

2 Content

2.1 Your post has a meaningful title

You don’t read every post from beginning to end, you scan to see if there’s anything interesting. So does this software. It scans the main title and any subtitles formatted in the title feature, so the reader can decide if it’s worth reading the plain text as well.

2.2 Images are described or have an alternative

The software can detect that there is an image, but can’t read it.

If you can avoid it, don’t give text in an image. If you share for example a poster of an event, with a date and a venue, that’s essential information the software can’t read.

Alternatively, you can add an image description, for example: “[Image description: a printscreen of my manuscript, with the word THE END in all caps underneath the last paragraph]”.

Sometimes an image works better than describing it in words. For some of my more complex writing advice posts, I choose to put information in an image because it works better than writing it all out. In that case, I will add the image description underneath the cut (”read more”) and mention above the cut that readers can find it there.

2.3 Video and sound

Like with images, label video and sound.

Subtitle videos (because automatically generated subtitles are not dependable).

Don’t let video and sound start automatically.

This is also relevant for able-bodied readers who are in a loud environment, or choose not to activate the sound or video because of slow internet connection etc.

3 Format/design

Don’t use spaces and other characters to format your text.

Chose texts and images that don’t blink more than 3 times per second, for epileptic readers.

Make sure colorblind people can understand your post, don’t use color as a differentiating feature.

Make sure your links are distinctly recognisable as links.

I hope you find this as useful as I did. I realised that it takes me little effort to include all kinds of readers into my posts, so I will take this into account with future posts.

Feel free to add to this, or correct me if I’m wrong, or if I accidentally gave information that is specific for my language. I don’t need to use it myself, but I want to include everyone.

Please please help my friend out and post this all over your socials to try and get the boys attention!

Dear Content Creators,

Jasmine sat on her front porch, watching the fireflies start to come to life, lighting up the field in front of her. She jumped at the buzz of the kitchen timer next to her and looked through the doorframe to the kitchen, where Alex's cake was baking.

Slowly getting up, she made her way to let the cake out from it's sweltering prison and placed it on a cooling rack. The smell was delicious, but Jasmine was not as happy as someone in the vicinity of a homemade cake should be.

Jasmine turned to go sit back down when she saw the phone ringing. Her previously slight frown deepened to a scowl and she ignored the LED screen in favor of the refrigerator. She took out the picture of pink lemonade she had made, and watched the phone ring...

And ring...

And ring...

The caller stopped before going to voicemail, which Jasmine raised her eyebrow at, as excuses were usually made by this time.

The caller rang once more, and Jasmine watched once more, looking over at the cake cooling and deciding it was cool enough to frost it. She turned to get the frosting she had made earlier out of the refrigerator and when she turned back around, Alex was standing in her doorframe.

Judging by the water that was dripping from their hair and clothes, it had started to rain heavily. Jasmine felt the corners of her mouth  turn up at the site and set the frosting on the counter. She then walked past Alex to get her hearing aid off the porch as she knew there would either be yelling or excuses made in the next moments. Placing the aid in her ear and turning it on, Jasmine then grabbed her timer and walked past Alex again heading to the counter to continue frosting the cake.

Alex hadn’t moved during this strange display, but soon shook off their surprise and moved towards the kitchen table to sit down.

“Don’t, you’ll warp the wood.” Jasmine turned around and went to get a plastic chair from the den. Setting it down a little harder than she meant to, she gestured for Alex to sit down and then stalked back over to the cake.

“Jas, I’m sor-”

Jasmine threw her hand up, signing at her to Be quiet, you’re only making it worse for yourself. She slammed down the spoon and turned, her fingers flying so fast, even Alex had to focus to keep up.

I started this cake yesterday. I drove down to the store to get all of the ingredients, and you know I hate driving! I spent a good part of my day making sure that your birthday would be special and you try to flake out on me again! 

Towards the end of her tirade, Jasmine’s fingers slowed down and her face became crestfallen. She turned around quickly to keep Alex from seeing her tears and returned to mixing the cake frosting. The only disadvantage she had from this vantage point is that she didn’t see Alex come up behind her.

Alex made sure her hearing aid was on and whispered, “I’m sorry. I know you hate driving and I know I’m late to my own birthday party every year. But the fact that you still make me a cake shows how much I don’t deserve you.” Alex felt Jasmine’s shoulders loosen in their arms but saw the scowl adamantly plastered on her face. Alex leaned in and pecked a kiss on her cheek, which was retuned with a spoonful of frosting to the face.

Jasmine turned around and gave them a peck on the lips, then with dismay clouding over her face, she signed You were still wet when you hugged me.

Alex chuckled and went to hug her again, Jasmine screamed and ran away through to the living room, turning back around when she realized she was still armed with cake frosting. 

Ishida Shoya meeting Nishimiya Shoko again after 5 years.

[Koe No Katachi (2015)]