Communicate Multimodally
When sharing design artifacts, giving a presentation, holding a meeting, bringing someone new into a design community or sharing information with that community, it is important to use multiple modes of communication to make it possible for more people to have access to the knowledge and activities of the group. For example, when preparing a slide presentation, consider the accompanying text description of your content so that members of your audience who cannot see the visuals also have a fully nuanced and engaging experience. When holding a meeting, ensure that the space is physically accessible but also how you might include remote participants. When posting shared design artifacts, consider both the accessibility of the artifacts themselves, as well as the forum you are using to display and share them.
Engaging in multi-modal communication can go beyond the specific or technical aspects of accessibility. For example, considering different learning styles and using a range of communication methods, and ensuring someone has all the information they need in order to fully participate in a process means that the design process can be more inclusive of participants with a diverse range of needs, interests, personalities and ideas.
Try
- When preparing a slide presentation, include accompanying text descriptions
- When holding a meeting, ensure that the space is physically accessible and consider how you might include remote participants
- When posting shared design artifacts, ensure that both the artifacts and the forum you are using are accessible to all
- Structure content and information in a well-organised, simple and easy to grasp format so that it is more accessible to new participants