You all work hard to create amazing communities for one another, so we aim to provide information on how to make your society more inclusive and accessible. If you have any brilliant tips or thoughts on inclusion and accessibility, let us know at activitiesadmin@shu.ac.uk.
Hopefully this page will be a good starting point for your society, but don't forget to listen to your members as they will know best what they need from you!
Society inclusion guide
Inclusive event considerations
Inclusivity and accessibility are terms which cover a huge variety of things, it’s worth noting that while it can be difficult to meet every individual’s needs, there are lots of things we can all do to promote inclusion and accessibility.
One of the best ways to make sure your society is a welcome and accessible space for your members is by asking them! You can encourage your members to get in contact, for example via your society email account, with any suggestions or requirements, and you can make sure your event planning takes into consideration these suggestions and requirements.
It’s not just up to your members to ask for what they need though! There are some simple actions your society can take to address potential inclusion and access needs.
Social media and communications
Alternative text
When posting on social media you should try adding alternative text (alt text) to images. Alt text is used to describe the meaning, context, and sometimes details, of an image or visual in a digital setting. This can help people with different visual abilities to access the information you are sharing. It is also important to use captions as well as images; if you are posting a graphic to your Instagram with the time, date, and venue for your next event in the image, make sure you share that same information in the caption too!
You may find Microsoft's guide on writing effective alt text useful.
Colour contrast and readability
When creating content for your social media pages it’s important to think about how well your poster/graphic/image conveys meaning. It can be beautifully designed, but if your colour contrast makes it difficult for people with dyslexia or colour blindness, for example, to read, then it’s not effective. Equally, it’s important to think about what type of language you are using and whether it will make sense to everyone, including students whose first language may not be English.
The British Dyslexia Association have put together some guidance on creating clear communications that are dyslexia friendly.
Writing in what is called ‘Plain English’ helps to make your meaning clear to a wider audience. The University of Kent has created a guide on how to write in plain English.
Room bookings and venues
When you're planning an event or activity it’s important to think about whether the space is accessible. This can include things like which floor you have booked a room on, how close or far it is from a lift and a toilet, or whether there are signs or clear directions to a room or venue.
When promoting an event, meeting, or activity to your members it’s worth making sure they can communicate any access needs they may have so you can factor this into your planning and delivery of an event. If you're using a venue, they should be able to provide you with accessibility information. Often this will be available on the venue's website or if you email someone at the venue.