Making Graduation Posts More Accessible

March 2025

With graduation season approaching, now is a great time to ensure your social media posts are accessible to all. When we talk about digital accessibility, we often focus on websites, but accessibility is just as important on social media. Millions of people engage with content on platforms like Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TikTok, including people with disabilities. Ensuring your posts are accessible helps make information available to a wider audience, improves engagement, and aligns with best practices for inclusivity.

Video captions:
An essential practice is enabling auto-captions for videos and making sure they are edited for accuracy. Many people watch videos without sound, whether due to hearing loss, language barriers, or their environment. While most social media platforms offer automatic captions, they are often incorrect, especially when it comes to names, technical terms, or fast speech. Reviewing and editing captions helps ensure they accurately reflect what is being said, making content clearer for everyone while improving comprehension and engagement.
Image alt text
Alt text, which describes images for people using screen readers, is not just for websites; it’s also a key part of accessible social media. Many platforms allow users to add alt text when posting images, and taking the time to write useful descriptions can make content more inclusive. Instead of writing something vague like “image of a student,” it’s more helpful to describe key details, such as “a smiling graduate in a blue cap and gown holds their diploma in front of the university’s Healy Hall.” Good alt text ensures that people who can’t see the image still understand its meaning.
Text-free images:
Avoiding text in images without providing a written alternative is another important accessibility practice. It’s common to see announcements, event flyers, or quotes shared as images, but screen readers can’t read text that is embedded within an image. If the key information isn’t included in the post itself, some users won’t be able to access it. A better approach is to include all essential details in the caption or provide a text version in the comments. For example, if posting a flyer for an event, include the event details in the post rather than relying on the image alone. This ensures that everyone, including users with visual impairments or those in areas with slow internet connections where images may not load, can access the information.
Simple fonts and emojis
Certain design choices can also impact accessibility. Using decorative fonts or excessive emojis can make content difficult to read. Screen readers may not interpret stylized text correctly, and emojis are read aloud one by one, which can be distracting. Keeping text clear and placing emojis at the end of a post instead of throughout a sentence improves readability. Flashing images and GIFs should also be used with caution, as they can trigger seizures in users with ‘photosensitivity. If animated content is necessary, ensure it does not flash more than three times per second.

Social media accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about making sure everyone can engage with and enjoy your content. Whether someone is using a screen reader, watching videos on mute, or just struggling to read an all-caps hashtag, small changes make a big difference. If you’re already practicing good accessibility, that’s great. For more platform-specific accessibility tips, check out our resource on social media accessibility. Let’s make graduation season one everyone can celebrate together!

WordPress and Accessibility Office Hours

We will continue to hold both Web Accessibility and WordPress office hours every Tuesday afternoon over Zoom throughout the year.

WordPress office hours appointments are every Tuesday, 2:30–3:30 p.m. via Zoom. You can sign up for an appointment slot (for any future office hours date!) here. Please note that we are unable to accommodate unscheduled appointments. If you are currently experiencing an issue outside of office hours, or wish to submit a feature request, please use this form to capture that information.

Web Accessibility office hours are every Tuesday, 2:00–3:00 p.m. via Zoom. You can talk through accessibility-related questions with Kevin Andrews, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Coordinator. Please schedule a web accessibility office hours appointment here.