Inclusive design is incredibly important and something that is easily looked over by many. However, designing for inclusivity not only benefits those with certain disabilities, but oftentimes can benefit many other people. For example, if someone were to design something for someone with one arm, it could potentially also benefit someone who has a child in their arm, or someone who broke their wrist. Although holding a young child or breaking a wrist is temporary, these inclusive design choices benefit them when they need it. It also allows people to realize how important it is to design for inclusivity because they experience what it is like to not be able to do certain things because of something hindering them.
As a photographer, there is a large group of people who are being excluded. People who are blind or with sight impairments are unable or have a hard time viewing the pictures that are taken and published. Whether they are published in a printed source or on an online website, there is a lack of accessibility. In order to create a more inclusive exhibition, the alt text feature on a website is incredibly important. Someone who is blind or visually impaired can use the feature and hear about what the images entail. With this feature, people then have the ability to imagine what the image would be and feel included in the experience. (Read more about Alt Text and the importance of utilizing the feature.)
With a printed version, there could also be a CD that goes along with the book. This CD would contain a slideshow of the same images found in the book, while also having a voiceover explaining the images in very specific detail. The reasoning for the slideshow of images is because some visually impaired people can recognize color and it will give them more access to the image.
It is important to note that these inclusive decisions will also benefit people with temporary sight issues. For example, if someone has bad eyesight and does not have glasses on or contacts in, this feature could help them get better detail of the images they are attempting to look at.
As for my own personal work, I hope to incorporate the alt text aspect on my website. The website is going to be a widely available exhibit of the work, therefore I want it to be very inclusive for all. As for a printed version, there will only be one and it will be for myself or my family. No one in my family has vision issues, so I will not be putting as much focus into that aspect. If I had more time, resources, and were printing multiple copies and having them available for more people, I would most definitely incorporate the CD aspect into the work. In order to get the word out about my project, I am going to tell my friends and family about the website that will hold my images. Also, while I am out photographing I hope to have people ask me questions. I then hope to tell them about my work and the website in which they could view my pictures. That way I can extend what I do to more people.
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