Accessible/inclusive website, content and metadata
Abstract
Accessibility ensures that people with disabilities can access content, metadata, and digital functionality on websites and in digital publications, while the use of inclusive language and images helps to ensure that diverse groups feel respected. Awareness of accessibility and inclusion is the first step, enabling Diamond OA publishers to subsequently develop policies and workflows that respect relevant regulations and improve user experience for all.
Main text
Accessibility refers to designing products or services to ensure that both content and digital functionality are available to everyone, regardless of abilities or impairments. Accessible designs ensure both direct access (i.e., unassisted) and indirect access (i.e., compatible with assistive technology such as screen readers). Meanwhile, inclusion involves proactively creating an environment where people feel welcomed, respected, and valued. When accessibility and inclusion are not taken into consideration by Diamond OA publishers, some users may be unable to access their products or services, or may feel uncomfortable doing so. In some cases, the publishers may even be non-compliant with relevant regulations.
A first step toward accessibility is awareness of the need to make content and functionality (e.g., on websites or in digital publications) accessible to everyone. Different regions have different requirements, so each Diamond OA publisher must investigate the legislation and recommendations for their region (W3C, 2023a). In a global context, a good strategy for increasing international accessibility compliance is to follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (W3C, 2023b) and Article 9 of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN, 2006).
Points to consider regarding accessibility in scholarly publishing include presenting text in a logical reading order; ensuring that font, colour, size, and line spacing are adjustable; separating presentation and content; providing image descriptions and alt-text for pictures and captions or transcripts for videos; including page numbers; and using metadata to communicate accessibility modes and features of resources. Many aspects of accessibility are specialised, and Diamond OA publishers can support accessibility by ensuring that they have staff with appropriate expertise. In addition, they can develop relevant accessibility statements and policies, and they can ensure that accessibility is built into their workflow as a strategic and operational priority and not treated as an afterthought or a one-off activity (Conrad & Kasdorf 2018).
Language choices can support both accessibility and inclusion in scholarly publishing. For instance, plain language summaries can make content accessible to non-specialist audiences and readers with lower literacy or using a non-dominant language, and Diamond OA publishers can publish these summaries alongside journal articles (Rosenberg et al., 2023). With regard to inclusivity, using respectful language is key (Ashwell et al., 2023). Inclusive language acknowledges diversity, conveys respect to all people, is sensitive to differences, and promotes equal opportunities. When writing, it is important not to simply adopt the point of view that represents whatever group is considered to be the default group. For instance, because scholarly publishing is currently dominated by English, it can be easy to default to framing communications from a Western viewpoint. This can also apply to other groups that have traditionally held more power, such as men, White people, or able-bodied people. Looking beyond text, it is important to use inclusive images and data visualisation techniques as well. Diamond OA publishers can promote inclusivity by using respectful language and diverse images on their websites and in their resources, and by adopting policies that encourage authors, peer reviewers and editors to do the same. Moreover, they can provide these groups with some guidance or training resources about how to implement inclusive language and images.
Related Toolsuite Articles
Related Guidelines
Related Training Materials
- Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging
- Visibility, indexation, communication, marketing and impact
References
- Ashwell, S.J., Baskin, P.K., Christiansen, S.L., DiBari, S.A., Flanagin, A., Frey, T., Jemison, R., & Ricci, M.. (2023). Three recommended inclusive language guidelines for scholarly publishing: Words matter, Learned Publishing 36(1): 94-99. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1527
- Conrad, L.Y., and Kasdorf, B. (eds). (2018). Special issue: Making accessibility more accessible to publishers. Learned Publishing 31(1): 1-88. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17414857/2018/31/1
- Rosenberg, A., Walker, J., Griffiths, S., & Jenkins, R. (2023) Plain language summaries: Enabling increased diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in scholarly publishing, Learned Publishing 36(1): 109-118. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1524
- United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2.html
- W3C (2023a). Web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/
- W3C (2023b). Web accessibility laws and policies. https://www.w3.org/WAI/policies/
Further Reading
- Bowker, L., Pölönen, J., Laakso, M., & Redhead, C. (2024). Deliverable D4.6 – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) in scholarly communication - working with communities to develop resources for multilingualism, gender equity and accessible and inclusive websites (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13786107
- Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communication (C4DISC). (2022). Guidelines on inclusive language and images in scholarly communication. https://c4disc.pubpub.org/guidelines-on-inclusive-language-and-images-in-scholarly-communication
- DAISY Consortium. (n.d.). The inclusive publishing hub. https://inclusivepublishing.org/
- Inclusive Publishing in Practice. (2021). Inclusive publishing in practice. https://www.inclusivepublishinginpractice.org/#/desktop/workspaces/open/doc/resources/home
- Interdepartmental Terminology Committee on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. (2024). Guide on equity, diversity and inclusion terminology. https://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/publications/equite-diversite-inclusion-equity-diversity-inclusion-eng
- PKP (n.d.) Creating accessible content: a guide for journal editors and authors. https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/accessible-content/en/
- Rosenberg A. (2022). Working toward standards for plain language summaries. Science editor. 45:46-50.https://doi.org/10.36591/SE-D-4502-46
- W3C (2024).Making the web accessible. https://www.w3.org/WAI/
Glossary
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) mean in scholarly publishing?
- What types of bias can occur in scholarly publishing?
- What are some of the consequences of bias in scholarly publishing?
- Who is responsible for ensuring EDIB in scholarly publishing?
- What types of actions can be taken to improve EDIB in scholarly publishing?
Licensing
This document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License