It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles that all Elected Officials and City Departments that use social media will make it accessible for persons with disabilities by following the national guidelines for improving the accessibility of Social Media. 

Social media is transforming how the city government engages with constituents, allowing city departments and elected officials to share information and deliver services more quickly and effectively than ever before. This is especially true during emergency and disaster situations. Departments using social media in times of disaster or for preparedness information shall ensure that their messaging integrates the needs for persons with disabilities.

Below are some useful internal and external Social Media Accessibility resources.

• Social Media Accessibility Best Practices September 2021 (Google Slides)

• Easy Chirp's Web Accessibility for the Twitter Website Application (External Link Resource)

• ADA Guidance - 508 Compliance and Social Media Accessibility (PDF 96 KB)

• Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit Hackpad (External Link Resource: U.S. General Services Administration)

• Hootsuite - add descriptive alt text to images in your Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn posts (External Link Resource)

• Google Support's YouTube Help: Use YouTube with a Screen Reader (External Link Resource)

• Include open captions in all videos.

• Include alternative text and image description when posting an image or gif.

  • Include an image description in the post’s caption.

  • Edit alternative text in platform’s accessibility feature. 

(Reference guide for platform specific instructions.) 

• Include a video description in the post's caption when posting video content.

• Check the color contrast of your graphic designs.

• Use #CamelCase hashtags. 

• Limit the number of emojis.

• Choose easy to read font styles for captions and text.

• Provide transcripts for audio-only media.

• Change settings to prevent video content from autoplaying or allow users to easily pause or stop the video.

• Add audio descriptions and/or narration to videos that describe on-screen actions, graphics, and other visual elements.

• Remediate all PDF files you plan to share online and with the general public (Send the files to dod-remediation@lacity.org to get the process started)

• When planning ahead for an event you’re promoting, consider booking a Sign Language Interpreter (ex: for live and virtual events) or a realtime captioner (for virtual and audio-only events). City employees can request these services online at bit.ly/dod-slicart.

• Include the City’s Accessibility / Reasonable Accommodation Statement in marketing materials and event related announcements (in print and digital formats). 

• Include open captions in all videos for posts and stories.

• Add alt text for images and videos (By including image descriptions in caption or using Instagram's accessibility alt text feature).

  • When including an image description in the caption, add ‘Description in caption’ in the platform's accessibility alt text feature. 

• Use plain language.

• Minimize the use of flashing lights or rapidly changing visuals in Reels and Stories.

  • Avoid putting important information only in images; transcribe the text and include the information in the post’s caption.

• Maintain proper grammar and punctuation.

• Spell out acronyms when first mentioned.

• Limit the use of emojis.

• Add video descriptions in captions for videos.

• Use camel case for hashtags (ex: #AccessibleFacebook).

• Check color contrast on graphics.

• Provide transcripts for audio-based media in caption (or link to remediated transcript file or accessible webpage).

• Use link shorteners (ex: Bit.ly).

• Include descriptive text for links.

• Provide clear event descriptions.

• Provide email and phone number for reasonable accommodation requests in Facebook Event details.

• Include captions in all videos.

• Add alt text for images and GIFs using X’s +Alt feature.

• ‘Add another post’ to briefly describe video content.

• Use plain language.

• Limit the use of all caps and unique characters.

• Avoid jargon and complex phrases.

• Maintain proper grammar and punctuation.

• Spell out acronyms.

• Limit the use of emojis.

• Avoid putting important text within images.

• Transcribe text in graphics into alt text.

• Use camel case for hashtags (ex: #AccessibleFacebook).

• Check color contrast on graphics.

• Link to transcript for audio-based media.

• Use link shorteners (ex: Bit.ly).

• When sharing content that spans multiple tweets, consider numbering them (ex: (1 of 5), (2 of 5), etc.).

• Include open captions in all videos for Reels and Stories.

• Add alt text for images and videos (By including image descriptions in caption or using Instagram's accessibility alt text feature).

  • When including an image description in the caption, add ‘Description in caption’ in the platform's accessibility alt text feature. 

• Write clear and easy-to-understand captions.

• Minimize the use of flashing lights or rapidly changing visuals in Reels and Stories.

• Avoid putting important information only in images; transcribe the text and include the information in the post’s caption.

• Ensure readable text size and color contrast in Stories and posts.

• Adjust font styles for better readability.

• Provide transcript for audio-only media in caption (or ‘link in bio’ to remediated transcript file or accessible webpage).

• Use plain language.

• Spell out acronyms the first time they are mentioned.

• Use camel case for hashtags (ex: #AccessibleLosAngeles).

• Limit the use of emojis.

• Add a ‘link in bio’ platform and use clear descriptions for links.

• Limit the use of all caps and unique characters.

• Include open captions for all spoken content.

• Ensure captions are synchronized with the audio.

• Ensure that visual information is available through audio description or narration of on-screen graphics and animations.

• Use clear and easy-to-read fonts.

• Reduce the use of intense flashing lights to prevent discomfort or seizures.

• Check color contrast on graphics and between text and background.

• Create titles that accurately represent the content of the video.

• Avoid clickbait or misleading titles.

• Provide descriptive alt text for video thumbnails.

• Provide a comprehensive written description of the video's content.

• Include relevant links and additional information.

• Include a written transcript of the video's spoken content in the video’s description.

• Include open captions in all videos.

• Add alt text to describe images in your posts and profile.

• Write clear and concise text.

• Use plain language.

• Maintain proper grammar and punctuation.

• Avoid jargon and complex phrases.

• Spell out acronyms the first time they are mentioned.

• Check color contrast on graphics.

• Use camel case for hashtags (ex: #AccessibleLinkedIn).

• Identify heading levels in LinkedIn articles.

• Include open captions in all videos.

• Ensure that captions are synchronized with the audio.

• Ensure that the captioned text is large enough and easy to read.

• Add a solid background to text and avoid overly decorative fonts.

• Minimize the use of flashing lights or rapidly changing visuals.

• Write clear and concise video and photo descriptions and include them in your post.

• If your video involves dance or movement, include descriptive captions to make the content accessible to those who may not be able to see the visuals.

• Narrate your videos and/or use TikTok’s text-to-speech feature so text featured in your video is available in an audio format.

• Include open captions in all videos.

• Add alt text for images and videos (By including image descriptions in caption or using Thread’s Alt text feature).

  1. When including an image description in the caption, add ‘Description in caption’ in the platform's accessibility alt text feature. 

• Avoid putting important information only in images; transcribe the text and include the information in the post’s caption.

• Provide transcripts for audio-only media in the thread post (or link to the remediated transcript file or accessible webpage).

• Check color contrast on graphics.

• Use plain language.

• Maintain proper grammar and punctuation.

• Avoid jargon and complex phrases.

• Spell out acronyms the first time they are mentioned.

• Use camel case for hashtags (ex: #AccessibleLosAngeles).

• Limit the use of emojis.

• Use link shorteners (ex: Bit.ly).

• Limit the use of all caps and unique characters.

Video Credit: National Center on Accessible Educational Materials - Best Practices for Accessible Social Media (total length 1:02:02 mins)

Best Practices for Accessible Social Media Segmented Videos

• Plain Language (start time: 8:47)

• What is CamelCase? (start time: 10:56)

• Image Descriptions (start time: 15:28)

• Image Descriptions: Twitter (start time: 16:04)

• Image Descriptions: Instagram (start time: 20:06)

• Image Descriptions: Facebook (start time: 21:38)

• Image Descriptions: GIFs (start time: 24:39)

• Captioning Videos (start time: 27:40)

• Audio Description (start time: 32:12)

• Link Shorteners (start time: 41:38)