Svetlana Kouznetsova (Accessibility Consultant)
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svknyc.bsky.social
Svetlana Kouznetsova (Accessibility Consultant)
@svknyc.bsky.social
40 followers 6 following 190 posts
👩‍💼 #B2B Consultant, Speaker, Author: I help businesses improve accessibility strategy of their web, media, events. 📺 TEDx Talk: http://bit.ly/TEDxCaptions 🌐 Web: https://about.me/svetlanakouznetsova/
Posts Replies Media Videos
svknyc.bsky.social
Does your #business want to build deaf awareness and learn how to make your communication more accessible?

Check out the #book and get 20% off through November 11: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#accessibility
Sound is Not Enough by Svetlana Kouznetsova | Blurb Books | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Did you know there are 466 million deaf and hard of hearing people worldwide? Your business could be missing out on this market if your products and services aren’t accessible to them. Deafness isn’...
www.linkedin.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:41 AM
svknyc.bsky.social
My experience communicating with non-native English speakers as a deaf person: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #communication #accessibility
#business #accessibility #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
🌍 Communication Beyond Language I can’t cease to be amazed during my overseas travels at how people in other countries — with their limited English — can communicate with me, a deaf person, much bett...
www.linkedin.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
✈️ “PA in progress” pop-ups are useless for deaf travelers.

Captions & communication access matter!

More on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

📩 I offer 2.5hr #accessibility workshops for airlines. Contact me to learn more.

#business #AirTravel #AccessibleTravel
#business #accessibility #travel #airline #aviation #airtravel #accessibletravel #accessibletourism #rightsonflights #customerexperience #customerservice | Svetlana Kouznetsova
✈️ “PA in progress” pop-ups are my biggest pet peeve with all airlines I’ve flown with so far. As a deaf traveler, those messages are useless. With today’s technology, airlines should be able to capt...
www.linkedin.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Shortcuts make us blind: What Ponzi can teach your business about accessibility

#Accessibility shortcuts are no different.

True accessibility starts with awareness, strategy, and action.

Read more: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#Business #InclusiveDesign
Business | Entrepreneurship | Technology on Instagram: "In 1920, Charles Ponzi promised investors 50% returns in 45 days. Within months, he was collecting $250,000 a day from 40,000 people. The… ...
Shortcuts Make Us Blind: What Ponzi Can Teach Businesses About Accessibility Quick fixes rarely work. True accessibility requires strategy, awareness, and action. Charles Ponzi didn’t invent fraud. ...
www.linkedin.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Agreed with NN Group regarding #iOS26 by Apple :

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #usability #ux #cx
Liquid Glass Is Cracked, and Usability Suffers in iOS 26 | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Agreed with Nielsen Norman Group regarding the #ios26: "Summary: iOS 26’s visual language obscures content instead of letting it take the spotlight. New (but not always better) design patterns replac...
www.linkedin.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:02 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
As a deaf customer, I wish more businesses understood this:

#CustomerService ≠ #Phone.

Learn why (and how to fix it):

🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #communication #CustomerServiceWeek #CX #CustomerExperience
#business #accessibility #customerserviceweek #cx #customerservice #customerexperience #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
It’s Customer Service Week. One of the biggest frustrations for deaf customers? Being told to call to talk to a representative. While some businesses now offer text and email, many still rely on ph...
www.linkedin.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Deaf Awareness Month may be ending, but #accessibility isn’t a one-time checklist — it’s an ongoing strategy.

Read my full post on how businesses can move from awareness to real implementation:

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #communication #DeafAwarenessMonth
#business #accessibility #communication #customerexperience #customerservice | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Today marks the end of Deaf Awareness Month — but awareness doesn’t stop here. You may see my posts from time to time, but posts alone don’t replace in-depth awareness, training, and strategy. Acce...
www.linkedin.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Hearing foreigners often get better communication access in #healthcare than #deaf people in their own country.

Deafness isn’t one-size-fits-all — always ask about #communication preferences.

👉 More here: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#DeafAwarenessMonth #business
Why Customized Communication Access for Deaf Patients Should Be Standard in Healthcare - Audio Accessibility | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Just like in travel, healthcare shows a troubling double standard: hearing foreigners often receive better communication accommodations than deaf people living in their own country when visiting doct...
www.linkedin.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
🚫 Please don’t ask a deaf person to lipread. Ever.

Learn more how to better communicate with deaf people: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #communication #DeafAwarenessMonth
#business #accessibility #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Please. Don’t. Ask. A. Deaf. Person. If. They. Lipread. Ever. Even if a deaf person tells you they can lipread, don’t assume you can speak rapidly or unclearly and expect them to understand ever...
www.linkedin.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:44 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
I’m often asked if it’s easier for me to lipread in Russian, my native language, or in English.

Find out: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #communication #DeafAwarenessMonth
#business #accessibility #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
In one of my recent posts, I mentioned that lip reading is not a science and provides at most 30% of visual information. The rest is a lot of guesswork and depends on many factors. I’m often asked wh...
www.linkedin.com
September 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
📞 TTY & relay = rotary phones.

Outdated ≠ accessible.

Businesses need texting, chat & video w/ captions:

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #telecommunications #CustomerService #CustomerExperience
#business #accessibility #communication #telecommunications #phone #texting #video #customerservice #customerexperience | Svetlana Kouznetsova
📞 Too many businesses still rely on outdated, phone-only communication — excluding millions of people who are deaf, nonverbal, or simply prefer typing over talking. As a deaf customer and B2B accessi...
www.linkedin.com
September 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Hearing devices don’t cure #deafness. They help with hearing, not understanding. Even CI users often still need captions, lipreading & assistive devices:

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #communication #technology #DeafAwarenessMonth
#business #accessibility #technology #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
When people think about hearing devices, many assume they “cure” deafness — but they do not. Hearing aids amplify sounds and help people who are hard of hearing. Cochlear implants help those with sev...
www.linkedin.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Cued speech isn’t sign language — it’s based on phonemes and removes the guesswork of lipreading.

I shared my experience with it and why it matters for accessibility 👇

🔗 Read more: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #communication
Cued Speech - Too Oral for Signers and Too Visual for Oralists? - Audio Accessibility | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Many people assume that deaf communication fits neatly into two boxes: sign language or speech/lipreading. But there’s another approach — cued speech — that doesn’t always get the recognition it deser...
www.linkedin.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Today is International Day of Sign Languages 👐

Fact: Most deaf people don’t use sign language, but it’s essential for those who do. Learning it helps you communicate and connect.

Learn more: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#accessibility #communication #SignLanguage
American Sign Language Fingerspelling | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Today is International Day of Sign Languages. 👐 While sign language is essential for some deaf people, it’s important to remember that deafness doesn’t automatically mean sign language. In fact, it’s...
www.linkedin.com
September 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Lipreading ≠ full access. At best it gives ~30% visually — the rest is guesswork. It’s like playing Wheel of Fortune, it’s exhausting.

Stop asking deaf people if they can lipread.

#Communication access must go beyond that:

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility
#business #accessibility #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Contrary to common misconceptions, lipreading doesn’t solve communication barriers. At best it provides about 30% of the information visually; the rest is guesswork — shaped by lighting, position, spe...
www.linkedin.com
September 22, 2025 at 2:46 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Honoring #DeafAwarenessMonth by celebrating an incredible deaf leader I had the privilege to meet: Dr. Robert Davila. His story inspires all of us.

Read more: lnkd.in/p/ejhcPtJ4

#business #education #accessibility #communication
Dr. Robert Davila - A Deaf Role Model - Audio Accessibility | Svetlana Kouznetsova
As we celebrate Deaf Awareness Month, I want to honor an outstanding deaf leader I have had the privilege of knowing: Dr. Robert Davila. Dr. Davila, the son of Mexican immigrants, became deaf at age ...
lnkd.in
September 21, 2025 at 6:31 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Hearing foreigners get multilingual support when traveling.

Disabled travelers like me (I’m deaf) are often dismissed & left without access.

1.85B disabled travelers deserve better.

🔗 Full post: lnkd.in/p/euapnXym

#business #travel #accessibility
Overlooked and Underserved: How the Travel Industry Neglects Disabled Travelers - Svetlana Kouznetsova Consulting | Svetlana Kouznetsova
✈️ When hearing foreigners travel, they are usually well-accommodated: multilingual brochures, interpreters, guides, translated websites. But when disabled travelers go abroad, our needs are often ov...
lnkd.in
September 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Speech-to-text apps aren’t a magic button.

Their limitations mirror the struggles deaf people face: noise, multiple speakers, unclear speech, tech barriers, fatigue, etc.

#Accessibility needs more than auto-captions:

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #technology
Decoding Speech: The Shared Struggles of Speech-to-Text Apps and Deaf Individuals - Audio Accessibility | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Many people assume speech-to-text apps are a simple solution for accessibility — “just push a button and captions appear.” In reality, the limitations of these apps mirror the challenges that deaf an...
www.linkedin.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
If you are hosting an #event - a large or a small one, please use a #microphone.

Please don’t say: I speak loud. A microphone is a must for all events, big or small.

It’s an #accessibility requirement.

Learn more in my article on

audio-accessibility.com/news/2024/06...

#business
Please use a microphone for accessibility - Audio Accessibility
Attending various events without a microphone has been a significant challenge for me as a deaf person. It’s critical to ensure accessibility at events
audio-accessibility.com
September 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Accuracy alone doesn’t make good captions.

If your captions aren’t readable, your message isn’t accessible.

Accuracy = science.

Readability = art.

Together = true accessibility.

www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #captions #content #media
Video caption readability issues | Svetlana Kouznetsova
When it comes to captioning quality, accuracy often gets all the attention - but readability is just as important. ✅ Accuracy ensures the words are correct. 
🎨 Readability makes sure the captions can...
www.linkedin.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Captions and subtitles are NOT the same thing. Captions are accessible to deaf people while subtitles are not.

Learn more on: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #accessibility #communication #captions #subtitles #media #communication #DeafAwarenessMonth
#business #accessibility #captions #subtitles #media #communication | Svetlana Kouznetsova
Captions and subtitles are NOT the same thing. Captions capture language while subtitles substitute language. They both serve different purposes - captions are accessibility for deaf people while su...
www.linkedin.com
September 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Worst #accessibilty by @Apple after the #ios28 update!

Almost impossible to log in with this transparent keyboard…
iPhone Home Screen with keyboard barely seen over it - almost impossible to log in.
September 15, 2025 at 11:57 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
September is #DeafAwarenessMonth.

#Captions aren’t just an accommodation — they expand audience reach & increase ROI.

📺 Watch my TEDx talk:

👉 www.ted.com/talks/svetla...

Please share far & wide so more businesses understand why #accessibility matters.

#Business
How captions increase ROI and audience for media creators | Svetlana Kouznetsova | TEDxFultonStreet
Producers of video and live events all want a larger audience. One of the most cost-effective ways to increase audience size is to provide quality captions. This serves not only the deaf and hard-of-h...
www.ted.com
September 15, 2025 at 3:50 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
Most deaf & hard of hearing people don’t use sign language. Many never disclose their hearing loss—often due to stigma.

Accessibility needs to go beyond one solution: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#business #Accessibility #Communication #Inclusion
Silent Majority - Addressing the Overlooked Needs of Non-Signing Deaf and Hard of Hearing People - Audio Accessibility | Svetlana Kouznetsova
You may be meeting more people with hearing disabilities than you realize — perhaps even on a regular basis. Why don’t you notice? Because the majority of deaf and hard of hearing people don’t use si...
www.linkedin.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
svknyc.bsky.social
It’s 24 years ago today. I was a young professional working at my first job in midtown Manhattan.

My full story: www.linkedin.com/posts/activi...

#NeverForget #business #communication #accessibility
Never Forget - The 20th Anniversary of 9/11 - Svetlana Kouznetsova Consulting | Svetlana Kouznetsova
It was been 24 years ago that I personally witnessed the event as a young professional working in the midtown Manhattan. When events like this happen, the scariest thing for deaf people like myself ...
www.linkedin.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM