UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
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uoydigacc.bsky.social
UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
@uoydigacc.bsky.social
150 followers 150 following 200 posts
Supporting and developing everyone for greater digital accessibility at University of York.

See more of our work at: https://blogs.york.ac.uk/digital-accessibility/
Posts Replies Media Videos
uoydigacc.bsky.social
Our latest blog post is up - and it's a guest post from @katievernon.bsky.social for @uoyopenres.bsky.social, looking at the shared goals of digital accessibility and open research in trying to make research more accessible to everyone:
blogs.york.ac.uk/digital-acce...
Open Research and Digital Accessibility: Guest Blog Post
As a small team working to spread accessible digital practice far and wide, we’re always collaborating with colleagues across the university (and beyond!). We’re delighted to share a po…
blogs.york.ac.uk
January 26, 2026 at 5:19 PM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
@york.ac.uk teaching staff, join us for an online accessibility session next week, on Tues 3 Feb, 11-12 noon. Whether it's about the VLE, your handouts or assigned reading, we're there to answer your accessibility queries. Book a place via the DET training page vle-support.york.ac.uk/training/#si...
Training - Guides for Online Learning Tools at University of York, UK
vle-support.york.ac.uk
January 26, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
a11yawareness.bsky.social
Cognitive load refers to how much working memory or short-term memory someone is using at a time. Minimizing the cognitive load it takes to use your site makes it more accessible for people with cognitive disabilities. Limit what you're asking users to remember to use your site.
January 26, 2026 at 3:33 PM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
@york.ac.uk teaching folk: reminder that this afternoon (Tues 20th) we'll be with the @uoylibrary.bsky.social Reading Lists team in LFA 144, 1.30-3.30 for a drop in session to answer any and all things reading lists and accessible readings, so please drop in with any readings concerns or queries!
Photo of a ginger dog wearing glasses resting it's head on an open book
January 20, 2026 at 9:22 AM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
Uni of York teaching folk: reminder that tomorrow (Tues 20th) afternoon we'll be with the @uoylibrary.bsky.social Reading Lists team in LFA 144, 1.30-3.30 for a drop in session to answer any and all things reading lists and accessible readings. Please drop in with any readings concerns or queries.
Photo of a slightly worried looking Guinea Pig sitting on a desk, it's front paws on a big open notebook, with an open laptop behind it.
January 19, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
disabledstudentsuk.bsky.social
Save the date!

Thank you to every disabled student who took part in the Annual Disabled Student Survey 2025, delivered in partnership with the Snowdon Trust.

We are excited to release the results! Join the ADSS launch with our expert panel online

#DisabledStudentsUK #ADSS2025
#DisabledStudents
A “Save the date” poster in a white and blue colour scheme announcing The Annual Disabled Student Survey 2025 results. The text reads: “Thursday 29th January 2026.” In the top right corner is the Disabled Students UK logo in white on a purpley- blue background, with the Snowdon Trust logo beneath with white text on two red rectangles creating an equals symbol. Along the bottom is an illustration of a diverse group of students celebrating together, including disabled students using a wheelchair, a cane and a prosthetic arm, wearing bright clothing in yellow, orange, teal, purple and blue. A promotional poster in a white and blue colour scheme for The Annual Disabled Student Survey Report 2025. At the top left, a dark blue rounded rectangle contains white text reading “The Annual Disabled Student Survey Report 2025.” On the top right is the Disabled Students UK logo in white on a dark blue background, with the Snowdon Trust logo beneath it in white text on two red rectangles. The main text says: “Come join us as we share our findings from the Annual Disabled Student Survey 2025.” Event details are shown in blue text: “Thursday 29th January 2026,” “12:30pm – 2pm,” and “Online via Zoom.” Below are three circular headshot photos on a light background. From left to right: Helen Saelensminde, CEO of Snowdon Trust, Prof Deborah Johnston, Deputy Vice Chancellor of LSBU and Suzanne Carrie, Head of Student Equality and Welfare at Office for Students. The bottom of the poster features a curved dark purpley-blue shape with a small rounded label reading “The Annual Disabled Student Survey” in white text.
January 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
UoY teaching staff! We're joining colleagues from the @uoylibrary.bsky.social Reading Lists team for a drop in session next Tuesday (20th January), 13:30-15:30pm, in the Harry Fairhurst building, in LFA 144. Please do drop in with any questions about reading lists or accessible reading provision.
January 16, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
a11yawareness.bsky.social
When using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, don't just make text bigger and bolder to make it a heading. That will work for sighted users, but screen reader users will miss that and just hear it as normal paragraph text. Use actual heading styles, like level 1 through 6.
January 15, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
aldinhe.bsky.social
ALDinHE's Neurodiversity / Inclusivity community of practice is an informal, supportive environment to share experiences connected to neurodiversity & inclusivity. Find out how to get involved & access the neurodiversity resource bank: http://aldinhe.ac.uk/resource-bank/neurodivergence #LoveLD
January 14, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
sarasoueidan.com
I have yet to write again about the current status of carousels, but if you've been wanting some small updates, check out thr thread and Github PRs from Adrian 👇
January 13, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
uoyopenres.bsky.social
Researcher Development training workshop next week:

Managing sensitive research data: key principles 🔐 💾
Tue 20 January, 10:00-11:30, online

To register, go to SkillsForge (PGRs): www.skillsforge.york.ac.uk/york/#he/dev...

or the LMS (staff): york-ac.csod.com/ui/lms-learn...
January 13, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
a11yawareness.bsky.social
For people who don't use screen readers, it can be difficult to understand how screen readers work. If you're interested in learning how people use screen readers, check out this demo from Marc Sutton and The University of California San Francisco.

youtu.be/dEbl5jvLKGQ
Screen Reader Demo for Digital Accessibility
YouTube video by UCSF Documents & Media Photography
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
a11yawareness.bsky.social
Color contrast affects readability on the web and in print. It is especially important for users who are low vision or for users who are colorblind. Good color contrast means all users can see your content no matter the device they’re using or the lighting of their surroundings.
January 8, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
natalyad.bsky.social
A lovely and honest thread about one deaf person's experience of a cochlear implant.
eliasjahshan.bsky.social Elias Jahshan @eliasjahshan.bsky.social · 19d
A bit late, but Monday this week (Jan 5) marked two whole years since I had my cochlear implant “activated”. To say it has been life-changing, in all the best ways possible, would be an understatement.
January 9, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
a11yawareness.bsky.social
When publicly elected officials use their official social media accounts to share responses to current events, they often share an image of text. If these images do not include alt text, then people using screen readers have zero context and these people are left out.
January 8, 2026 at 2:19 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
uoyopenres.bsky.social
Researcher Development training workshop next week:

Making your publications open access 🔓 📖
Thu 15 January, 10:00-11:00, online

To register, go to SkillsForge (PGRs): www.skillsforge.york.ac.uk/york/#he.dev...,

or the LMS (staff): york-ac.csod.com/ui/lms-learn...
January 8, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
yorkcvs.bsky.social
Free Accessible Digital session in York on 15 Jan. Learn tech basics, media literacy, the benefits of being online, and how to stay safe from scams.
📍 Priory Street Centre
🕙 10am–12pm & 1pm–3pm
#DigitalInclusion #YorkVCSE
Free training offer for enhancing digital skills with various technology and communication icons on a blue background.
January 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
If you are not a waterfowl, don't go on or in the campus lakes!
york.ac.uk University of York @york.ac.uk · 21d
⚠️ Let’s talk about campus lake ⚠️
We know campus can look particularly impressive in this weather, but please be aware that the frozen lake is far more dangerous than it might first appear. You should not under any circumstances attempt to walk or step on the ice.
(1/3)
A layer of ice over the top of campus lake, lit in the winter sun. Poking through the ice is a sign reading: Danger, thin ice. Keep off.
January 6, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
a11yawareness.bsky.social
Make sure web pages appear and operate in predictable ways. Things like the header, navigation, and footer should be the same on each page. Navigation links should be the same on every page and always in the same order. Things should be labeled consistently.
January 6, 2026 at 3:28 AM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
New year and a new blog post! To mark World Braille Day (January 4th), Lilian reflects on workshop that we ran in October, aiming to introduce staff to braille and ways to support our blind students who use braille: blogs.york.ac.uk/digital-acce...
Braille and tactile materials to support Vision-Impaired students – workshop reflections
To celebrate World Braille Day (4 Jan), we’re releasing this blog post about a workshop that we ran in October 2025, introducing staff to braille and ways to support our blind students who use brai…
blogs.york.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
lifeofablindgirl.bsky.social
I’m here to ask you to add a little something extra to your list of goals and intentions for the next 12 months: prioritise accessibility and inclusion.

I’ve shared 10 ways how you can do exactly that in my first blog post of 2026 👇 lifeofablindgirl.com/2026/01/04/1...
10 ways to prioritise accessibility and inclusion - Life of a Blind Girl
The new year is the perfect time to set your intentions for the next 12 months. Here are 10 ways you can prioritise accessibility and inclusion.
lifeofablindgirl.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:29 PM
uoydigacc.bsky.social
We'll be taking a break over the next couple of weeks, so wishing everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and we'll be back from January 5th.
December 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
uoyopenres.bsky.social
The Open Research team @uoylibrary.bsky.social will be short-staffed next week, then out of office on Wednesday 24 December and back at work on Monday 5 January ⛄

Here is the Library's opening information over the vacation period. See you in the new year!
Key library dates over the Christmas 2025
Here’s an overview of what happens in the library over December and January, and how it affects you. The headlines are: the library is closed on December 25th, 26th and 31st but otherwise open as norm...
www.york.ac.uk
December 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
rnib.bsky.social
"Who is it?”

Us: “Say it’s RNIB, sharing their alt text tips so blind and partially sighted people can enjoy our social posts too!”

It’s so easy to add alt text. Create your post, click the image button, add your image description and press done!
A four picture meme from the film 'Love Actually', it's the scene where the character Mark, played by Andrew Lincoln, is standing outside the door of his friends house, where the women he fancies lives, Juliet played by Kiera Knightly. Mark is holding big white cards that read out messages. In order they read, "Just because it's Christmas, and at Christmas you tell the truth." The next frame is Juliet smiling warmly. The last slide he holds up reads "add alt text."
December 17, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Reposted by UoY Digital Accessibility Unit
martinnutbeem.bsky.social
Accessibility Q: Does anyone know of tools that can be used to create slide decks suitable for people with extremely reduced motor function. Think voice dictation into a slide deck.

AI has (surprisingly) completely failed as it's making stuff up, paraphrasing badly and obviously difficult to edit.
December 17, 2025 at 11:09 AM