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The country goes to the polls today! 
But how easy it is for disabled people to access information about elections & who to vote for?
I've done a rundown of the Mayoral Candidates for London as an example below! #LondonMayor2021
But how easy it is for disabled people to access information about elections & who to vote for?
I've done a rundown of the Mayoral Candidates for London as an example below! #LondonMayor2021
So for starters, you can find a full list of the Mayoral Candidates with a short clear text statement on this website.
https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/candidates/mayoral-candidates
https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/candidates/mayoral-candidates
Conservative candidate @ShaunBaileyUK
The website is very 'fancy' but pretty inaccessible to a visually impaired voter like me. Videos on the website appear to have subtitles at least.
I can find no clear text or easy read version of the full manifesto. https://www.shaunbailey.uk/
The website is very 'fancy' but pretty inaccessible to a visually impaired voter like me. Videos on the website appear to have subtitles at least.
I can find no clear text or easy read version of the full manifesto. https://www.shaunbailey.uk/
Labour candidate @SadiqKhan
The website has a manifesto page, it's difficult to find but you can google it.
There are downloadable large print / clear text versions.
You can also request other 'accessible formats' not clear what these are? https://sadiq.london/sadiqs-manifesto-for-london/
The website has a manifesto page, it's difficult to find but you can google it.
There are downloadable large print / clear text versions.
You can also request other 'accessible formats' not clear what these are? https://sadiq.london/sadiqs-manifesto-for-london/
Lib Dem Candidate @LuisaPorritt
I can only find one option to download a PDF of the manifesto. It's very 'designed' & inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter.
Social media videos are subtitled but no use of alt text on images. https://www.luisa4london.co.uk/manifesto
I can only find one option to download a PDF of the manifesto. It's very 'designed' & inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter.
Social media videos are subtitled but no use of alt text on images. https://www.luisa4london.co.uk/manifesto
Green Candidate @sianberry
PDF, Audio Format & BSL manifesto available. It would be great to have a clear text or easy read too.
Subtitles on social media videos but no alt text on images. https://www.sianberry.london/manifesto-2021/
PDF, Audio Format & BSL manifesto available. It would be great to have a clear text or easy read too.
Subtitles on social media videos but no alt text on images. https://www.sianberry.london/manifesto-2021/
UKIP candidate Peter Gammons @Gammons4London
No manifesto to download or read, a video with no subtitles, & an inaccessible webpage for me as a visually impaired voter.
No use of alt text on images, but does film tv videos with subtitles on. https://www.ukip.org/gammonsforlondon_v0
No manifesto to download or read, a video with no subtitles, & an inaccessible webpage for me as a visually impaired voter.
No use of alt text on images, but does film tv videos with subtitles on. https://www.ukip.org/gammonsforlondon_v0
Women's Equality Party Candidate @ManduReid
Website has subtitled videos & a PDF to download. No other accessible formats.
Social media videos have subtitles & no alt text on images. https://www.womensequality.org.uk/gla_2021_election
Website has subtitled videos & a PDF to download. No other accessible formats.
Social media videos have subtitles & no alt text on images. https://www.womensequality.org.uk/gla_2021_election
Renew Candidate @Kam4London
Website so inaccessible I couldn't even find a manifesto. A video with no subtitles.
Social media videos have no subtitles & no alt text on images https://www.kam4london.co.uk/the_new_economy
Website so inaccessible I couldn't even find a manifesto. A video with no subtitles.
Social media videos have no subtitles & no alt text on images https://www.kam4london.co.uk/the_new_economy
Burning Pink Party Candidate @Valerie4London
Website very inaccessible, however there is a manifesto you can download. It's a simple text pdf.
On social media no subtitles on videos & no alt text on images.
https://burningpink.earth/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/valerie-brown-manifesto.pdf
Website very inaccessible, however there is a manifesto you can download. It's a simple text pdf.
On social media no subtitles on videos & no alt text on images.
https://burningpink.earth/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/valerie-brown-manifesto.pdf
Let London Live Candidate Piers Corbyn @LetLondonLive1
The website has a 14 point manifesto in plain but very long text. Videos have no subtitles.
Social media no alt text on images.
https://www.corbyn4london.com/14-point-statement-on-the-year-of-coronavirus-madness/
The website has a 14 point manifesto in plain but very long text. Videos have no subtitles.
Social media no alt text on images.
https://www.corbyn4london.com/14-point-statement-on-the-year-of-coronavirus-madness/
Independent Candidate @CountBinface
Website has a clear text 21 point election plan. Video has subtitles.
Social media videos with subtitles but no image alt text. https://www.countbinface.com/london-2021-manifesto
Website has a clear text 21 point election plan. Video has subtitles.
Social media videos with subtitles but no image alt text. https://www.countbinface.com/london-2021-manifesto
Independent Candidate @max_fosh
No website that I could find. Youtube campaign video has auto-generated captions.
Social media videos have no captions & no alt text on images.
No website that I could find. Youtube campaign video has auto-generated captions.
Social media videos have no captions & no alt text on images.
The Reclaim Party Candidate @LozzaFox
Website layout inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter, manifesto available to download, with clear layout but small font. No other formats.
Social media videos do have some subtitles but no image alt text.
https://laurencefoxforlondon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LFManifesto_FN.pdf
Website layout inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter, manifesto available to download, with clear layout but small font. No other formats.
Social media videos do have some subtitles but no image alt text.
https://laurencefoxforlondon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LFManifesto_FN.pdf
Rejoin EU Candidate @RejoinP
Website has a captioned video & a clear list of points. PDF manifesto is inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter.
Social media good use of captions on videos, but no alt text on images. https://rejoin.london/mayor/
Website has a captioned video & a clear list of points. PDF manifesto is inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter.
Social media good use of captions on videos, but no alt text on images. https://rejoin.london/mayor/
Animal Welfare Party Candidate @vanessahhudson
Website has a captioned video & a plain text list of manifesto points. No other formats available.
Social media videos limited use of captions & no alt text on images. https://www.animalwelfareparty.org/current-elections/2021london/
Website has a captioned video & a plain text list of manifesto points. No other formats available.
Social media videos limited use of captions & no alt text on images. https://www.animalwelfareparty.org/current-elections/2021london/
Social Democratic Party @stevekSDP
Website has a long clear text list of policies. No other accessible formats available.
Social media videos no use of captions & no alt text on images. https://sdp.org.uk/policies/
Website has a long clear text list of policies. No other accessible formats available.
Social media videos no use of captions & no alt text on images. https://sdp.org.uk/policies/
Heritage Party Candidate @davidkurten
Website has a very long inaccessible page of small font listing policies. No other formats available.
Social media no use of captions on videos & no alt text on images. https://www.davidkurten.net/policies
Website has a very long inaccessible page of small font listing policies. No other formats available.
Social media no use of captions on videos & no alt text on images. https://www.davidkurten.net/policies
Independent Candidate @MsFarahLondon
I cannot currently access the website... but it appears to have a manifesto page.
Social media inconsistent use of captions on videos & no alt text on images.
https://votefarah.london/manifesto/
I cannot currently access the website... but it appears to have a manifesto page.
Social media inconsistent use of captions on videos & no alt text on images.
https://votefarah.london/manifesto/
Independent Candidate @NimsObungeUK
Website is a bit overwhelming as a visually impaired voter but there are clear bullet points & a subtitled video.
Social media inconsistent use of captions on videos & no alt text on images. https://www.nimsforlondon.com/policies
Website is a bit overwhelming as a visually impaired voter but there are clear bullet points & a subtitled video.
Social media inconsistent use of captions on videos & no alt text on images. https://www.nimsforlondon.com/policies
London Real Party Candidate @brianrose4mayor
Website is inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter, manifesto can be downloaded & has a clear enough layout.
Social media has no use of captions on videos & no alt text on images.
https://brianformayor.london/brian-rose-mayor-manifesto-2021.pdf
Website is inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter, manifesto can be downloaded & has a clear enough layout.
Social media has no use of captions on videos & no alt text on images.
https://brianformayor.london/brian-rose-mayor-manifesto-2021.pdf
There are 14 million disabled people living in the UK.
2 million are Blind or Visually Impaired.
11 million are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
1.5 million have a learning disability.
Many of these people are voters. Voters being excluded through inaccessible information online.
2 million are Blind or Visually Impaired.
11 million are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
1.5 million have a learning disability.
Many of these people are voters. Voters being excluded through inaccessible information online.
If you are a political candidate running in an election & you have the budget for a flashy website. Make it accessible.
If you're using social media learn how to add image descriptions & add captions to your videos.
Inaccessible information tells disabled voters you don't care.
If you're using social media learn how to add image descriptions & add captions to your videos.
Inaccessible information tells disabled voters you don't care.
You can make small changes right now. Learn how to add alt text on your social media.
Download a live captions app like Clips or Clipomatic
Make a commitment to being more accessible for the future. https://blog.hootsuite.com/inclusive-design-social-media/
Download a live captions app like Clips or Clipomatic
Make a commitment to being more accessible for the future. https://blog.hootsuite.com/inclusive-design-social-media/
If you found this thread useful or informative, please consider supporting my disability activism by buying me coffee.
Any support appreciated (the thread did take an hour!) https://ko-fi.com/blondehistorian
Any support appreciated (the thread did take an hour!) https://ko-fi.com/blondehistorian
Finally, if you are any of the above political candidates or a business looking to learn how to make your social media more inclusive, hire me! I offer training & consultancy.
https://amykavanagh.co.uk/
https://amykavanagh.co.uk/
