Ten accessibility Twitter accounts you should follow
Sarah Botterill | 24 Jan 2021Twitter is ablaze with activity during TechShare Pro, with key influencers joining the accessibility conversation.
Community is at the heart of TechShare Pro and the key to getting the accessibility message out beyond that community. As The Valuable 500's Caroline Casey said in a previous keynote:
"Hear the voices. 53% of consumers; are you kidding? You don’t want to talk with us. Listen, these are our voices; we are here.”
Twitter is a great tool for listening and influencing. Here are some accounts we recommend you follow.
Article compiled during TechShare Pro 2019
1. AbilityNet @AbilityNet
AbilityNet exists to change the lives of disabled people by using digital technology at work, at home or in education. This is our third year organising TechShare Pro to bring together a community of people to embrace Inclusive Design.
We regularly run FREE webinars covering accessibility topics.
Consultants Abi James @abijames and Adi Latif @access_adi regularly tweet about accessible developments, as does Head of Digital Inclusion Robin Christopherson @USA2DAY. We also work closely with Alistair McNaught of McNaught Consulting @alistairm on our further and higher education digital accessibility services.
Followers: 7,520 Following: 2,322
2. Antonio Vieira Santos @AkwyZ
Senior expert at Atos, Antonio is passionate about digital inclusion and social media engagement.
He is a regular attendee at technology conferences, so he has his finger on the pulse of current accessibility trends.
Followers: 76.8k Following: 27.1k
3. Eduardo Meza-Etienne @edaccessible
Keen strategist Eduardo is Director of Compliance at eSSENTIAL Accessibility.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility (@essentia11y) helps people with disabilities equitably access the digital world through accessibility compliance and Assistive Technology.
Followers: 118.4K Following: 123K
4. Caroline Casey @CarolineBinc
Caroline Casey's keynote was an inspiring start to TechShare Pro 2019. Follow the self-confessed dreamer as she travels the world seeking to get #diversish on the agenda at the board level.
The Valuable 500 account is @500Valuable
Followers: 5,775 Following: 1,327
5. Haben Girma @HabenGirma
Deafblind Harvard Law Graduate Haben told delegates at TechShare Pro 2019 how much she values social media as a way of connecting with others.
As well as being a Disability Rights Lawyer, she is the author of Haben, the DeafBlind woman who conquered Harvard Law.
Haben has recently joined @Lenovo as the tech company's first Accessibility and Inclusion Advisor.
Followers: 12.5K Following: 2,666
6. Google Accessibility @googleaccess
Keep up with all things accessible at Google by following the company's official accessibility account.
As well as details of TechShare Pro 2019, hosted by Google, you can get a view from Google insiders on how they joined the company.
Plus, discover how the company is working to make its Chromebook as accessible as possible.
Followers: 33.1K Following: 442
7. Margaux Joffe @MargauxJoffe
Margaux is Associate Director of Accessibility & Inclusion at Verizon Media, the global media company behind brands such as Yahoo, AOL, HuffPost, Tumblr, TechCrunch, and MAKERS.
In 2018, she spearheaded The Disability Collection, a partnership between Verizon Media, The National Disability Leadership Alliance and Getty Images to change people's representation with disabilities in the media.
Before joining Verizon Media, Margaux launched an online platform for adult women with ADHD called Kaleidoscope Society.
Followers: 2,461 Following: 2,687
8. Reema Patel @Reema_Patel
Reema was a panellist at TechShare Pro 2019, where she spoke about her work as Head of Public Engagement at the Ada Lovelace Institute (@AdaLovelaceInst).
Reema has consulted for various international organisations, including the Danish Board of Technology Foundation and Nextdoor.com.
Followers: 2,361 Following: 3,232
9. Jamie and Lion @spacedoutsmiles
Jamie Knight writes about the fun side of autism and shares his adventure as he transitions to independent living.
Jamie is a Senior Accessibility Specialist in User Experience and Design at the BBC.
Read AbilityNet's interview with Jamie.
Followers: 4,843 Following: 350
10. Scope @Scope
Scope campaigns for equality for Disabled People. The charity joined us at TechShare Pro 2019 to deliver The Big Hack results, which reveals how business is missing out by ignoring the power of the purple pound.
The charity's account is a great way to stay abreast of legislation that impacts the rights of disabled people.
Followers: 102K Following: 7,719
Numbers of followers and following correct as of November 2019.
About TechShare Pro
Now in its third year, TechShare Pro 2019 is hosted by Google and supported by some of the planet's biggest technology names. The conference offers two days to connect, learn and share with people from all over the world who build a more accessible and inclusive digital world.
Panellists and workshop hosts include Apple, Google, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, Barclays, RNIB, Uber, Disability Rights Advocate (USA), Disability Rights UK, European Disability Forum, Aira, BBC, Sony, Scope, Fraunhofer, Verizon Media, Amazon, Netflix and Channel 4.
- Subscribe to The TechShare Procast - your audio guide to the conference, including highlights and interviews with some of the speakers at the event.
- Request the livestream from TechShare Pro 2019 to watch the main conference sessions online.
- Join our mailing list to be kept up-to-date with the latest disability and technology news, plus more from TechShare Pro 2019 post-event.