Recently I hosted a workshop about social media accessibility [recorded workshop]. One of the many tips that I shared is about including representations of people with diverse abilities in your media and content. This can be a challenge without the right resources. I received some excellent recommendations from peers about inclusive stock image archives and I'd like to pass along a few of the best ones here. A few notes before selecting photos and sharing your content:
- Please read Lainey Feingold's excellent blog about choosing the right photos of people with disabilities.
- Be aware that some photos may include their own license info for purchase and reuse, even within the same archive.
- Always include an alternative text description (alt text) for your images no matter where you share them. For example, all social media platforms have alt text [Veronica with Four Eyes blog].
Inclusive Stock Image Archives
- Disabled and Here
- DisabilityIN, Inclusive Stock Photography
- The Noun Project, Disability Collection
- Pixabay, Disability Collection
Example Image from Disabled and Here.
Example alt text: "Six disabled people of color smile and pose in front of a concrete wall. Five people stand in the back, with the Black woman in the center holding up a chalkboard sign reading "disabled and here." A South Asian person in a wheelchair sits in front."