The Social Media Accessibility Playbook: Instagram + LinkedIn in 5 Steps
(Because making your content more inclusive shouldn’t take all day.)
I can’t tell you how many times I see posts with really cool information in them and then I think about the possibility that there are so many people out there who may not even be able to read them.
The text is too small.
The color combination makes it impossible to read.
Or they rely on a screen reader… and there’s no image description or alt text at all.
I sigh and shake my head.
Because in that moment, all that valuable information is basically locked away from the people who could use it most.
And here’s the thing: this happens on social media all the time. Not because people don’t care, but because accessibility isn’t built into their content process.
The good news?
It’s not hard to fix that.
I promise it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming!
Here are the top 5 accessibility wins for Instagram and LinkedIn that fit right into your existing workflow.
Instagram: Top 5 Accessibility Wins
1. Use high-contrast text over images
Think black on white, or dark navy on pale yellow. Avoid low-contrast combos (like light pink on gray). Aim for a 4.5:1 contrast ratio.
2. Add alt text or an image description
On desktop, Instagram has a built-in alt text field. On mobile, include a short image description in your caption:[ID: A woman smiling while holding a microphone]
3. Caption your reels, stories, videos!
Not just for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers like me, but also for anyone watching without sound. (Which is… a lot of people.)
4. Use CamelCase hashtags
Write #ContentAccessibilityMatters instead of #contentaccessibilitymatters so screen readers can read each word correctly.
5. Repeat important info in the caption
If your call-to-action or headline only exists in the image, a lot of people won’t see it. Always include it in text too.
LinkedIn: Top 5 Accessibility Wins
1. Use high-contrast colors in all visuals
Your carousels, PDFs, and header images should pass color contrast standards.
2. Add alt text to every image
This tells screen readers what the image is and why it’s there.
3. Caption your videos
Live or uploaded — captions make your message clear for more people, in more situations.
4. Use descriptive link text
Instead of “Click here,” say “Read our Accessibility Guide” or “Download the LinkedIn Carousel Template.”
5. Keep paragraphs short
2–3 lines max for better scannability. Bullets and lists are your friend.
How to Make This a Habit
The first thing you need to understand is there is no “burning it all down.” It’s about adding quick, repeatable steps to what you’re already doing.
Your new content flow could look like this:
Draft your post.
Run through the 5-point checklist for your platform.
Publish knowing more people can actually use and enjoy your content.
Small updates → bigger audience → deeper trust.
Want hands-on help making your posts accessible without adding hours to your process?
That’s exactly what we do in my Accessible Business Team Training.
We’ll look at your exact workflows, spot the biggest barriers, and give you simple, sustainable updates you can start using right away.
Because accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have.
It’s how you make sure the people you want to reach… can actually reach back.
