Why I call it “justice-focused” marketing

revised March 9th, 2024; adapted from an article originally published in 2021 as “Why ‘justice-focused’ marketing?" on the Accessible Yoga Training website

So many of us struggle with feeling like marketing is a narcissistic, icky, self-involved thing that we have to do in order to grow our work and reach new clients.

Marketing can feel like something we have to force, or like something that’s the complete opposite of why we got into the work we do in the first place—as if talking about and sharing our work publicly is somehow, at its core, contrived, disingenuous, or manipulative.

This is, of course, in large part due to the fact that marketing is inherently connected to capitalism, and we cannot separate our work from the systems of power and oppression in which we live.

We can, however, hold this truth and still find ways to orient towards marketing as a form of teaching, a form of relationship-building, and even a form of disruption. We we can focus more on those we’re in service of rather than ourselves—we be generous in our marketing and actually share something we often share with clients and in our work. When we teach something through our marketing in this way, we’re more capable of fostering connection, of reaching new audiences, and of building meaningful relationships on the digital plane. This is the exact opposite of what capitalism centers.

Of course, if marketing is about relationship-building and connection, if it’s about leaning into the vulnerable act of taking up space and talking about ourselves and our work, then our identities, lived experiences, and the culture in which we live are an inherent part of the practices of marketing and visibility.

We’re at a unique moment in our culture and history. The internet—and social media in particular, have shifted the landscape of what it looks like to grow our work in the world. This shift is evidenced in many ways, one most prominently being that social media profiles (aka entrepreneur visibility and digital visibility) is now tied to a form of social capitol. To me this means we have a responsibility in sharing ones values, speaking truth to power, and no longer perpetuating the belief that we can stay silent, remain neutral, or somehow separate the personal from the political.

I believe there is a need in the online business space for marketing support that is actually attuned to what it’s like to be a human being at this point in time amidst late-stage capitalism, white supremacy, increasing anti-trans legislation, the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple genocides, and other very real and traumatic events.

I believe that, with some degree of public visibility in one’s work, there is a responsibility to leverage that visibility when it comes to important topics and issues (such as human rights issues).

I recognize that some of us have more access to visibility than others, that not all of us are safe to be visible, and that privilege is playing a role in this conversation.

I also believe that social media can and does often lead to a degree of performative activism that is not leading to any meaningful change.

The marketing work I want to be part of, and hope to facilitate, is thus founded upon the following Assumptions. This framework was created by and adapted from the work of ​Dismantling Racism Works, and further inspired by my studies with and of teachers like Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Resmaa Menakem, adrienne maree brown, Mia Mingus, Patrisse Cullors, Angela Davis, Mariame Kaba, the team at Resolutions Northwest, & many others.

Assumptions

• We live in a toxic culture that affects us all; one dynamic of the culture is that we are discouraged from seeing it. One of our tasks is to learn to see our culture and how it teaches us to make normal that which is not and should never be normal.

• Power dynamics underlie everything; our marketing is not separate from this truth—power = systems of oppression such as white supremacy, capitalism, settler colonialism, patriarchy, and all of their individual and collective impacts.

• “Business as usual” is no longer an option and there is no such thing as a “safe” space—not in the world and not in our work or marketing.

• Intention is not the same as impact; we can have good intentions and still have a hurtful or damaging impact.

• Dismantling racism, cisheterosexism, and unlearning oppressive attitudes will and does take a lifetime. This work is a journey without endpoint. This work is a lifelong process.

• There is no way to talk about these systems without activating the trauma that is a very real part of living within them, and there is no way to show up to grow our work without engaging in these systems.

• Our roles and responsibilities are different based on our social location.

• Part of our work is to develop discernment about the exquisite balance between the personal and the collective. We work well together collectively when we tend to our personal work and our personal work makes better sense in the context of the collective.

• We have to believe in the possibilities of creating the world we want to see. We have to commit to learning from our mistakes and being accountable to this process. We have to love ourselves into who we want to be.

• None of this is easy and we have to do it anyway.

10 Marketing Tips I Wish I’d Learned (when starting my business)

revised January 10th, 2024; adapted from an article originally published on the Accessible Yoga School website

One of the challenges of becoming an entrepreneur is that most of us aren’t given any training on business or marketing. Most of our education or credentialing processes prepare us to offer our work, but they don’t generally offer us much information about how to grow our work.

Here are 10 (somewhat accessible) ways to grow your business (online):

1. Get on Instagram.

   Even with all of its complications, Instagram is the number one place to be to connect with new clients and to network. Facebook is great for staying in touch with friends and family. Instagram is the platform where we more easily build relationships with people we don’t already know.'
   

2. Create a content plan.
   This doesn’t have to be dramatic or involve a ton of time and labor. Maybe start with one post per week to keep it simple, and maybe eventually explore posting more frequently. Find a way to maintain some degree of consistency in how often you communicate with your audience. Consistency doesn’t have to mean constant.
   

3. Show your face.
   In order to build relationships with people, we need to share about who we are, which also includes sharing ourselves, our beliefs, our training history, our unique approach to our work—and our faces. You are the person behind the work you do in the world, and your audience will want to know who you are. (And also, remember: boundaries.)
   

4. Go beyond the services, offers, or outright promotion shares.
   Yes, your audience needs to know the where, when, what, and how you’re offering what you do—whether that’s a workshop, a regular class, a 1:1 service, etc., and we also want to get a sense of who you are. Tell us about what led you to the work you do, tell us about your WHY, share your values and help us learn about who you are beyond the work you offer. This will create more meaningful relationships with your audience (which will likely feel more authentic and less icky for you and them!).
   

5. Create a simple website.
   There are a plethora of user-friendly website creation platforms available. I always point clients towards Squarespace as I’ve found it’s the most intuitive for the most people. That said, find a way to create some sort of web presence beyond your social media account—your audience will want a place to learn more about you and your offerings. This will also help you grow your work over time as what you share evolves.
   

6. Start a newsletter list.
   Don’t overthink it. At some point in time, we all start from zero. Don’t let numbers intimidate you. Pick a platform (Mailchimp, Flodesk, and Squarespace are great places to start) and come up with a plan for newsletter communications that works with your schedule—maybe that’s once a month, or once a season; maybe it’s simply when you feel like it. Email marketing is proven to be very effective! Embrace that, don’t over-complicate it, and find your way in.
   

7. Stay consistent
   Consistency is one of the primary principles of an impactful digital strategy. Consistency is a matter of showing up on a regular basis to stay “front of mind” with your audience. Consistency will inform how much your audience remembers you when they need to find someone for a particular form of support. Consistency is key to ongoing growth. And remember this: consistency does not mean constant, and it not have to mean we give in to hustle and grind culture.
   

8. Network.
   Networking—like marketing, isn’t inherently a bad thing. It’s how we approach it that matters. Embrace the possibilities that can come from actually talking about the work you do in the world when you’re meeting new people. Remember that professional, business and continuing education trainings are all spaces for potential connections and collaborators.
   

9. Find your voice.
   Discovering and sharing our voice—and being visible in and of itself, is a practice that can bring up a lot for many of us, and especially for those of us who have been impacted by systems of power and oppression. It is not safe for every human to publicly speak their truth. Find what you feel called to share, explore your values and what lights you up; contribute to conversations that matter to you. (Highly recommend this on-demand webinar from Mai-kee Tsang on Sustainable Visibility for more on this topic.)
   

10. Don’t forget yourself.
    Practice rest. Forgiveness. Non-perfectionism. Non-urgency. Focus on relationships rather than transactions. Embrace the ups and downs, the cycles, the not-knowing (most of us don’t really know what we’re doing anyways, even if it looks otherwise!) and the learning process as you try on new strategies, systems, and techniques. Take care of yourself.

I don’t use the word ‘womxn.’ Here’s why.

originally published November 18, 2021, revised January 18, 2024

When we seek to use inclusive language, our intention might not match the impact of our word choices.

In my opinion, 'womxn' is not as inclusive as many of us might think.

Though often applauded in "radical" spaces and communities, 'womxn' implies that trans women need to be separate and distinct from the word 'women.'

If we recognize that trans women are indeed women (surprise, they are!), we don't need another term to include their identities.

Which means that 'women' is naturally an inclusive term, though clearly our dominant culture doesn't yet recognize it as such. This is part of the culture shift we all need to be working towards with our language and actions.

It's also important to note that 'womyn' and 'womxn' have two distinct undertones and histories, though both terms seek to challenge patriarchy.

Womyn was coined as part of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, often referred to as MWMF or Michfest, a feminist women's music festival held annually from 1976 to 2015 that excluded trans women, claiming a "womyn-born womyn" policy.

Womxn was coined as a way to signal a more inclusive spelling of the word that aimed to recognize and honor trans women as women.

I also wonder if folks consider non-binary identity and experiences when using terms like womxn—or the newer women+ and womanish. Ultimately, these supposedly inclusive terms ultimately reinforce and uphold the gender binary, reducing non-binary and genderqueer folks to a binary categorization. This is harmful, and the opposite of what I seek to challenge in my work.

FACT: Trans women are women. And grouping non-binary people with binary identities is harmful.

When we aim to create new language to "include" historically and currently marginalized populations, we may actually be further othering or marginalizing them. Getting intentional and critical with our language can have a significant impact.

I recommend we specify who our spaces are for—ie "this space will center those most impacted by patriarchy, sexism, and misogyny," or "this offering is designed for birthing bodies and bodies that menstruate."

We can recognize, affirm, and include more people with our language choices, and using more words isn't a bad thing!

And of course, maybe whatever you’re offering doesn’t need to be gendered as you share it with the world—ie if you’re someone who “works with women,” think about who you’re including/excluding with this messaging and what harmful cultural narratives you might be unintentionally perpetuating.

Overall, apart from language, we must also commit to actually making our spaces welcoming and affirming for those we aim to center.

Otherwise we're just checking boxes.

The work of equity and inclusion necessitates that we share power; language can be a starting point in this process.

Can we stop teaching about divine feminine & masculine energies in ways that uphold cisheteronormativity?

originally published January 16, 2023

On acknowledging harm & power in so-called healing spaces

I’m often asked about divine feminine and masculine archetypes and how to include trans, and especially non-binary, people when speaking to these teachings. The truth is that divine feminine and masculine energies are traits that exist in us all, regardless of our gender identities. What is often harmful and trans exclusionary is utilizing these teachings without acknowledging the toxicity of our dominant culture.

We exist in a society premised upon cisheteronormativity—"a pervasive system of belief that centers and naturalizes heterosexuality and a binary system of assigned sex/gender when there are two rigid, distinct ways of being: assigned-male-at-birth masculine men and assigned-female-at-birth feminine women” (definition sourced from The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center at Michigan State University).

Furthermore, cisheteronormativity is rooted in settler colonialism, white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, etc.—power systems that limit the freedom of our expressions, our being-ness, and our embodiment; systems that advantage and privilege some at the expense of many. And I would also argue that cisheteronormativity impacts all of us, including cishet men and women—we see this via toxic masculinity, fatphobic beauty norms, slut-shaming, etc.

To me, if we’re speaking to divine feminine and masculine archetypes, we must acknowledge systems of oppression and harm—we must acknowledge the way power functions in our culture and how hard it is to disentangle these teachings from said power structures and their individual and collective impact.

I’m reminded of a teaching from Michelle Cassandra Johnson’s Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World (2nd edition) in which she invites us to understand that “We live in a toxic culture that affects us all. We are not encouraged to see it, so we must learn to see our culture and how it teaches us to transform the absurd into normal.”

Ultimately, it's absurd that we are put in binary gender boxes according to our genitalia; it’s absurd to conceptualize of human experiences according to two gender norms, and it’s absurd that these norms influence the expectation of who we love. When we do not do the work of naming and acknowledging these absurdities, we risk perpetuating harm, trauma, and systemic oppression. We risk othering the very people we may be seeking to hold healing space for.

Consider how your privilege might impact your relationship to divine feminine and masculine archetypes. Consider how your gender and sexual identities might be normalized in these teachings. Consider the ways in which you share these energetic essences and how you might be reinforcing power and oppression in your healing work and spaces.

And remember, we must do more than simply use thoughtful or inclusive language. Language is important when it comes to culture shift and challenging power norms, and we must also commit to the deeper work needed to dismantle oppression. We must understand that solidarity and culture shift requires action.

Want to be a True Ally? Do the Inner Work

Originally published May 28th, 2022 with Yoga Journal, this article unpacks some of the ways we can engage in the practice of allyship, and how allyship directly ties into the teachings of yoga, and particularly Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the yamas and niyamas.

*Please note that I think the term “allyship” is complicated and one that benefits from interrogation. I also believe it’s complicated for me—as a white person, to speak about the teachings of yoga. I address these complexities in every area of the work that I do, which is challenging to reflect in one short internet article with a word count requirement.

I’m Jewish and these are my thoughts on Israel and Palestine.

originally published June 10th, 2021
CW: state violence, antisemitism, ethnic cleansing, genocide

Growing up, I went to temple for Jewish holidays, Sunday school to learn about the religion and culture, Hebrew school to learn the language, and Jewish summer camp. I studied to be Bat Mitzvah’d—a ceremony to mark the transition to early teenage years, historically considered a transition to “adulthood”, and I was confirmed a few years later—a separate ceremony honoring the decision of young adults choosing to embrace Jewish study in their lives. And I traveled to Israel on a group trip when I was 17. 

When I type all of that out, it lands with me: I’m about to share with people that I’m Jewish. 

Like really Jewish.

And yet...I don't feel really Jewish.

And I'm afraid to share any of this information publicly because of the reality of antisemitism. 

While working to gain a deeper understanding of the identities I embody through my anti-racism and anti-oppression practices, I’ve been reflecting on how little I considered my Jewishness. By now, I’ve named my identities in public spaces countless times—I have consistently acknowledged my whiteness, my queerness, my transness, my able-bodiedness... and it took me years to name my Jewishness. 

Why did it take me so long to claim this part of myself? Why is it continuing to take me so long to feel like I can honor it?

I was taught from an early age to keep it quiet. I was taught to not say the word ‘temple’ in public (people would hear you!), I was taught to not tell clients or professional contacts about my background, heritage, and upbringing. The message I received was, “be silent about it because antisemitism and anti-Jewish violence are real.” 

I’ve come to understand that I was taught to be silent about my Judaism because of the shame and self-loathing so many Jewish folks experience. This self-loathing and shame is internalized oppression—it’s a symptom of historical trauma.

I want to acknowledge that I now understand, in a more embodied than intellectual way, my Jewish identity to be a marginalized identity. Note: My most salient identity is as a white-bodied human. The reality is that dominant U.S. culture, systems, and structures function to filter by racialized identity and specifically according to skin color: I am seen as a white person before I am seen as a Jewish person.

I was also taught to value anti-oppression principles, stemming from the reality of what my Jewish ancestors faced during the Holocaust.

I was taught that Judaism was a religion and culture of people who believed in and advocated for human rights. My own ancestral lineage—the very blood and bones of my body, is the origin of my commitment to social justice. 

The Hebrew phrase, "tikkun olam," which can be translated as "repairing the world," is etched into my mind as part of my early learning. Tikkun olam is a core teaching of the Jewish faith.

To me, to be Jewish is to be committed to the work of social justice. The two are intertwined and cannot be separated. And I believe showing up for social justice and human rights requires showing up for Palestinian rights.

Throughout my Jewish upbringing and education, and even when I traveled to Israel at the age of 17, Palestine wasn’t explicitly acknowledged or explored—I have no memory of anyone mentioning Palestine. For context, at one point I was in Jerusalem—a 45-minute drive from Ramallah. Imagine being in midtown Manhattan with no one mentioning Brooklyn.

I was not taught that an indigenous peoples had existed on the land that became Israel, nor that they were forcibly removed, nor that they were living in as second-class citizens—in refugee camps or confined territories with limited to no access to basic resources, the ability to come and go freely, or have an active and just role in legal and governing bodies. This is not ancient history. It’s all still ongoing. 

When I did learn of Palestine’s existence, I was gaslit into thinking that I had no choice but to support Israel’s occupation and attacks on the Palestinian community and land. I internalized subtle messaging that led me to believe Palestine did not deserve to be recognized as a separate state, that Palestinian people were less-than—that Palestinians were a radical Islamic monolith, had initiated the violence in the region and that the very existence of Palestinian people and lands threatened Israel’s status as a protected Jewish homeland.

Eventually I became aware of the decades long ‘peace process’ and the fact that the United States has been (and continues to be) the primary source of financial and military support in the Israeli occupation. 

When contemplating this, I immediately hear the following words in my head, which I read regularly in the workshops I teach relating to transgender inclusion and advocacy:

The best way to eliminate a group is to demonize them, such that their disappearance is seen as an act of justice, not discrimination.
— Alok Vaid-Menon from their book, Beyond the Gender Binary

This is settler colonialism. Palestinians are the indigenous peoples of what we now call Israel, and under the guise of creating and protecting a Jewish homeland Israel has created the largest forced refugee population in history. The Palestinian people— Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and more, live as displaced or segregated peoples on their historical land, on nearby lands like Lebanon and Jordan, and around the world. This is a refugee population of 5.9 million. For context, that’s more people than the country of Denmark which has a population of 5.8 million.  

When we perpetuate the narrative that Israel has a right to exist at the expense of Palestinian rights, we are contributing to the demonization of the Palestinian people and disappearing their right to exist on their native land—we are contributing to the real-time elimination of these peoples and their culture. 

When we say we "stand with Israel"—a common refrain heard from Jews around the world, we are effectively saying we support military rule, apartheid, state violence, ethnic cleansing, military occupation, and racism. (I also feel compelled to acknowledge that “‘standing’ with Israel” is inherently ableist and therefore harmful in and of itself.) 

As a Jewish person raised to value liberation, I believe the state of Israel must be held accountable for the violence inflicted on Palestinians for more than 70 years. The United States must be held accountable for supporting this violence and perpetuating the narrative that “standing with Israel” is a democratic and just stance. 

This is not a zero-sum equation. We can and must acknowledge the historic, real, and difficult plight of the Jewish people and also hold the Israeli state accountable for its human rights violations. We can believe in and be in favor of both an Israeli state and a Palestinian state.

The experiences of historical trauma and persecution do not excuse you from accountability when you inflict trauma and persecution on others, and that is exactly what's happening. Antisemitism cannot be a justification for violence.

I am not an expert on this topic. I felt compelled to share reflections on my own experience as a Jewish American, and as someone who has gained a deeper understanding of the reality of the Israeli occupation. I also felt compelled to reflect and share because, as someone committed to social justice, it felt harmful for me to not comment on this topic given my personal experience with Jewish identity and heritage. 

For further learning, I recommend the following resources:

• “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution,” published by Human Rights Watch

• Palestine/Israel 101, published by Jewish Voice for Peace

• “Israeli Palestinian conflict explained: an animated introduction to Israel and Palestine,” published by Jewish Voice for Peace

• “Israel has chosen a two-tiered society. Violence is the inevitable result,” written by Hagai El-Ad, the executive director of B’Tselem—a human-rights organization based in Jerusalem, for the Washington Post

• An Ongoing Resource Guide to All Things #FreePalestine

• “What is happening in Palestine is not complicated; it’s settler colonialism and ethnic cleansing,” shared by @theslowfactory

• “From the River to the Sea: The Palestinian Liberation Struggle,” episode from June 25, 2020 on the Revolutionary Left Radio podcast

Special thanks to Melissa Keeport and Christopher Hirsh for the support in writing this piece.

Best Practices for Social Media Accessibility

originally published September 20th, 2020

I believe we can engage in social media while staying committed to the work of social justice. Which is why, as a digital strategist, I know it's my responsibility to learn how to create accessible content.

Before I dive in, I want to acknowledge that I live on the disability spectrum and experience mild neurodivergence. And, I regard myself as a learner in this work. I am committed to this learning so that I can be present on social media and create content that is accessible and equitable for those who move through the world with different identities and abilities from my own.

I will be updating this page as I continue to gain knowledge and tools for these practices. And I am grateful for the offerings of so many educators who I am dedicated to learning from, especially Mia Mingus and Carol aka Higher Priestess. If the resources and education I share below are of value to you, please consider supporting their work through following and sharing their content, offering financial contributions to them directly, or attending their workshops.

Content Warnings

Content warnings, or trauma warnings, are used when our posts reference or explore content that could potentially be activating to peoples' nervous systems. You might see posts that begin with CW: or TW:, subsequently listing a variety of themes, such as racism, transphobia, disordered eating, body image, etc. Providing a CW gives people the opportunity to make empowered choices about the content they consume. Or not. A well-placed CW, prior to content that might unexpectedly catch someone off guard, serves as a pivot point, allowing viewers to make a choice from a place of agency. Think of this as one way you might offer informed consent and practice trauma awareness on social media.

While our nervous systems might experience varying degrees of activation while scrolling through social media, we can make mindful choices about the types of content we consume, and we can support our community in listening to what they need and cultivating boundaries.

When adding content warnings…

• Always note the CW first, as a preface before you share the content:

• In story posts, if you’re sharing content that might be activating, be sure to create one single story slide with the content warning, and then share the content

• In feed posts, include your content warning at the very top of your caption or in the first carousel slide. Add enough text, or include ellipses or emojis, so that viewers tap “more,” thereby making the subsequent part of your caption only visible to someone who wishes to see it after reviewing the content warning (again, think: trauma-informed consent)

Consider including CWs for the following themes:

• abuse or violence of any kind

• harm of any kind, including racism, transphobia, antisemitism, etc.

• sexual violence

• disordered eating, body image, weight loss or numbers related to weight

• self-harm or suicide

• & more

Bottom line: any time you speak to a highly sensitive subject, consider first prefacing your post with a content or trauma warning. See example.

Alt text

There are two primary ways to make our images accessible for those who are visually impaired and using screen readers: alt text and image descriptions.

Alt text is is embedded to the photo and not displayed for viewers. It's usually a brief description of the primary image details, announced by screen readers for those who are visually impaired. Alt text is meant to provide the main details of an image, and is usually 140 characters or shorter.

Instagram’s features change regularly; at this moment, you can find the alt text settings when you tap to create a new post—in the frame you see when you start writing a caption, locate “Advanced Settings” at the bottom of that screen. Tap that, then scroll down to Accessibility (it should be the last option in the Advanced Settings menu). Under Accessibility, tap “Write Alt Text.”

Note that Instagram does say it automatically creates alt text for your photos. If you’d like to have any ownership over this (and I recommend that you do!), be sure to create your unique words for the image alt text. Again, 140 characters or less. Think one sentence. For the above photo on this page, I would write something to the effect of: A selfie of Tristan as they hug their pup, Layla, at the beach.

Also note that if you’re sharing a post with multiple slides, you’ll be prompted to add alt text for each one.

Image Descriptions

Image descriptions are visible to viewers and consist of more detailed text explaining what the image or post might encompass. There are several things to remember when seeking to offer image descriptions:

Be sure to include as much information and details as possible about the graphic(s) you’re sharing, including words to describe clothing styles and colors, haircuts and colors, etc.

Note in your description that it’s a photo or graphic (meaning a marketing/promo image), i.e. “A photo of Tristan and their pup,” or “A graphic featuring a black and white image, underlaying text that reads…”

Consider including racial identity when describing people in your photos. Or, at the very least, if you find yourself inclined to name, for example, that someone in your photo is a Black woman, be sure to also name those who are white-bodied in the image as well—I am now adding a note about my own white identity in many of my image descriptions with the aim of normalizing the act of naming and acknowledging that I hold this privileged identity. I am also often including my gender identity to normalize this consideration as well.

Place the image description in your caption if space allows. If your caption is too long, consider including something to the effect of “Image ID in comments” to direct screen readers and those who are visually impaired to the comment for the image description.

If you’re sharing a carousel slide post, be sure to offer descriptions of each slide, i.e. "[Image ID: Slide 1 features….]

Be sure to actually include text to explain that you’re offering an image description so that screen readers will announce that part of the caption clearly—including the image description without actually categorizing it as such might confuse those who are hearing the text read aloud. By that I mean, preface your image description with something to the effect of:

• Image ID:

• [Image:]

• Pic:

• …or some variation thereof

Bottom line: we are each responsible for creating alt text and image descriptions when sharing accessible content. Though there are auto-generators out there, my understanding is that they don’t suffice, and it’s best if we manually provide these points of accessibility.

Video accessibility

When sharing videos on Instagram, whether in a feed post, your stories, video post, or reels, be sure to offer captioning for those who are visually or hearing impaired.

While there are several apps available to support you in creating your captions, know that you can also manually add them yourself—it just takes more time.

I’ve had great success with MixCaptions for iOS, though keep in mind you have to pay for it. Here are my steps:

First, I install the app on my mobile device.

Second, I film the video I want to share with my built-in camera, and I save it to my device.

I open MixCaptions, then select the video, and the app will automatically comb through and generate captions. The app offers an opportunity to review and edit the captions if needed.

Once I’m happy with the text, I save the captioned video back to my device, and then upload that to Instagram.

For alternative video captioning apps, check out this post by Mia Mingus; iPhone’s also have a built-in app called Clips which, with some maneuvering, you can also caption your videos, and I’ve heard good things about AutoCap as well (available for iOS and Android).

Bottom line: Many of us watch videos with the sound off on our devices, so creating captions in this way makes our content accessible for those who are using screen readers, as well as for others who might opt to watch without sound.

Hashtag Considerations

CamelCase is the recommended practice of capitalizing the first letters of hashtags that include multiple words. CamelCase helps screen readers articulate these longer tags and allows for increased ease of reading for those who are sighted as well.

Next time you include hashtags in a post or comment, consider using CamelCase, i.e. #YogaAndSocialJustice #YogaAndSocialChange

Emoji usage

Including emojis in your captions may be effective and offer a sense of play to your words or tone, but consider minimizing the amount of emojis you use in each caption as over-emojizing can confuse screen readers, making it difficult for folks who rely on those devices to receive the message you’re offering. You might also spell out the emoji you use when you do decide to include on, such as: ♥︎♥︎♥︎ [three black heart emojis]

Bottom line: I’m a learner in this work. My understanding is that accessibility considerations aren’t extra steps; they’re steps we might be missing.

A firm and gentle reminder that making sure your content is accessible is a part of Disability Justice and Intersectionality. There is no Revolution or liberation without recognizing all the intersections of oppression, and becoming more inclusive in the ways you exist in this world. If you want autonomy, you must also respect the autonomy of others.

— Carol, @higher_priestess