Hello! My name is Dominique Coleman, I am studying Archaeology & Heritage Practice at the University of Chester.

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to be able to carry out a work placement with the Council for British Archaeology (CBA). My experience has been so much fun and has taught me so much about the organisation.

During my placement, I worked to create an accessibility guide for the Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) that details how to utilise alternative text (alt text). Alt text is descriptive text which conveys the meaning and context of a visual item in a digital setting, such as images. Despite most popular social media sites having incorporated tools that make it is easier than ever to include alt text, it is still severely underused. This means that anyone who is relies on assistive technology to experience digital information is not able to experience posts or obtain the same information as individuals who do not require assistance in that way. As a result, the needs of disabled people are often forgotten and they are limited in the way they can engage with online materials.
As somebody with physical disabilities, I have always been especially passionate about ensuring that the archaeology and heritage sector are accessible to everyone. Being able to use this passion to create a guide for YAC leaders to help make their social media more accessible has been such a fulfilling project. Online accessibility can often be forgotten about, but given that the world is so technologically focused, it is just as important as ensuring accessibility needs are met on site and in person.

My project required a great deal of research, most of which was carried out at home. However, one of the highlights of my placement was the opportunity I had to spend a day at the CBA offices in York. Getting the chance to meet more of the staff and experience the work environment was fascinating and really helped me to get a better understanding of the variety of work done by the CBA. The excitement of seeing people do work that I hope to one day be involved in was thrilling and left me feeling incredibly inspired, which undoubtedly was funnelled into my project. Being able to wander around the beautiful city of York with my classmate and friend, while on our lunch break was another highlight.

A key element of my placement focused on learning to using the graphic design programme, Canva. Through this, I was able to create and design a simplistic, direct guide that will be distributed among YAC leaders throughout the country. This accessibility guide aims to help people understand what alt text is, how and why it should be used.

Archaeology and heritage are powerful tools that allow us to connect with our past, address its complexities, and shape our present. I believe that it is a fundamental right of every individual to be able to actively engage with the past and being able to assist the Council for British Archaeology in their work of ensuring archaeology is accessible, inclusive and fun has only made me more passionate about this subject.

My placement experience has been nothing short of informative and enjoyable. The CBA team, Jo Kirton in particular, offered consistent support and guidance and I am incredibly grateful for the chance I have had to offer a small contribute to the CBA in their aims to make the past interesting, accessible and inclusive for all.

This blog was released as part of Youth Day during the 2024 Festival of Archaeology. Youth Day is sponsored by the Royal Archaeological Institute.