This episode challenges content creators and travelers to make their content more empathetic and inclusive for disabled audiences.

Timestamps

0:00 — Intro & welcome to the See Life Different podcast

0:28 — Zaakirah's background: cancer survivor, brand strategist, author, world traveler

0:42 — Episode topic: Are you leaving disabled travelers out of your content?

1:20 — Zaakirah's personal story: visually impaired and hard of hearing, visited 15+ countries and 4+ continents

1:48 — Her role as an accessibility advocate and travel consultant

2:21 — How the pandemic amplified the need for accessible content for disabled audiences

2:51 — Living with invisible disabilities: hearing loss, low vision, and the challenge of being seen

3:50 — What most people get wrong about disability — visible vs. invisible conditions

4:15 — Neurodivergence, recent injuries, and why empathy matters

4:35 — Upcoming speaking engagement: Women in Travel Summit (WITS) in Chattanooga, TN

5:18 — Zaakirah's history with travel content creation, dating back to the early 2010s

5:39 — How a Kodak Polaroid camera at age 5 sparked her love of storytelling

6:18 — From blog to vlog to podcast to TEDx stage

6:19 — Travel should expand how we see the world — but the world isn't designed for disabled travelers

6:49 — The Sunflower Lanyard: a tool for identifying hidden disabilities while traveling

7:08 — Lip reading, airport navigation, and advocating for yourself on tour

7:08 — The simple question most people forget: "How can I help?"

7:47 — Creating accessible visual content: font contrast, color readability, and DIY graphics

8:08 — Captions: why they matter beyond just muting your phone

8:30 — How social media platforms handle auto-captions — and where they fall short

8:37 — Captions as a tool for language learners AND those with hearing loss

9:11 — Describing images and videos the way you'd explain it to a five-year-old or an elder

9:35 — Screen readers and alt text: creating content accessible to those who cannot see

10:00 — SEO bonus: accessibility features also improve content discoverability

10:21 — Inviting disabled travelers into your hometown content

10:41 — Where to start: use your five senses to describe people, places, and things

11:02 — Enable captions and edit auto-generated ones for accuracy

11:28 — Why Zaakirah is personally passionate about accessible content

11:45 — Scrolling past content you can't hear or read — and the revenue creators lose

12:07 — How to work with Zaakirah: mentorship sessions and accessibility guides

12:39 — Booking a session: 30-min to 1-hour with an included accessibility guide

12:59 — Speaking at the WITS Travel Creators Summit

13:05 — The financial case for accessibility: disabled audiences represent real spending power

13:29 — Confidence, advocacy, and telling your story as a disabled person

13:48 — Zaakirah's personal experience with low vision at night and hearing high pitches

14:05 — Processing time and neurodivergence in accessible spaces

14:26 — Book written with her mom: resilience, confidence, and being the only one in the room

14:37 — Book available on Amazon (ebook, paperback, audiobook)

14:37 — Visit zaakirahtnayyar.com/social for all links

15:08 — Mentorship, brand strategy, and being a "brand therapist"

15:31 — Finding joy in creativity and entrepreneurship amid life's responsibilities

15:49 — 10 years of helping people build their brands and tell their stories

16:09 — Women in Travel Summit: stay tuned for more details

16:24 — In-person community with fellow creators and speakers

17:04 — Call to action: speak up in comments, advocate for accessibility, share this episode

17:09 — Closing: share this episode widely and see you next time

Zaakirah is a hard-of-hearing, visually impaired traveler who has visited over 15 countries. She is an accessibility advocate, brand strategist, and travel consultant.

Connect with Zaakirah

Website & all links: https://zaakirahtnayyar.com/social
Mentorship sessions + Accessibility Guide available for booking: https://zaakirah-nayyar.kit.com/profile?
Book available on Amazon (ebook, paperback, and audiobook): https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Life-Through-Different-Lens-ebook/dp/B081MR9TKP/

If this episode resonated with you, share it — accessibility starts with awareness