It is estimated that around 15-20% of people around the world are neurodivergent – meaning that their brains function, learn and process information differently. I am just one of those people, and as over 70% of disabilities are invisible, chances are many of your team, colleagues and clients are also part of this community.
When you create and share accessible content, you empower the people you are communicating with and, quite frankly, make our lives easier and more inclusive.
As a person with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD), when I see long pieces of body copy, I struggle to read and retain information. The ADHD reading bar has been a game changer – allowing me to focus on small chunks of text. This is a simple adjustment, but a crucial one. Other things that help me are having large amounts of information communicated through summary and bullet points, in clear and concise language with no ambiguity.
Creating accessible content means lots of things to different people. Here are just 10 practical steps towards making your content more accessible. Some of you may be doing this already. If you are, great! But maybe there are ways to make all of the content you create truly accessible with just a few adjustments.
Enhance content readability and comprehension
- Prioritise clear and concise language: Avoid jargon and complex sentence structures. Use plain language that is easy to understand.
- Structure content effectively: Use headings, subheadings and bullet points to break up text and improve readability.
- Optimise text formatting: Choose legible fonts, sufficient contrast and appropriate font sizes.
Improve digital accessibility
- Provide alternative text for images: Describe the image using alt text for visually impaired users.
- Create accessible documents: Ensure documents (PDFs, Word) are compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies.
- Optimise for mobile devices: Design content to be easily viewed and interacted with on smaller screens.
Expand content reach
- Offer multiple content formats: Provide transcripts for audio and video content and consider offering text-based versions of complex visuals.
- Use inclusive language: Avoid stereotypes and generalisations that exclude certain groups.
- Test content accessibility: Regularly evaluate your content using accessibility checkers and tools.
Demonstrate business commitment
- Communicate accessibility efforts: Highlight your commitment to accessibility through your company website and marketing materials.
Hope these tips have been useful! Please, contact the inEvidence team to chat through how to ensure the content you create is accessible for all.
