Sue Berry’s 10 Top Tips for Accessible Information Formats
I hope the following will give some guidance:
1. Ask your disabled customer what format he/she prefers to access information in – giving a choice give a great feel good factor and increases your chances of a sale
2. Use plain english in a clean font such as Arial or Helvetica – people needing to magnify your print will appreciate this as there will be less distortion.
3. Look at offering information on matt paper to reduce the glare, this makes the text easier to read.
4. Consider using different coloured paper like pale lemon or a pale blue – people with dyslexia often benefit from this tip.
5. Simplify your message where possible. Consider using flow charts or diagrams to demonstrate instructions – such as booking process or directions.
6. Use Large Print – Point 16 or above can be very beneficial for people with eye conditions such as tunnel vision or cataracts.
7. Don’t make assumptions that a person has or hasn’t got a disability – It’s not always obvious and each disability is different so there needs will also differ from person to person so remember to ask!
8. Consider what information your customer will need to make a educated decision to use your services over a competitor – try not to over- complicate, simple is best.
9. When designing company literature always try to keep a copy of the text in a word document for easy braille transcription – it keeps the price of printing down and can be transcribed very quickly.
10. Shout about your Accessible Formats - tell everyone. It will increase your sales and your reputation as a caring organisation.
Sue Berry
