Inclusive Resolution #2: I will make online communications more accessible.

Imagine you are at the most engaging online event ever. Time is flying by, you are feeling comfortable and then the instructions for the next activity are shared on PowerPoint:

Caption: Slide with lots of italic text overlapping onto a photo.

Cue silence and disengagement.

The more we communicate online, the more we have to give consideration to the way we communicate information.

Accessible communication makes information clear, direct and easy to understand. It takes into consideration the various barriers to accessing information (visual impairments, neurodiversities, people dialling in to sessions via phone). Preparing accessible content is not solely about presentations – it applies to word documents, communications internally and externally, website information… basically any time you are getting across information!

Certain people need information communicated in specific ways, for example those with screen readers. Be working with anyone with specific needs directly to ensure they get the information they need in the format that they can access.

However, there are general principles advised by the Scottish Accessible Information Forum which, if you adopt this in first instance, you will reduce the need for audiences to requesting information in other formats.  And generally this makes information easier for everyone to understand!

Applying these principles means that, when geared up to do the activity, you would have seen a slide like this:

Caption: Slide with bullet points, spaced text and photo to the side.

Ahhh, much better? Thought so.

Subscribe to my newsletter to get a reminder this Friday to make small changes to make your communications more accessible.

p.s if you are keen to read more, University of Aberdeen has great accessibility guidance. Click on ‘Guides’ to access loads of handy info.