A guide to providing accessible information
What is accessible information?
Accessible information can be defined in many ways; each according to different ideas. A visually impaired person might consider it to be having information in Braille. Someone with a hearing impairment might consider it to be having a loop available. Whatever the view, the notion of information is wide. It could be anything from a large print leaflet at the local library, through to having your television programmes audio described, your bank statement on audiotape or your local hospital guide in easy to read format.
If asked for a general definition then it may be thought of as being:
“Accessible information is information that is presented in a form and style that is easily used and understood by its intended audience”
When we talk about accessible information it is important to remember that we are not talking about watering down the content or creating a summary. It is taking information from a form that is not accessible to an individual and converting, translating or interpreting it into a form the individual can access.
Accessible formats, often referred to as alternative formats, include documents and other items produced, for example, in Braille, on audiotape, in large print size. Formats refer to the nature of the document, communication method, publication or information rather than the content.
Source: "Information Alternatives - A guide to providing accessible information
