A guide to providing accessible information
How to produce accessible information?
Before you start you might want to think about how most of your information is currently being produced. Somebody somewhere is likely to be creating written materials which form the starting point for your promotional leaflets, web site, newsletter, job application pack or other business resource.
When this initial creative work is undertaken it may be helpful to think about producing an unformatted text version.
By unformatted text we mean a version of the document which does not have all the graphics and layout of the finished produced but simple contains the core information.
The unformatted text document, ideally an electronic file such as Microsoft Word, provides the “raw material” from which it becomes easy to produce other formats, in particular Braille, computer formats and large print. This process also enables the producers to easily copy the basic text into desktop publishing applications.
When you start working on creating unformatted text there are some useful guidelines:
· Use single-spacing between lines
· Keep punctuation to a minimum
· Avoid abbreviations and symbols
· Avoid using tabs and indents
· Diagrams and charts should be described
· Organise the tables to read in a logical way
· Identify sections of the document by name
When you are producing written materials prepare to make them available in a range of formats. The most commonly requested formats include:
· Large print (at least 16 point)
· Braille
· Audiotape or CD
· Electronic format
Source: "Information Alternatives - A guide to providing accessible information
