Webinar recap: plain language foundations -accessibility beyond compliance

This Clear Language Lab webinar took place on December 14, 2022 as part of the Plain Language Foundations series. Check out the notes below, or access the webinar recording and slides.

Connecting accessibility & plain language

• Using plain language means centering your audience’s needs and goals, and writing in a way that they can find, understand, and use the information you're sharing.

• Accessibility is about compliance, usability, equity, and creating welcoming spaces

  • The ADA guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to enjoy employment opportunities, purchase goods and services, and participate in state and local government programs. (from the ADA website)

  • Accessibility laws exist to aid people with disabilities, but designers should try to accommodate all potential users in many contexts of use anyway. (from Interaction Design Foundation)

• The Social Model of Disability

  • Focused on making the world accessible

  • Impairments (condition) vs. disability (the world’s lack of ability to accommodate)

  • Some impairments have deep impacts, even if the world is an accessible place

Big takeaways

Center your audience

• Start by thinking about what your audience wants and needs to know

• Use plain language writing techniques

• Use the language people prefer 

• Collect feedback from your audience

• Use inclusive images 

Design with purpose - CRAP

• Contrast: Do important details “pop” or stand out?

• Repetition: Are colors, fonts, and the style of the graphics cohesive? Are elements grouped in consistently?

• Alignment: How do text and pictures line up?

• Proximity (Grouping): Is information grouped in logical order? Is it obvious where new sections or groups start and stop?

Create humanizing processes

• Give people choices

• Ask yourself:

  • Does this have to be in writing?

  • What other formats can I use to share this information?

• Be prepared to answer questions

• Set clear expectations upfront

  • How long will this take?

  • What information do people need on hand?

  • How can people get assistance? 

  • How will you follow up?

Microsoft accessibility tools to check out

• Accessibility checker

• Styles

• Alternative Text

• Design Feature

Resources

Accessibility resources 

• WebAIM: Contrast Checker

• WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

• Accessible Social

• Dos and don'ts on designing for accessibility - Accessibility in government

• Home | Usability.gov

Plain language resources 

• Plain Language – Digital.gov

• Language, Please: Style Guide & Resources for journalists and storytellers

• Bias-free language

• Conscious Style Guide

Interested in learning more about professional development at Clear Language Lab? Check out other past webinars, find upcoming events on our training page, or contact Sarah Glazer, Sr. Program Manager, at sarah@litworks.org to learn more about our offerings.

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