Faculty of Nursing Education & Research, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, UHBW: Accessibility - Basic Principles | Faculty of Nursing Education & Research, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, UHBW

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination in the workplace. This is further built upon by accessibility regulations that were implemented on 23 September 2018. We therefore need to ensure the content we create can be used by all who may view/use it.

Assignments are designed to do 2 things:

1) Test your knowledge on a subject.

2) Provide you with a resource or tool to take back to your work area.

When looking specifically at the second statement, it is important that you take into consideration what additional needs one of your target audience may potentially have. Your target audience are often your colleagues and you may not realise they have additional needs.

We are not asking you to be experts in additional needs. We are asking you to take a few basic steps to improve your resource or tool for the benefit of the whole target audience, not just the majority.

Font Type

Font choices should be clear and easy to read. A list of fonts developed to meet the accessibility needs of many can be found below.

When using Microsoft Platforms:

Aptos
Arial.
Comic Sans.

When using Google platforms:

Lexend

Font Colour

Font and background should contrast enough to be easily read. You should therefore use:

Light text and a dark background, or...
Dark text and a light background.

Avoid bright colours that cause glare. Examples include:

Black (use a dark grey instead).
Cyan.
Shocking pink.
Bright yellow.

Background

Avoid distractions:

Use a single colour.
Do not use a background image.

Avoid bright colours that cause glare. Examples include:

Black (use a dark grey instead).
Cyan.
Shocking pink.
Bright yellow.

Word Emphasis

Do not use:

Capital letters for whole words or phrases.
Different colour fonts in the same sentence. Screen readers can not pick up differences in colour. An intended emphasis on a word by using a different colour will therefore not be conveyed to those with a visual impairment using a screen reader.
Italics.
Underline.

Do use:

Bold

Colour Reliance

Do not rely on colour to get your point across. Colours that are utilised to put a message across must come with written description at all times.

Example:

Most people who see a sign with a red background will understand that there is an element of associated danger. Those who can not see the colour red will not be able to interpret the message being put across. A written description must therefore be included.

Images

Do not:

Use images that include text.

> It is hard for many people to distinguish letters and words when they appear within an image.

Expand images beyond their original size.

> This makes the image quality poorer and it may appear grainy.

Make an image too small.

Change the ratio of the image.

> Never click on the sizing handles found on the side of the image. Use the corner sizing handles instead. This will ensure that your image is in proportion.