Accessible communications learning and resources
Create accessible communications using these learning and resources.
For everyone
Writing
Start with your text. Write in a clear, concise and short way. Use a content structure, breaking down a large piece of text into smaller paragraphs and using headings and subheadings.
- Writing for GOV.UK: how to write well for your audience, including specialists
- Readability: Hemingway App use this free app to highlight lengthy and complex sentences
- Get your document’s readability and level statistics (Microsoft)
Making your document accessible
- Video training on how to make documents accessible, using Microsoft, with guidance for emails, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Use the accessibility checker
To help ensure that your Office files are accessible, use the Accessibility Checker, a free tool available in Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint:
Check the colour and contrast
- Colour contrast checker to achieve an AA or AAA colour rating (the minimum ratio is 4.5:1)
- WebAIM contrast checker
Watch our on-demand training in the GCS Academy
- Digital accessibility: best-practice essentials (12 minutes)
- Digital accessibility for government communicators, with GDS (44 minutes)
- Accessibility Culture eats WCAG compliance for breakfast GDS/BBC webinar (58 minutes)
- Inclusive design 101 with Christina Mallon (GCS members access) (43 minutes)
Read
Discover people’s perspective
- Accessibility and me: interviews with people with access needs
- Understanding disabilities and impairments: user profiles (Central Digital and Data Office)
- Experience the web as personas with access needs
- Explore the Impact and Benefits for Everyone (W3C)
- Assistive technology demonstrations (YouTube)
Guidelines and legal requirements
- Understanding WCAG 2.1: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (known as WCAG 2.1)
- Accessible communications: what is our duty (GCS members only). Ask the development adviser in your department for the GCS password or contact us for their details.
For content creators
- Publishing accessible social media campaigns
- DWP Accessibility Manual: accessibility guidance by job role from the Department for Work and Pensions
- SCULPT for accessibility Use the bite-size guidance about accessibility from Worcestershire County Council
- W3C – Introduction to web accessibility: Edx free self-paced training
- Inclusive design describes the methodologies to create products that understand and enable people of all backgrounds and abilities. It may address accessibility, age, economic situation, geographic location, language, race, and more.
For website owners
- Planning, creating and publishing accessible website content
- Doing a basic accessibility check if you cannot do a detailed one
- How set up a new government campaign online
- Sample accessibility statement