Accessibility is defined as "the quality of being able to be entered or used by everyone, including people who have a disability: the quality of being easy to understand or enjoy" (Accessibility, n.d.).
In infographics, accessibility is looked at in several ways. Is it screen reader compatible? Is the font legible for people with vision and reading disabilities? Are the colors combinations easy to read or do they cause an afterimage effect? For now we are going to discuss accessible font selection and color selection, and what to avoid.
Font and color play a big role in how accessible a document is. For people with dyslexia and color blindness certain color combinations can actually make reading even more difficult. For people with dyslexia, certain fonts make it harder to read. This dyslexia simulator is helpful in understanding how individuals with dyslexia see written words. This color blindness simulator shows how the different types of color blindness affects the way we see.
The "feet" on Serif fonts cause letters to be too close and in some cases touch. Script and Display fonts are difficult to read because of the flourishes they have. The most accessible font group to use is San Serif fonts. San Serif fonts lack any "feet" or flourishes making them easier for individuals with visual impairments and dyslexia to read.
OpenDyslexic is a font developed to help individuals with dyslexia. The letters are designed to be wider on the bottom than on the top to create an invisible line at the bottom of each word. The wider bottom combined with the spacing between the letters helps keep the letters in place for individuals with dyslexia.
WHEN IN DOUBT TEST IT ON WebAIM.
How to choose fonts for site speed and accessibility. (2021). Mediavine. https://www.mediavine.com/choose-fonts-site-speed-accessibility/
Accessibility. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/accessibility
Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) ages 18 and over report some trouble hearing (1).
Hearing problems are only one of the reasons why Closed Captioning/ Subtitles are needed. Disorders like Auditory Processing Disorder can make it very difficult for individuals to process what is being said to them.
If you are using any videos it is important to ensure you have closed captioning/subtitles for your audience.
1. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
This checklist combines the automated checks from the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Office 365 with a series of manual checks to help you evaluate and repair common accessibility issues in Word and PowerPoint.
See below for a PDF of the Word and PowerPoint 365 Accessibility Evaluation Guide.
For additional recommendations on accessible fonts read the following:
Accessible Fonts: What They Are and How to Pick the Right One for Your Design
Color Blind Design Guidelines: How to Convey Meaning to Everyone
Making Design Accessible: Fonts, Color Contrast, and Alt Text
