Essential information for delivering accessible digital communications
Government is increasingly interacting with people digitally - from submitting self-assessment tax returns to signing petitions.
Although it is unlikely that the online revolution will see the end of hard copy formats in the near future, the dominance of paper, audiotape and embossed Braille is over. Taking the time to ensure that digital communications are accessible to disabled people means that your job as a communicator is done more effectively.
In addition, government departments have a legal duty to make sure that they do not discriminate against people covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) when they use digital communications.
The Disability Equality Duty requires departments to take a systematic approach to promoting equality for disabled people. Accessible digital communications can help your department to meet its duty.
It is important that digital communications created by government are responsive to the needs of disabled people in design, content and structure.
Digital communications can liberate disabled people if they are inclusive. They can also pose problems (particularly for those with visual impairments, dyslexia and very significant mobility impairments) if they are designed without thought to these groups' needs.
It is important to understand the types of additional technology that some disabled people use, such as screen readers to convert text into speech or voice-activated software if they cannot see or cannot use a keyboard.
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