# Accessible communications learning and resources [View original page](https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/accessible-communications-learning-and-resources/) Publisher: Government Communications Type: Publication > From contrast to readability, from legal requirements to accessibility checker, here are the tools to help you create accessible content. ## About these resources This is your comprehensive guide to creating inclusive communications, offering essential learning and cross-sector resources from government, industry and third-sector experts on planning, content creation and accessibility checks, all in one place. ## Planning and general guidance ### Overall principles - [Inclusive and accessible communications – Government Communications](https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/our-approach-to-inclusive-and-accessible-communications/) - [Accessibility toolkit – Scope](https://business.scope.org.uk/toolkit/accessibility-toolkit/) - [Design System: Accessibility – Home Office](https://design.homeoffice.gov.uk/accessibility)  - [Accessibility manual – Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)](https://accessibility-manual.dwp.gov.uk/) - [SCULPT for accessibility – Worcestershire County Council](https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/business/digital-worcestershire/sculpt-accessibility) ### Understanding users and disabilities - [Guide to portraying disability – Disability Unit – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/portraying-disability) - Blog: [Accessibility and me – GOV.UK](https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/category/accessibility-and-me/)  - [Understanding disabilities and impairments: User profiles – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-disabilities-and-impairments-user-profiles) - [Researching emotionally sensitive subjects – Service manual – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/researching-emotionally-sensitive-subjects) - [Running research sessions with disabled people – Service manual – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/running-research-sessions-with-people-with-disabilities) - [Learning about users and their needs – Service manual – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/start-by-learning-user-needs) - [Web accessibility perspectives Videos: Explore the impact and benefits for everyone – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/) - [Stories of web users | Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/people-use-web/user-stories/#shopper) - [Accessibility personas – GitHub](https://alphagov.github.io/accessibility-personas/) - [How many people? | Accessibility manual – Department for Education (DfE)](https://accessibility.education.gov.uk/app/how-many-people) (This tool helps estimate how many people using a service have disabilities. The data might be old, but it gives a general idea of target audiences with specific needs.) - [Advertising is for everyone – Accessibility Network Hub](https://adaccessibility.org/) ### Accessible formats - [Accessible communication formats – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/accessible-communication-formats) - [Standards – UK Association for Accessible formats](https://www.ukaaf.org/standards/) ## Creating accessible content ### Web publishing - [Publishing accessible documents – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/publishing-accessible-documents) - [Making your digital service accessible: an introduction – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/making-your-service-accessible-an-introduction#meeting-government-accessibility-requirements) - [Accessibility and assisted digital – Service manual – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service) - [How to publish on GOV.UK – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-publish-on-gov-uk) - [Content and publishing guidance for government – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/content-and-publishing-guidance-for-government) - [Why GOV.UK content should be published in HTML and not PDF – Government Digital Service](https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2018/07/16/why-gov-uk-content-should-be-published-in-html-and-not-pdf/) - Blog: [Making a positive change: PDF to HTML – Accessibility in government – GOV.UK](https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/12/making-a-positive-change-pdf-to-html/) - [Sample accessibility statement – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sample-accessibility-statement) - Webinar: [Digital accessibility essentials – Government Communications Learning Hub (opens in new tab)](https://learning.communications.gov.uk/learn/courses/42/digital-accessibility-essentials) - Webinar: [Accessibility – Government Communications Learning Hub (opens in new tab)](https://learning.communications.gov.uk/learn/courses/36/accessibility) - [Designing accessible services posters – GitHub](https://github.com/UKHomeOffice/posters/blob/master/accessibility/design-accessible-services/FINAL-Designing-accessible-services-posters-set.pdf)** ** #### **Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) ** - [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2](https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/) - [Understanding WCAG 2.2 – Service manual –](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/understanding-wcag#meeting-government-accessibility-requirements)[GOV.UK](http://gov.uk) - [Introduction to web accessibility – W3C](https://www.edx.org/learn/web-accessibility/the-world-wide-web-consortium-w3c-introduction-to-web-accessibility) - [WCAG 2.1 primer](https://alphagov.github.io/wcag-primer/) - [WCAG decision tree](https://github.com/andrewhick/accessibility/wiki/WCAG-decision-tree) - Webinar: [Accessibility culture eats WCAG compliance for breakfast (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BktMJzjf7xs) ### Writing and language - [Content design: planning, writing and managing content – Writing for GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk) - [Style guide: A to Z – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/style-guide/a-to-z) - [Guide to inclusive language – Home Office](https://design.homeoffice.gov.uk/accessibility/inclusive-language) - [Guide to words to avoid when writing about disability – Disability Unit – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/inclusive-language-words-to-use-and-avoid-when-writing-about-disability) - [Writing about ethnicity – GOV.UK](https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/style-guide/writing-about-ethnicity) - [Guides for inclusive communication: Making written communication easy to understand – Public Health Institute](https://www.phi.org/thought-leadership/inclusive-communication-guides-making-written-communication-easy-to-understand/#govt) (USA) - [Hemingway Editor](https://hemingwayapp.com/) (A tool that highlights lengthy, complex sentences and common errors) ### **Hyperlinks** - [How to write hyperlink text for better web accessibility – Scope for Business](https://business.scope.org.uk/how-to-write-better-link-text-for-accessibility/) - [Writing useful and accessible link text for websites – University of Dundee, UK](https://www.dundee.ac.uk/guides/writing-link-text-websites) ### **Imagery and alt text** - [How to publish on GOV.UK – Images and videos – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-publish-on-gov-uk/images-and-videos) - Blog: [What’s the alternative? How to write good alt text – Design102](https://design102.blog.gov.uk/2022/01/14/whats-the-alternative-how-to-write-good-alt-text/) - [Everything you need to know to write effective alt text – Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/everything-you-need-to-know-to-write-effective-alt-text-df98f884-ca3d-456c-807b-1a1fa82f5dc2) - [How to write alt-text for image accessibility – Scope for business](https://business.scope.org.uk/how-to-write-better-alt-text-descriptions-for-accessibility/) ### **Surveys, graphs and charts** - [Accessibility – Government Analysis Function](https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/area_of_work/accessibility/) ### Maps - [Accessible maps – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/RD/wiki/Accessible_Maps#Techniques_to_make_Visual_Maps_Accessible_to_deaf_or_hard-of-hearing_people.2C_people_with_cognitive_disabilities_or_elderly_people) - [Building accessible maps – Design System](https://designsystem.gov.scot/guidance/maps/building-accessible-maps) - [Designing a more accessible flood map – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)](https://defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2021/05/20/designing-a-more-accessible-flood-map/)  - [Interactive maps (GitHub) – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)](https://github.com/defra-design/design/wiki/Interactive-maps) - [Maps design standards (GitHub) – Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)](https://github.com/DEFRA/design-standards/blob/master/Maps.md) ### Use of colour - [Colors with good contrast | Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/contrast/) - [Creating accessible information and communication resources for health and social care – Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)](https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/accessible-nhs-and-social-care-information/creating-accessible-information-and-communication-resources-for-health-and-social-care/) - [How to make your social media accessible – Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)](https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/assistive-aids-and-technology/tv-audio-and-gaming/guide-to-accessible-social-media/) - Blog: [Colour contrast – why does it matter? – Accessibility in government – GOV.UK](https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2016/06/17/colour-contrast-why-does-it-matter/) - [Contrast checker – WebAIM](https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/) ### Moving image (Video) - [An inclusive approach to video production – TetraLogical](https://tetralogical.com/blog/2021/06/23/an-inclusive-approach-to-video-production/) - [Making audio and video media accessible | Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/) ### Audio description - [Understanding success criterion 1.2.3: Audio description or media alternative (Pre-recorded) | WAI – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/audio-description-or-media-alternative-prerecorded) - [Audio description – Digital accessibility – University of Leeds](https://digitalaccessibility.leeds.ac.uk/guidance/digital-audio-and-video/audio-description/) - [Guidelines on providing television and on-demand access services – Ofcom](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/accessibility/tv-access-services) ### Captioning and subtitling - [Understanding success criterion 1.2.2: Captions (Pre-recorded) | WAI – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/captions-prerecorded) - [Understanding success criterion 1.2.4: Captions (Live) | WAI – W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/captions-live) - [Subtitle guidelines – BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/forproducts/guides/subtitles/#Identifying-speakers) - [Subtitles and captions: What’s the difference? – Design102](https://design102.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/01/subtitles-and-captions-whats-the-difference/) ### British Sign Language (BSL) - [British Sign Language guidance – Government Communications](https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/using-british-sign-language-in-government-communications/) ### Social media accessibility - Hashtags: [Make your hashtags accessible – Bureau of Internet Accessibility (BOIA)](https://www.boia.org/blog/make-your-hashtags-accessible) - Emojis: [Why don’t screen readers always read what’s on the screen? Part 1: Punctuation and typographic symbols – Deque](https://www.deque.com/blog/dont-screen-readers-read-whats-screen-part-1-punctuation-typographic-symbols/) - [Make your meetings deaf aware – Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)](https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/deaf-awareness/make-your-meetings-deaf-aware/) - [How to use accessibility features on video conferencing apps – Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)](https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/technology-and-products/video-conferencing-accessibility-meetings/) ### Clear print - [Guidelines for producing clear print (2022) – Round Table](https://printdisability.org/guidelines/) ## **Checking and testing accessibility** ### **General accessibility checks** - [Guidance and tools for digital accessibility – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-and-tools-for-digital-accessibility) - [Testing for accessibility – Service manual – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/testing-for-accessibility) - [Testing with assistive technologies – Service manual – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/technology/testing-with-assistive-technologies) - [Doing a basic accessibility check if you cannot do a detailed one – GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/doing-a-basic-accessibility-check-if-you-cant-do-a-detailed-one/doing-a-basic-accessibility-check-if-you-cant-do-a-detailed-one) - [Microsoft Accessibility Checker](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/improve-accessibility-with-the-accessibility-checker-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f) ## Citations - https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/our-approach-to-inclusive-and-accessible-communications/ - https://business.scope.org.uk/toolkit/accessibility-toolkit/ - https://design.homeoffice.gov.uk/accessibility - https://accessibility-manual.dwp.gov.uk/ - https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/business/digital-worcestershire/sculpt-accessibility - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/portraying-disability - https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/category/accessibility-and-me/ - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-disabilities-and-impairments-user-profiles - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/researching-emotionally-sensitive-subjects - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/running-research-sessions-with-people-with-disabilities - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/user-research/start-by-learning-user-needs - https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/ - https://www.w3.org/WAI/people-use-web/user-stories/#shopper - https://alphagov.github.io/accessibility-personas/ - https://accessibility.education.gov.uk/app/how-many-people - https://adaccessibility.org/ - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/accessible-communication-formats - https://www.ukaaf.org/standards/ - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/publishing-accessible-documents - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/making-your-service-accessible-an-introduction#meeting-government-accessibility-requirements - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-publish-on-gov-uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/content-and-publishing-guidance-for-government - https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2018/07/16/why-gov-uk-content-should-be-published-in-html-and-not-pdf/ - https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/12/making-a-positive-change-pdf-to-html/ - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sample-accessibility-statement - https://learning.communications.gov.uk/learn/courses/42/digital-accessibility-essentials - https://learning.communications.gov.uk/learn/courses/36/accessibility - https://github.com/UKHomeOffice/posters/blob/master/accessibility/design-accessible-services/FINAL-Designing-accessible-services-posters-set.pdf - https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/understanding-wcag#meeting-government-accessibility-requirements - http://gov.uk - https://www.edx.org/learn/web-accessibility/the-world-wide-web-consortium-w3c-introduction-to-web-accessibility - https://alphagov.github.io/wcag-primer/ - https://github.com/andrewhick/accessibility/wiki/WCAG-decision-tree - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BktMJzjf7xs - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/style-guide/a-to-z - https://design.homeoffice.gov.uk/accessibility/inclusive-language - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/inclusive-language-words-to-use-and-avoid-when-writing-about-disability - https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/style-guide/writing-about-ethnicity - https://www.phi.org/thought-leadership/inclusive-communication-guides-making-written-communication-easy-to-understand/#govt - https://hemingwayapp.com/ - https://business.scope.org.uk/how-to-write-better-link-text-for-accessibility/ - https://www.dundee.ac.uk/guides/writing-link-text-websites - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-publish-on-gov-uk/images-and-videos - https://design102.blog.gov.uk/2022/01/14/whats-the-alternative-how-to-write-good-alt-text/ - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/everything-you-need-to-know-to-write-effective-alt-text-df98f884-ca3d-456c-807b-1a1fa82f5dc2 - https://business.scope.org.uk/how-to-write-better-alt-text-descriptions-for-accessibility/ - https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/area_of_work/accessibility/ - https://www.w3.org/WAI/RD/wiki/Accessible_Maps#Techniques_to_make_Visual_Maps_Accessible_to_deaf_or_hard-of-hearing_people.2C_people_with_cognitive_disabilities_or_elderly_people - https://designsystem.gov.scot/guidance/maps/building-accessible-maps - https://defradigital.blog.gov.uk/2021/05/20/designing-a-more-accessible-flood-map/ - https://github.com/defra-design/design/wiki/Interactive-maps - https://github.com/DEFRA/design-standards/blob/master/Maps.md - https://www.w3.org/WAI/perspective-videos/contrast/ - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/independent-living/accessible-nhs-and-social-care-information/creating-accessible-information-and-communication-resources-for-health-and-social-care/ - https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/assistive-aids-and-technology/tv-audio-and-gaming/guide-to-accessible-social-media/ - https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2016/06/17/colour-contrast-why-does-it-matter/ - https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/ - https://tetralogical.com/blog/2021/06/23/an-inclusive-approach-to-video-production/ - https://www.w3.org/WAI/media/av/ - https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/audio-description-or-media-alternative-prerecorded - https://digitalaccessibility.leeds.ac.uk/guidance/digital-audio-and-video/audio-description/ - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/accessibility/tv-access-services - https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/captions-prerecorded - https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/captions-live - https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/forproducts/guides/subtitles/#Identifying-speakers - https://design102.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/01/subtitles-and-captions-whats-the-difference/ - https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/using-british-sign-language-in-government-communications/ - https://www.boia.org/blog/make-your-hashtags-accessible - https://www.deque.com/blog/dont-screen-readers-read-whats-screen-part-1-punctuation-typographic-symbols/ - https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/deaf-awareness/make-your-meetings-deaf-aware/ - https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/technology-and-products/video-conferencing-accessibility-meetings/ - https://printdisability.org/guidelines/ - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-and-tools-for-digital-accessibility - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/helping-people-to-use-your-service/testing-for-accessibility - https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/technology/testing-with-assistive-technologies - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/doing-a-basic-accessibility-check-if-you-cant-do-a-detailed-one/doing-a-basic-accessibility-check-if-you-cant-do-a-detailed-one - https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/improve-accessibility-with-the-accessibility-checker-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f ## Related guidance - [Our approach to inclusive and accessible communications](https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/our-approach-to-inclusive-and-accessible-communications/) - [Using British Sign Language in government communications](https://www.communications.gov.uk/publication/using-british-sign-language-in-government-communications/)