Making Fall Prevention Month Accessible

• Use headlines to separate information in documents.
• Use colours that provide high contrast (e.g. dark blue and white, rather than yellow and green).
• Use simple sans serif fonts that are easily available, such as Arial, Helvetica and Tahoma.
• Use a larger font size, which is measured in “points.” Twelve-point fonts are often suitable.
• Put extra space between lines, such as 1.15 instead of 1.
• Keep photos, graphics and tables to a minimum and include alt text.
• Create printer-friendly documents with no more than two decorative colours, if necessary, and keep the background white and text black.
• Consider how your documents will be seen on different digital platforms, such as desktops, mobile phones or tablets.

Language

• Speak and write clearly without jargon or negative language (Use “Do” instead of “Do not”).
• Write short sentences.
• Write for a grade six literacy level. Journalists are taught to write with this in mind for all audiences, regardless of ability.
• Use person-first language such as “Participants who have a disability can contact us by...”.
• There are exceptions and differences in some deaf and autism spectrum communities. For example, in both communities, some people believe that autism or deafness is an integral part of who they are and they want to be identified by that characteristic.
• Use language that recognizes independence, competence and experience such as “older adults” rather than “elderly” or “seniors.”