Suggested guidelines from the Disabled and Special Needs Working Group
Eileen Nazha
May 2005

Introduction

The DDA Part 4 requires that information about a service should be available in alternative formats that can be read by disabled people. This briefing gives pointers to best practice for M25 libraries, which should all be prepared to:

a) provide material in alternative formats, or a transcription service which can provide visually-impaired readers with the information they require, in their preferred formats and in sufficient time for it to be useful.

b) produce library information in a variety of formats on demand – large print, audio, braille; however, combining one or two of these formats with an electronic document type can allow for maximum flexibility.

c) work towards making all web pages and catalogue interfaces accessible to visually-impaired people who use screen-reading software; also clear and readable by dyslexic library users.

Guidelines
There are also some easy ways to improve the accessibility of printed information to aid people with visual problems or people, e.g. those with dyslexia, who have difficulty reading. Some general rules are:

• Typefaces should be sanserif so Ariel or Comic Sans are better than Times New Roman.
• Fonts should be 14 point if possible – some people will need it bigger.
• Use left justification.
• Don’t use upper case except where needed. Writing in CAPITALS destroys the shape of the word.
• Don’t underline or use italics for similar reasons.
• Expand character spacing (format - font – character spacing – spacing – expanded).
• Expand line spacing (format – paragraph – indents and spacing – line spacing – 1.5 lines).
• Reverse headings can help (insert a text box – black fill – white font).
• Bold fonts are fine but not if they fill in the circular letters.
• Print documents on coloured paper – cream or gold preferred but any light colour will do. Dark colours are not acceptable. N.B. certain visual difficulties (e.g. Irlens syndrome) may require printing on very specific coloured paper, according to the individual need
  

Useful Resources

The following websites have much more information on accessibility:

• Library Services for Visually Impaired People: a Manual of Best Practice - http://bpm.nlb-online.org/
• RNIB - http://www.rnib.org.uk
• Dyslexic.com - http://www.dyslexic.com
• The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Code of Practice – Students with Disabilities. - http://www.qaa.ac.uk/public/cop/copswd/contents.htm
• Let's make it accessible: Improving government information for disabled people - http://www.disability.gov.uk/images_of_disability/access.html