While digital accessibility is a major consideration in the work we do, it’s equally important to ensure that our printed materials are also made more accessible. Although a lot of people are opting for digital, print isn’t going away anytime soon. It is important that even with printed content, we consider how these can be accessed by those with low vision and other reading disabilities.
There have thankfully been a lot of tools and technologies developed to enhance access to print matierals for everyone. Assistive technologies like text to speech pens, magnifiers and even AI glasses allow users to engage with printed content in new ways. We should assist these technologies with great design to provide an even better experience.
High-contrast colours, large fonts, and clear typography are just a few of the design elements we can all use to make a significant difference and be more inclusive. Elements like navigation links to specific sections of a file that are available in digital don’t work in print, so keeping a logical flow of information is even more important to help users find hey information. Designers and all content creators have the responsibility to design printed materials that work seamlessly with these accessibility tools.
Digital accessibility is important but print accessibility should never be overlooked. By ensuring we design with accessibility at the core, we enable all readers, regardless of their needs and abilities, to access and benefit from all content we create.