Accessibility Resources: Cognitive Accessibility

Designing for users on the autistic spectrum

Do

• use simple colours
• write in plain English
• use simple sentences and bullets
• make buttons descriptive - for example, Attach files
• build simple and consistent layouts

Don't

• use bright contrasting colours
• use figures of speech and idioms
• create a wall of text
• make buttons vague and unpredictable - for example, Click here
• build complex and cluttered layouts

This poster is made available by UK Home Office via a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence. 

Designing for users with dyslexia

Do

• use images and diagrams to support text
• align text to the left and keep a consistent layout
• consider producing materials in other formats (for example, audio and video)
• keep content short, clear and simple
• let users change the contrast between background and text

Don't

• use large blocks of heavy text
• underline words, use italics or write capitals
• force users to remember things from previous pages - give reminders and prompts
• rely on accurate spelling - use autocorrect or provide suggestions
• put too much information in one place

This poster is made available by UK Home Office via a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence.