Accessible Content Does Not Need to Be Dull

Who says accessible content has to be boring?

Some people think accessibility means stripping out colour, creativity and personality until every piece of content looks the same.

Fortunately, they could not be more wrong.

Whether you are creating a social media post, designing a website, organising an event, or simply helping someone find information, accessibility and creativity can go hand in hand.

Take our quiz to discover how you can create experiences that are both inclusive and engaging.

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Results

Person holding a Disability Pride flag in front of their face

#1. Your colleague has spent days designing the digital poster for your organisation’s Disability Pride Month event. It is colourful, energetic, and full of brilliant illustrations. The only problem? The light yellow text sits on a white background, making it difficult to read. What would you suggest?

A. Replace everything with plain black text because accessible content should always look serious.

B. Keep the vibrant design but improve the colour contrast so everyone can enjoy it.

C. Leave it as it is because it looks fantastic.

Correct answer: B

Accessibility should never mean removing creativity. Improving colour contrast makes the poster easier to read, while keeping all the personality and excitement of the original design.

Smartphone recording three people presenting documents

#2. A volunteer contributor has created a brilliant video promoting your community event. It has music, humour, and fast-paced editing that everyone in your team loves. Then, someone asks whether captions are really necessary. What do you think?

A. Skip the captions because everyone can just turn the sound up.

B. Add captions so more people can enjoy the video, whether they are deaf, watching without sound, or simply prefer reading along.

C. Remove the music and fun editing because accessible videos should be simple.

Correct answer: B

Captions make videos more accessible without taking away any of the creativity. Great content should reach more people, not fewer.

Purple cupcake topped with blueberries, orange slices and a strawberry

#3. Your friend has launched a small artisan bakery and proudly sends you the new website. Wow, it looks amazing.Unfortunately, every button says “Click here.”How do you respond?

A. Suggest replacing vague button labels with meaningful ones like "View the menu" or "Order cupcakes."

B. Tell them every button should simply say "Click here" because everyone already knows what buttons do.

C. Recommend removing all buttons and making visitors guess.

Correct answer: A

Clear links help everyone understand where they are going, including people using screen readers. Good accessibility is simply good communication.

Footballer standing with one foot on the ball, facing a goalkeeper

#4. Your local football club is promoting a charity match.The social media images they are using include exciting action shots, but all the important details are embedded inside the images.What is the best advice?

A. Tell them images speak for themselves.

B. Suggest including the important information as text in the post as well, so everyone can access it.

C. Remove all photographs because accessible content should never include images.

Correct answer: B

Images are fantastic, but essential information should always be available as text too. That way, nobody misses out.

Speaker presenting to an audience at a business event

#5. Your manager proudly presents their latest PowerPoint at the monthly all-staff meeting.Every slide spins, the title bounces, the logo flies across the screen, and you are all feeling slightly seasick.What would you recommend?

A. Keep the animations because more movement always means more excitement.

B. Replace the animations with a 20-slide block of text.

C. Use animation sparingly so it supports the presentation instead of distracting from it.

Correct answer: C

Movement should enhance communication, not compete with it. Accessible presentations can still be engaging without overwhelming the audience.

Two people eating takeaway food outdoors

#6. An exciting new pop-up restaurant has come to your town, celebrating this summer of non-stop sport. They have created a themed tasting menu featuring dishes from all around the world, and are asking customers to scan a QR code to access it.However, some diners cannot use the code due to a visual impairment or limited dexterity.What would you recommend they do?

A. Keep the QR code and sporting theme, but ensure the digital menu is accessible and provide alternative ways to read it, such as a printed menu or sighted assistance.

B. Remove the QR code altogether and only offer printed menus.

C. Keep the QR code as the only way to access the menu because most customers can use it anyway.

Correct answer: A

With some thought, creative design and accessibility can go hand in hand. Whilst QR codes can be a quirky, convenient way to access information, remember they may not work for everyone. Providing accessible digital content and alternative ways to view it means more people can enjoy the experience.

Wheelchair user dressed as a superhero with a purple mask, cape and boxing gloves

#7. Your colleague is adding images to a blog post.One photo shows a little girl, who is a wheelchair user, proudly wearing a superhero cape while pretending to save the world.When writing the alternative text, your colleague pauses and says, “Should I just write ‘girl using a wheelchair’?”What would you suggest?

A. Describe the scene so people who cannot see the image can enjoy the same story and context.

B. Simply write "Image."

C. Skip the alt text because the picture is only decorative.

Correct answer: A

Alternative text is not just about identifying objects. Good alt text helps people experience the meaning, context and even the joy an image is intended to convey.

Dog wearing a life jacket on the front of a paddleboard

#8. A teammate has written alt text for a picture of a dog wearing sunglasses while paddleboarding that simply says:“Image.”How do you respond?

A. Suggest a short description that captures the important details and the fun of the image.

B. Delete the image.

C. Rename the file "DogFinalFinal2.jpg" and hope for the best.

Correct answer: A

Good alternative text shares the information and the enjoyment of an image with people who cannot see it.

Assorted letter tiles arranged at different angles

#9. Your organisation is sending out a newsletter.One colleague suggests using six different fonts because it “looks exciting.”Another suggests keeping one or two readable fonts and adding personality through colour, photography and tone of voice.Which approach would you support?

A. Six fonts. Go big or go home.

B. Use clear typography and let the content provide the personality.

C. Write everything in CAPITAL LETTERS.

Correct answer: B

Readability is not boring. Clear typography allows creativity to shine without making people work harder to understand the message.

Three colleagues working together around a table with documents

#10. Your team has spent weeks creating an exciting Disability Pride Month campaign.Just before launch, someone asks:“Do we really need to spend extra time making all of this accessible?”What is the best answer?

A. Accessibility is what allows more people to experience all the creativity we have worked so hard to create.

B. Accessibility can wait until next year.

C. We should remove all the fun parts because accessibility and creativity cannot exist together.

Correct answer: A

Accessibility is not the finishing touch, but what makes great content available to everyone.

Finish

Results

#2. A volunteer contributor has created a brilliant video promoting your community event. It has music, humour, and fast-paced editing that everyone in your team loves. Then, someone asks whether captions are really necessary. What do you think?

#3. Your friend has launched a small artisan bakery and proudly sends you the new website. Wow, it looks amazing.Unfortunately, every button says “Click here.”How do you respond?

#4. Your local football club is promoting a charity match.The social media images they are using include exciting action shots, but all the important details are embedded inside the images.What is the best advice?

#5. Your manager proudly presents their latest PowerPoint at the monthly all-staff meeting.Every slide spins, the title bounces, the logo flies across the screen, and you are all feeling slightly seasick.What would you recommend?

#8. A teammate has written alt text for a picture of a dog wearing sunglasses while paddleboarding that simply says:“Image.”How do you respond?

#9. Your organisation is sending out a newsletter.One colleague suggests using six different fonts because it “looks exciting.”Another suggests keeping one or two readable fonts and adding personality through colour, photography and tone of voice.Which approach would you support?

#10. Your team has spent weeks creating an exciting Disability Pride Month campaign.Just before launch, someone asks:“Do we really need to spend extra time making all of this accessible?”What is the best answer?

Ready to take action?