DYSLEXIA ADULT
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Secretary: John Bradford

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The Well Adjusted Campaign

www.welladjusted.org.uk was set up in partnership with the The British Dyslexia Association.

The campaign proposed ten draft Reasonable Adjustments to make online and printed media accessible to all.

Currently eight out of ten websites are shutting out 20% of people who have communication difficulties.

The campaigners claim that inclusive and accessible communication will transform the lives of these people as well as benefit every citizen.

First, by breaking down the barriers that stop everyone surfing the net, reading a book or succeeding at work. Second, by unleashing the spending power that the 20% of the population with communication difficulties have to offer businesses.

Research by the UK Disability Rights Commission found that 80% of UK websites are inaccessible and that business welcomed clear guidance.

The aim of the Well Adjusted Campaign is to help provide this guidance. In proposing ten draft Reasonable Adjustments it aims to help all organizations and companies comply with the law, and meet the needs of their customers, colleagues and community. The campaigners are inviting all stakeholders to further refine and define them.

The proposed Reasonable Adjustments

• Shape and Size:
Is it big enough and legible?
Does it meet British Dyslexia Association BDA) guidelines?

• Sense:
Is it in Plain English?

• Navigation:
Can I find my way around with or without physical or hidden difficulties like dyslexia?
Is it W3C Approved?

• Design:
Is it great design or does it confuse your stakeholders - have you asked?
Does it offer BDA colour and contrast options?

• Appearance:
Does it ‘move’ on the page if you have dyslexia or visual stress?
Do you lose it on the page with distracting messages and extraneous information if you have ADHD or sight issues?

• Sound:
If you can’t read easily or at all can you listen to it?
Is it speech enabled or does it have a ‘Talk-bar’ audio reader?

• Definition:
Is there access to a dictionary, thesaurus (for those who need alternatives not a definition), jargon guide, acronym guide or do you get 'Oops’ if you are searching for a word on a website?

• Language:
In a world of multiple languages are you making the effort to translate written and aural language for large sections for your customers and staff?
Does it pass the foreign language translation guidelines? Less than 5% of the Fortune 500 Companies pass by using Spanish alternative text.

• Right to Reply:
What about writing and responding when faced with communication difficulties?
Can people reply or comment or fill in forms easily?

• The Four New P's:
Do you have organisational policies, programs, practices and research panels for your hidden differences stakeholders?

Responses

Are these proposed guidelines going too far? It sounds as if it would take a Ph.D. to implement them on a website. Would it not be more realistic to go for some basic advice, like using an off-white background, using a clear typeface, and putting a full stop after headings (so that a speech program does not run the words into the next sentence)? (John Bradford)

Let us know your opinion about these suggested accessibility adjustments. Put them on our Discussion Forum.