What is accessible communication?

Accessible communication means sharing information in a way that works for every reader. It’s about removing barriers that stop people from finding, understanding or using your information.

Why accessible communication matters

Accessible communication benefits everyone, not just people with disability.

Some key benefits include:

Wider reach: More people can understand and use your information.
Better engagement: People are more likely to act on your message if it’s easy to understand.
Inclusive: It shows your organisation values everyone in the community.
Legal compliance: Organisations must follow laws like the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Australian Government’s Digital Service Standard, which requires accessible information and digital content.

How to make your communications accessible

Here are some practical ways to improve accessibility in your communication:

Write in plain language. This means using short sentences, common words and a clear structure. Aim for a grade 7–9 reading level.
Consider providing a summarised version of longer documents.
Offer an Easy Read version of the information. Aim for a grade 3–6 reading level.
Use meaningful headings to help readers scan content quickly and improve accessibility for screen reader users.
Use accessible design, including sufficient colour contrast for text and other elements.
Make sure video or audio options have written transcripts.
Make sure videos have captions and audio description if needed.
Offer your communications in different community languages if needed.
Include alt text for informative images.
Make sure any PDFs you share are accessible in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – PFD Techniques.
Make sure your website is accessible in line with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Know your audience

People access information in many ways. Knowing your audience helps you make communication more accessible and effective.

Think about:

Who needs this information?
How do they access it?
What challenges might they face?

The best way to find out is to engage with your audience. User testing, especially with people using assistive technologies, helps identify and fix barriers.