Universal Design

A guide to universal usability for technical writers

Accessibility for Users

accessibilityDesigning your print and web materials universally will increase accessibility and usability for all users. The main idea behind Universal Design is making things usable for people of all abilities, ages, and levels of experience. In the accessibility movement, awareness is half the battle. Writers who are aware of their audience and its needs will be well on their way to universally designing written material.

First, making web and print writing accessible for everyone is just part of being a good human. For many people, lack of access means lack of information, fewer opportunities, and segregation from society. Access to information, in this age, should be seen as a human right, and as producers and distributors of information, technical writers should be on the forefront of that movement. This especially holds true for writers producing information specifically for older populations, people with disabilities, and non-native speakers. Everyone deserves to be included, and that needs to be recognized sooner rather than later.

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect."
-Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and
Inventor of the World Wide Web

To facilitate increased accessibility for all users, writers should incorporate usability testing into the design process. Ideally, usability testing should happen as often as is practical and possible. Time and money may prevent as thorough of an investigation as is necessary, but testing materials with real users to determine actual interaction is invaluable. Usability testing is the best and most accurate way to troubleshoot problems before the material is published because it helps writers figure out what real users need, how they use the material, and how they interact with the material.