We explain what it means to be inclusive and accessible in society, and share seven ways to facilitate this in communities

Shifts in attitudes and advancements in technology are helping to shape a more accessible society, but the world is still inaccessible for many people. We need to strive for a world where inclusivity is at its heart — where everybody feels seen, heard, respected, valued, and understood. But what exactly does this mean, and how do we achieve it?

What does it mean to be inclusive?

Being inclusive means embracing all individuals, regardless of race, gender, disability, beliefs, and other characteristics. It’s about giving everybody an equal opportunity to participate in society and thrive by removing barriers.

"Diversity is being invited to the party: Inclusion is being asked to dance" — Verna Myers

What does accessibility mean?

Being accessible means something is easy for anyone to ‘enter, use, reach or obtain’. This could be ensuring there is appropriate disabled access to buildings, or that content can be easily navigated online. Accessibility is about designing ways that allow people to access information, products or services easily. At the core of accessibility is making sure it can be used by as many people as possible.

The social model of disability

The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world. It notes that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Barriers could be physical, such as not having disabled access to buildings, communicative, or attitudinal.

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A note on disability language

We recognise that there are many terms used when talking about disability. Here, we use the term ‘disabled person/people’ but you may prefer to use ‘person with a disability’, ‘wheelchair user’, ‘differently-abled’, or other terms. Please use whatever language you feel comfortable using and when communicating with a disabled person, take note of their individual preferences.


7 ways to create more inclusive and accessible communities

According to Scope, a leading disability equality charity in England and Wales, five million people in the UK have a learning disability, around one in 10 have dyslexia, and two million people have a visual impairment. So, what steps can we take to support people who aren’t living the typical experience?

1. Consider your language

It’s important to make sure that the language we use in day-to-day life (whether at work or home) is clear and easy to understand. Try not to overcomplicate things, by focusing on conveying a message that can be read and digested quickly and easily.

2. Page formatting

When thinking about how content is formatted, consider headings, images, text size, and colour. Using these effectively will make it much easier for your text to be translated by accessibility tools such as screen readers. Here are some key things to consider:

  • Headings help break up text into chunks — use titles, headings, and subheadings to help guide readers.
  • Text should be a minimum font size of 12 — ensure flexibility by allowing users to adjust the text size as needed.
  • Colour contrast is important when it comes to accessibility — it can be hard for some people to tell colours apart. Consider this when putting text against a white page, or text in front of a busy background, for example.
  • Images should contain alt text — make sure it describes the image in enough detail, while being sure not to include too much unnecessary information.

3. Ask questions

In a training session from the brilliant Samantha Renke, Samantha told Happiful, “If you’ve met one disabled person, you’ve met one disabled person.” It's a vital sentiment that reminds us not every disabled person is the same, and needs will change for each person. If you want to know if there’s anything you can do to make something easier for a person, ask, respect their response, and don’t assume that this will be the same each time.

This also applies to how that person would like to be identified. For example, would they prefer for you to use person-first language (person with a disability) or identity-first language (disabled person)? It only takes a moment to ask, but can make a world of difference.

4. Think from a different perspective

It can be easy to take for granted the things we encounter day to day. Try to think about whether that thing you’ve encountered could be a barrier for someone else, and if it is, speak out and try to encourage change. For example, does the layout of a cafe bar a wheelchair from easily passing through, or a YouTube video with no captions available.

5. Challenge and avoid using harmful stereotypes

Even today, it’s very common for people to misuse phrases related to disability. For example, calling someone “blind” or “deaf” because they didn't notice or acknowledge you. This language can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and be dismissive of people's real lived experience, so be sure to consider your choice of words.

6. Use different content formats

Using various forms of content is a good way to cater to different preferences. This could be using a mixture of written content, audio (podcasts), videos, infographics, etc. People digest information in different ways, so this helps your content reach a broader audience. When using images, audio, and video content, be sure to use alt text, captions, and transcripts to cater to more needs.

7. Be an advocate for accessibility and inclusion

While there are several ways to improve accessibility and inclusion physically and digitally, the biggest barrier that remains is often people’s attitudes towards difference. Addressing these attitudes will ultimately make the greatest difference, but only if you truly listen to disabled people.

  • Open up the conversation around disability and accessibility so it becomes the norm.
  • Support communities that promote accessible products and services.
  • Offer reasonable adjustments where you can.
  • If you see something inaccessible, speak up.
  • Educate others about what accessibility means and the importance of it.

Useful resources