Writing Accessible Emails

Creating accessible organizing is challenging. I know that for me, text based communication is usually preferred. But there are major difficulties for a wide range of people with text.

The go to as far as access tends to be face-to-face meetings. A lot of orgs and advisories are facing defunding or under-funding because of budget issues. In many cases, this means that fewer face-to-face meetings are doable.

I recently had one of the advisories I’m involved with run into issues. I can’t do phone calls without support if I want to be actively involved. One person was having issues with too many emails. Face-to-face wasn’t in the budget. Another person’s Learning Disabilities made many emails very difficult.

In response, I sent an email with some suggestions for writing accessible emails. I’ve decided to share most of what I sent, as it seems to be an issue. I even had an incoming search term about making something accessible.

Basic tips for making emails accessible

• The first one is that we often ask people to stay on topic in emails. If sending multiple emails is a issue, utilize bullet points. This allows for a visual separation of information.If bullet points don’t work, divide your email into sub headers that are bolded or underlined. This will create visual sections that let people organize the info better.
• Use short words, and short sentences. It is said that brevity is the soul of wit. It’s also the soul of writing in accessible language. Using short sentences makes it easier to process. Using short words makes those sentences even easier to read. If you do need to use complicated words, either explain or provide a link to a definition.
• If you use inline hyperlinks (links), don’t have the text be non-descriptive. This is doubly true when you deal with folks who use screen readers. Instead of using “here” or “at their site“, use the title of the article.For example, “On their site, NYLN has resources on things like Disability History and Disability Pride.” Or, “One good resource is Opera’s Guide to Accessisbility for Cognitive and Learning Disabilities.”
• Use White Space. White Space is the space where you don’t have anything, like the space between paragraphs or at margins. This makes it easier for those with ADHD, ASDs, and so on to organize information and avoid distraction. When there is little white space, it is visually confusing for any number of people.
• Formatting. Making sure that text lines aren’t too long is important. This isn’t so much an issue for email, unless you have a habit of writing in huge text and forcing people to scroll over. Make sure text is tall enough to be legible, but not so tall that it becomes an issue. This is usually between 12pt and 14pt font.
• Short paragraphs that stay on topic. Paragraphs visually divide chunks of information. By writing relatively short paragraphs that are on topic, you make it easier for the reader to sort information.
• Try to use spell check and grammar, and double check that spell check was right. The wrong words can make things extremely difficult to navigate for those with LDs.
• Use image descriptions. Some people can’t see, but others have processing issues with images. Providing a basic description of images can be really helpful. And use images sparingly unless requested otherwise.
• Create an environment that is welcoming. Don’t act defensive when someone asks for an accommodation. I know that we have some negative role models in this area, particularly in MH work. Some of us were even shamed and forcibly trained out of asking for our access needs to be met. Make sure you create an environment that isn’t modeled after that.One good way of doing this is to mention what *your* access needs are. For example, I might need certain information in chart or graph form. Don’t just say “Some people might need x” when you are talking about yourself if you can help it. We live in a world where alternative access needs are shamed enough without us internalizing that shame. Instead, add “for example, I have difficulties sorting out what information is important in long emails.”

These are based on a number of different access guides. Some of them are internal standards we use at Autism Women’s Network. Some of them are from things like the Opera Accessibility article linked above.

Working with multiple access needs

When working in groups with multiple access needs, one need doesn’t mean all others are invalid. It means we work together to find solutions.

For example, I’m generally not okay with phone calls. But for NYLN meetings we have someone who gets on google chat and who can say my comments for me while I listen. Listening can still sometimes be hard for me, but it’s enough that I can do it.

For people who can’t do face to face meetings, there are interfaces that can be used within reason. Making all our meetings in person isn’t accessible for many people financially.

For emails, if we write accessibly, we can create something doable.

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ID, DD, and Cognitive Disabilities.

I’ve noticed a trend of using Intellectual Disability (ID), Developmental Disability (DD), and Cognitive Disability interchangeably. I find this extremely problematic, and wanted to suggest some guidelines as to what these terms mean

Developmental Disability– The Administration on Developmental Disabilities defines a DD as something that, starting before the age of 22, impairs or alter’s one’s ability to perform 3 or more certain major life activities listed on their page. They also state that it can be either physical or mental. (What is a Developmental Disability?) On a page that is designed for bureaucratic rather than accessible language, they elaborate that this means life-long disabilities that are “likely to continue indefinitely.” (OPD’s Factsheet on the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.)

What sort of Disabilities are included? While IDs aren’t uncommon, DDs include disabilities which might or might not have any ID co-morbidities () such as Cerebral Palsy and Autism Spectrum Disorders*.  There is a tendency to assume that if an individual has a DD they must have an ID, but this is a stereotype. It is built in part on the fact that some DDs effect the ability to communicate in a typical fashion, and so early work in the field assumed certain things about the intelligence of those with DDs as a whole.

Basically while a lot of people who fall under the DD label also have IDs, Having an ID isn’t a necessary part of having a DD.

Cognitive Disability– Cognitive Disabilities are not the same as Intellectual Disabilities, either. Cognition- while a part of intelligence**- is not exclusively intelligence. It also includes how we learn, and how we organize ideas.

I like how Opera defines Cognitive Disabilities:

These conditions affect a web user’s ability to perform one or more mental tasks. This includes problems with:

• reading text
• memory
• problem solving
• keeping focused (attention span)
• computation (for example calculations)
• non-verbal learning (for example difficulty with written materials)

(Opera’s Web Accessibility for Cognitive Disabilities and Learning Disorders.) Executive Functioning difficulties fall under this concept of Cognitive disabilities.

The most common alternate for this tends to be Learning Disabilities. I think it’s important to note that this includes the executive functioning issues in those with ADD/ADHD. Other examples of Cognitive Disabilities that aren’t always covered under IDs include Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and even Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Additionally, TBI generally isn’t considered a DD. (And, on a personal note, is my sister’s Dx.)

Intellectual Disability– When one thinks of the old classification “Mental Retardation”*** it typically is referring to those with IDs, even though the old label was sometimes used for DDs.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the ARC give the definition of Intellectual Disability as

Intellectual disability is a below-average cognitive ability with three (3) characteristics:

1. Intelligent quotient (or I.Q.) is between 70-75 or below
2. Significant limitations in adaptive behaviors (the ability to adapt and carry on everyday life activities such as self-care, socializing, communicating, etc.)
3. The onset of the disability occurs before age 18.

(The Arc, Intellectual Disability.)  While I have issues with the way we measure Intelligence/IQ, this seems to be the most workable definition.

Some examples of those who may or may not have Intellectual Disabilities are those with Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, or Fragile X syndrome. The ARC also mentions that an estimated half of the population with Intellectual Disabilities do not meet the definition for having Developmental Disabilities.

In Closing

While one can have Intellectual, Cognitive, and Developmental Disabilities at the same time, they are not interchangeable terms. It is possible to have one without any of the others, only two, or all three types of disabilities.

This is true even when you are looking at people with the same dx. Though most people with Down Syndrome have IDs, not all do.  While FASD awareness (and services?) are under SAMHSA, those with it might also have IDs. Someone With Cerebral Palsy has a DD, but might only be effected physically. Those with ADHD have cognitive disabilities but might not have either ID or DD, though they could also have both.

So, please, keep in mind the population that you are talking about. When you are talking about having Autistics share their stories on your site, ID isn’t really the best term, because you cut/erase a heavy percentage of Autistics that way. When looking at website accessibility remember: just because the content isn’t something you can make ID accessible, doesn’t mean you can’t make it more cognitively accessible.

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* Note that the National Institutes on Health site article linked above is using the Current DSM’s definition. The new DSM coming out merges Asperger’s Syndrome and PDD-NOS, though they are linked out as separate in the article linked above.

** Note: The concept of intelligence is considered flawed by many people. I am using it because it is the terminology/lingo that is used in both the advocacy and service provider communities. Additionally, I have seen references that the Education system lumps cognitive disabilities under Learning Disabilities, and uses cognitive disability to mean Intellectual Disability. . . I’m not so familiar with Education from the educators end. Feel free to let me know more in the comments.

*** I oppose the use of the R-word, however some government sites and some state/local systems still refer to themselves as MR services. This is the reason why “Mental Retardation,” in quotes, is mentioned. My own county, in fact, still refers to it as “MR”, usually in the jumble of human services that locals call “MH/MR.”