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Do Your Accessible Formats Have Style?

Styles make it quicker to create the document, makes a more consistent, finished article and allows more resilient editing since contents, referencing and heading changes can all be done automatically. There is also the advantage that heading levels, etc, are not language-specific so even translation into other languages is more straightforward. However, far fewer people are aware that, rather than making a document more complicated, styles make a document very VI-friendly.

 

Firstly, styled documents make conversion to large print very simple. Once the font size is increased in the underlying style, other amendments including the list of contents happen simultaneously, so only a quick check for changed page breaks is required. This makes life easier for transcribers producing hard copies as well as making it easier for an end user to reformat a document they have received electronically.

 

Secondly, styles are generally compatible with Braille transcription software which reduces the origination time required and thereby the cost!

 

Finally, styled documents are far easier for screen readers and other assistance technology to navigate when sent electronically to the end user. This allows the visually impaired person to easily find the information they need or are most interested in within the document. Making a document that's easy to navigate is very simple but makes a really big difference to the end user.

 

So, what's stopping you getting stylish…?