Introduction
As discussed in the section on Building in Accessibility, there are many factors that can lead to people being excluded from research environments. The same is true of research communication. Researchers often focus on clarity within their field, to their peers, but accessible communication goes beyond this to recognise the benefits of a diverse audience. Engaging a diverse audience can lead to unexpected insights, fresh perspectives, and a richer dialogue around research. It encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration, empowers underrepresented voices, and supports a more equitable research culture.
Communication happens on multiple levels, and there are different considerations depending on who you are trying to reach—whether it’s colleagues in your field, policymakers, community groups, or the general public—and what their particular needs might be.
Style
We all have different communication preferences, which can either support or hinder how we absorb information. Factors such as physical ability, neurodiversity, and mental health all play a role. These Home Office posters offer suggestions for clear and inclusive communication.
Language
The words we use—along with the amount of jargon, sentence complexity, and text formatting—significantly impact how well our message is understood. The British Dyslexia Association style guide provides helpful advice on presenting written information more clearly.
Images
Image-based figures are an important part of communicating research. However, choices around colour, scale, and layout can affect whether everyone can interpret them effectively. Read Creating Clear and Informative Image-based Figures for Scientific Publications by Jambor et al. for an analysis and recommendations on making image-based figures more accessible.
Upload a figure from your most recent paper or presentation to the colour blindness simulator. How accessible is your work?
Research is for everyone, and communication is key to ensuring this. Effective communication allows everyone to engage with and contribute to research in their own way, offering novel perspectives and opening up new kinds of thinking.
Case Study
Practical Steps and Tools
Use the following tools when preparing your next piece of communication:
Use these colour tools to ensure your graphics are visually accessible:
- Coloring for color-blindness by David Nichols is an online colour-blindness simulation tool
- Adobe Color Wheel, use the accessibility tools to check your palette
- Coolors palette tool helps generate colour palettes.
Include written descriptions of all images in your work, you can generate these easily using online AI tools.
Consider your audience and what communication tools may be most appropriate for them. Aim to provide a variety of options for people to engage with.
Does your work need translating into another language? If so, be sure to allow enough time to engage translation services and include this in your budget.
References and Further Resources
Creating Accessible Documents from AbilityNet offers tips on improving document accessibility.
Principles of Inclusive Communication is an information and self-assessment tool for public authorities from the Scottish Government on inclusive communication principles.
Communicating with Autistic People – National Autistic Society Guidance offers guidance on communicating effectively with autistic people. Please note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this—everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to communication. Use this guidance as a starting point, but always seek to engage directly with those you wish to communicate with.
Tips to Improve Interpretability and Accessibility with Dr Tracey Weissgerber is a talk from the RIOT Science Club on improving the interpretability and accessibility of data visualisation.
WebAIM provides comprehensive guidance on creating accessible web design.
Making Your Research Outputs Accessible to Wider Audiences is a blog post from the Software Sustainability Institute offering practical advice.
Inclusivity in Publishing, an episode from the Power and Privilege in Academia podcast by Black and Brown in Bioethics, features Dr Agomoni Ganguli-Mitra and Dr Sabrina Germain discussing the injustices, barriers, and challenges faced by minoritised academics in the publishing world.
