Accessibility guidelines for research posters

Use a font size of 72 point or larger for titles, so the text is legible from a distance of at least 3m/12ft.

Use a minimum of 36 point for the body text.

A small font size is difficult to read and will not grab people’s attention.

Only capitalise the first letter of a sentence (this is known as sentence case).

Avoid words written all in upper case: they can be problematic for people with dyslexia and visual impairments.

For digital posters, upper case can also be tricky for screen readers, which may interpret consecutive upper-case letters as acronyms. For example, if you write ALL, a screen reader may spell it out as ‘A, L, L’.

• Instead of: World Health Organization Launches Innovative NEW Campaign
• Write: World Health Organization launches innovative new campaign

Words that are in italic type or underlined are difficult to read. Use regular type for your main text, and bold for titles and to highlight key words if necessary.

Large passages of bold text are hard to read, and some screen readers will shout out words in bold, so use them sparingly.

Handwritten and decorative typefaces are best avoided. Choose a simple font that allows letters in words to be easily distinguishable from one another and with adequate spacing between them.

Designs that use only one or two typefaces, weights and styles are usually easier on the eye – too many can create a confusing visual layout, particularly for people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia.

Good colour contrast between text and the background will make your content legible and easy to identify.

Black text on a white background is usually the first choice for maximum legibility. If you use coloured text on a bright background, the contrast between the two will be low and the text will be difficult to read.

Always align all text to the left (in languages that are read from left to right). This includes body text, as well as text in tables, headings and diagrams.

This makes it easier for people to see where each line begins.

Long lines of text are harder to read, particularly for people with reading difficulties, so keep them to a maximum of 60 to 70 characters.

Avoid justified text, where both the left and right edges of each line are aligned with both margins. This creates uneven gaps between words, making it harder to read.

Avoid centred text: this makes it difficult to see where each line begins.

It is important to have adequate line spacing between each line of text to ensure it is readable.

Lines of text that are too cramped are much more difficult to read.

Complicated writing can be confusing and hard to understand. It can be particularly difficult for people with dyslexia, autism or other cognitive conditions, or for people whose first language isn’t English.

When writing, think about the words you use when having a conversation. Remember that our brains take in information more easily when it’s broken into small chunks.

It’s good practice to read your writing aloud, line by line, removing unnecessary words and rewriting sentences if they seem too long. If you come across large blocks of text, break them up into shorter paragraphs.

• Instead of: We are a leading NGO with a presence in more than 30 countries, building synergies to facilitate the avoidance of blindness and increasing capacity to promote equality of opportunity for people with disabilities.
• Try: We are an organisation working in more than 30 countries. We prevent avoidable blindness and fight for disability rights.

Avoid large blocks of text and think about breaking up key pieces of information with bullet points to help your audience read and digest it quickly.

Instead of: The most common signs that a person is suffering from trachoma include discharge from the eyes, irritated eyes and redness.

Try: Common signs of trachoma:

• Discharge from the eyes
• Irritated eyes
• Redness

Jargon and acronyms may only make sense to people who live in a particular region or work in a specific industry.

Make your language as clear as possible by avoiding acronyms where you can. The exception is if the acronyms are more commonly recognised than when spelled out in full: for example URL, DVD or USB.

• Instead of: We are an NGO that works with the WHO to treat and prevent NTDs.
• Try: We are an international organisation that works with the World Health Organization to treat and prevent neglected tropical diseases.

If you need to use acronyms, it’s best practice to write the full wording first, followed by the acronym in brackets. After this, use the acronym.

• For example: We work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight disease.

Use shorter, simpler words instead of longer, more complex ones.

• Instead of: Commence
  Try: Start
• Instead of: Discontinue
  Try: Stop
• Instead of: Facilitate
  Try: Help
• Instead of: Adjacent to
  Try: Next to
• Instead of: Pertaining to
  Try: About

Complicated, busy layouts with information scattered across a page can be overwhelming and hard to follow.

It’s best to use a logical, linear design. Present information in columns, and use images and headings to break up large blocks of text.

Separate sections with borders, headings and white space: this will help to make the information easier to read.

Use the space on the research poster to get you main points across.

Consider including a web address and/or a QR code that links to more information and resources.

An accessible, downloadable version of the research poster will allow you to reach a wider audience.

It will also enable people to digest the information at their own leisure.

Charts and graphs must be clearly labelled and should not rely solely on contrasting colours.

Use additional patterns or data labels to make it easier for readers to differentiate each piece of data. People with low vision or colour blindness may find it easier to differentiate segments of a chart or graph if they use contrasting tones and shades.

If graphs contain axis labels or any other text, make sure the font is large enough to read.

Choose crisp, clear, high-resolution images and ensure they accurately convey your message.

Also check that the photo has been cropped appropriately and is telling the whole story.

When placing text over a picture, ensure the background offers sufficient contrast to make it legible. Avoid low-resolution, blurry images.

Include alt text on all images, including photographs, charts, icons, logos and diagrams.

This will allow people using screen readers to recognise them.

Read our full alt text guidelines