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Specialisterne USA Inc., a charitable not-for-profit 503(c) American organization, focused on building a bridge between neurodivergent job seekers and employers. We support employers to tap into the talents of a neurodiverse workforce and build inclusive organizations through education, training, and advisory.

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No One Compliments Accessible Design. That’s the Point.

by | May 20, 2026 | Blog | 0 comments

Michelle Passaro sitting at her desk creating accessibility ready files.

Musings from a designer, with accessibility shaping every workday

By Michelle Passaro, Creative Lead, Specialisterene USA & Canada

When I first started working at Specialisterne, I had never even heard the term “accessible design.” It was not something I learned in school or something I was asked to think about in my early design work. Fast forward a few years, a handful of courses, and a lot of real, applied experience later, and accessibility has become a natural part of how I work.

Today, accessibility is not an afterthought. It is the starting point. It shapes how I create documents, build presentations, approach website updates, and think about design overall. You start noticing where some designs help people move smoothly through content, and others create barriers.

In 2025, Specialisterne was honored to be recognized on the inaugural Forbes Accessible 100 list. Now, for a second consecutive year, we are proud to be included on the expanded Forbes Accessibility 200 list, a reflection of the collective efforts of our organization and employer partners to advance workplace accessibility and neurodivergent inclusion. Being part of a team that takes accessibility seriously and seeing that commitment show up in everyday decisions, is something I am genuinely proud of.

These musings come from that shift. From learning accessibility on the job, applying it every day, and realizing that accessible design rarely draws attention to itself. It simply works. This is what I’ve learned so far:

1. Write for Humans First
Clear language does most of the accessibility work

Building accessible documents starts with writing. Plain, clear language helps everyone understand information faster and with less effort. Accessible design isn’t just for designers. It’s shaped by everyone who creates, writes, builds, or shares content. Every sentence, heading, and structural choice either reduces friction or adds to it. When accessibility is treated as a shared responsibility, content becomes easier to use for everyone.

This matters for neurodivergent readers, people with cognitive disabilities, non-native speakers, and honestly, anyone trying to get through their busy workday.

If someone has to reread a sentence to understand it, that is not a user problem. That is a content problem.

Clear Language Tips

      • Short sentences and familiar words
      • Clear intent and active voice
      • Bullet points instead of long paragraphs
      • Acronyms explained the first time they appear

This applies everywhere. Slides, documents, websites, emails, and writing.

2. Structure Is Not Decoration
Headings and order are how people navigate

A lot of accessibility issues have nothing to do with color or contrast. They come from missing structure. Screen readers and other assistive tools rely on headings, lists, and reading order to move through content. Visual styling alone does not provide that

Text Styling Tips

      • Use built-in heading styles instead of manual formatting
      • Follow a logical heading order without skipping levels
      • Use real bulleted and numbered lists
      • Check reading order in PowerPoint slides

Remember, that if content does not have structure, some users cannot navigate it at all.

3. If an Image Explains Something, Text Needs to Explain It Too
Visual meaning should never be locked in visuals alone

Images, icons, charts, and diagrams often carry important information. If that information only exists visually, people using screen readers will miss it.

That is what alt text is for.

Alt Text Tips

      • Add alt text to meaningful visuals
      • Describe the purpose of the image, not just what it looks like
      • Keep descriptions short and relevant
      • Mark decorative images as decorative

Alt text does not have to be perfect. It just needs to communicate what matters.

4. Typography Is Doing More Work Than You Think
Readability is not a nice-to-have

Type (or font) choices affect how easily people can read, focus, and understand content. Poor typography slows reading and increases fatigue, especially for people with dyslexia, low vision, or cognitive overload.

Accessible typography is quiet and predictable.

Font Choice and Size Tips

      • Use clear sans-serif fonts like Montserrat or Verdana
      • Avoid decorative or condensed fonts for body text
      • Make text large enough to read comfortably
        • Web content should be at least 16px
      • Documents should be at least 12 to 14 point

Italics

      • Avoid italics for long passages, italics distort letter shapes and slow reading
      • Use sparingly, and only for short emphasis

Bold text

      • Use bold to highlight key words or short phrases
      • Avoid bolding full paragraphs
      • Bold should guide the eye, not replace structure

All caps

      • Avoid all caps for sentences, body text, or multi-line headings
      • All caps remove natural word shapes and increase effort
      • If used for short labels, increase spacing and ensure strong contrast

Alignment

      • Use left-aligned text for anything longer than one or two lines
      • Left alignment creates a consistent starting point and smoother reading
      • Centered text should be limited to short headlines or callouts

5. Color Should Support Meaning, Not Carry It
If color disappears, meaning should remain clear

Color can help organize content, but it should never be the only way information is communicated. If meaning is lost when color is removed, accessibility breaks down.

Color Tips

      • Strong contrast between text and background
      • Pairing color with text or icons, not using color alone
      • Avoiding overly bright or sensory-heavy combinations

Informed color choices help everyone, including people in bright environments or on small screens.

6. These Rules Apply to Images Too
Everything discussed here applies to images as well.

Typography, contrast, alignment, and clarity do not stop with text. Images that include text, icons, charts, or labels need the same level of care. Text that is baked into images cannot be resized, read by screen readers, or adjusted for contrast. Busy backgrounds, low contrast, or small type inside images can make content hard or impossible to read. Whenever an image communicates information, that information should communicated by text and be supported with alt text. Images should support understanding, not replace it. If an image makes content harder to read or understand, it is not adding value, it is creating a barrier.

7. Links Should Explain Themselves
“Click here” is not helpful

People using screen readers often scan content by jumping through links. If every link says the same thing, navigation becomes slow and frustrating.

Link Tips

      • Write link text that describes where it goes
      • Avoid vague phrases like “click here” or “learn more”
      • Keep underlines for links only
      • Make links recognizable without color alone

Clear labeling of links helps with the navigation through the document.

8. One Tool That Helps More Than You Think
The Microsoft Accessibility Checker is your quiet safety net

You do not have to remember every accessibility rule while you work. Microsoft has built a helpful tool into Word, PowerPoint, and other Office products.

The Microsoft Accessibility Checker flags common issues like missing slide titles, incorrect reading order, missing alt text, low contrast, and table structure problems. It also explains why something might be an issue and how to fix it.

What makes this tool especially useful is that it works as you design, not just at the end. You can run it while building a document or presentation and catch issues early, before they turn into barriers.

If you are unsure where to start with accessibility, this checker is a solid first step. It will not catch everything, but it catches the most common problems. And in many cases, fixing those alone will make a noticeable difference.

9. Accessibility Works Best When It Is Not an Afterthought
It is easier to design for access than fix barriers later

Accessibility is hardest when it is added at the end. It works best when it is part of the process from the start.

Starting Tips

      • Start with accessible templates
      • Add alt text as visuals are created
      • Run accessibility checkers before sharing
      • Review reading order and contrast early

Over time, these steps stop feeling like extra work. They just become how you design.


Final Thought: Accessible design is good design

The best accessible design rarely gets compliments. No one notices it because content is clear, navigation makes sense and information flows.

That is the point.

Accessible design is not about perfection. It is about making thoughtful choices that help more people use what you create. Small changes in how you write, structure, and design content can make a real difference.

While my work at Specialisterne focuses on building accessible materials for our network of job seekers and employers, the broader task of creating inclusive environments belongs to all of us. It requires more than just removing physical obstacles; it demands that we tackle misconceptions and “employ different thinking” in how we hire, assess, and manage neurodiverse teams.

I hope these basic tips help you in your accessibility journey and make accessibility feel more approachable in your everyday work. When accessibility becomes part of how you think, not just something you check at the end, design works better for everyone.

Want to Keep Learning?

Accessibility is not something you learn once and check off a list. It is an ongoing practice, and there is always more to learn as tools, standards, and technology evolve.

Below are some of the resources I have learned from over the years. They are practical, well-maintained, and grounded in real-world use. Whether you are just getting started or looking to go deeper, these are solid places to continue your accessibility journey.

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