5 March 2025

Writing for all: Why accessible communication should be everyone's priority

Blog post

Sue Wheeler, Senior Marketing Manager at SCF

Written by Sue Wheeler, Senior Marketing Manager at SCF. 

• Did you know that 1 in 10 people in the UK have dyslexia?
• Or that 1 in 12 men are affected by colour blindness (compared with 1 in 200 women).
• And that over 18 million people in the UK have hearing loss, tinnitus, or are Deaf?

This is about 1 in 3 adults.

When I was a little girl, all I wanted to do was write stories and draw pictures. I used to beg my mum to teach me how to read and write in those long, drawn-out days before finally starting school as a (very excited!) 4-year-old. And I should clarify very early on, that as a teacher herself, my mum was strongly opposed to the very thought of it, much to my bitter disappointment. But looking back, it’s no real surprise that I ended up having a career in marketing. 

A couple of months ago, while Kelly Hall (our Operations Director) and I were discussing a piece of SCF comms, I mentioned that we shouldn’t hyperlink the singular word ‘here’ for accessibility reasons – and explained why. She was surprised that she didn’t know, but equally delighted to learn a new thing (after all, who doesn’t love a school day?).

She suggested I deliver a presentation to share some top tips on accessibility in external comms with my SCF colleagues.

Working in the charity sector has helped shape my view of accessible comms. As grant-makers, we fund a diverse range of groups across the county, including those who support neurodivergent people, individuals experiencing language barriers, and many other challenges.

I don’t claim to be an expert, but over the years I’ve attended a few webinars and gone to an online presentation or 2 that have focused on this subject. And stuff sticks – especially when it’s your job to know it, and extra especially when you love what you do. 

For me, one thing that keeps writing and communication fun and exciting is that language constantly evolves. Meaning that when it’s your job, you’re always learning new ways to keep your copy relevant. And more recently, accessibility is crucial in making sure your comms is fit for purpose. So log in to Mailchimp, crank up Canva, and let’s make sure we’re writing copy and creating content that works for everyone. Because truly inclusive communication is a responsibility we all share.

If you’d like to learn more, check out the slides from my presentation.