Checklist Poster

Making Email Accessible

The Disability Discrimination Act states that you must ensure your services are accessible to disabled people.

To meet the needs of disabled people:

Emails to individuals

• Use plain English in all emails – avoid using jargon.

• Keep in mind that different email clients display emails differently.

• Use plain text emails to ensure the information is displayed to the recipients in the way you intend.

• Use plain text emails for maximum accessibility, especially for people using screen readers.

• If you use HTML emails, follow the same accessibility guidelines as for web pages (WCAG 1.0 guidelines, priority II).

• For plain text emails, use the Text Email Newsletter (TEN) Standard – see www.headstar.com/ten.

Emails to groups

• Always clearly state who the email is from and your contact details.

• Protect your recipients' privacy: use the Bcc field for mailing addresses.

• If you use HTML emails, offer a plain text version as well, either:
  - let the recipient choose which version to subscribe to, or
  - send everyone the plain text with the HTML version attached.

• Do not send the email to people who have not requested it.

• Always offer your recipients an opportunity to opt out.

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