Alternative formats are ways to present information that make content easier to access for people with disabilities. These formats are used in both print and electronic documents, benefiting the following individuals:
- People with blindness or low vision
- People with color blindness and other types of color vision disabilities, meaning they cannot find text legible in certain background colors
- People with learning disabilities like dyslexia
- Individuals with cognitive disabilities that are caused by brain injuries
Why are Alternative Formats Important?
Today, the information given out through print and digital mediums is abundant. Denying access to content for people with disabilities is unfair to them and also harmful to businesses, as it limits your audience. Making your content reach your audience, regardless of their abilities is necessary, especially when 28.7% of people in the United States alone live with a disability. This means you exclude one in every four people in the USA from accessing your content.
The growing need for inclusivity in today’s global society has given rise to becoming more empathetic towards individuals with varying needs. As a business owner, you cannot avoid taking the responsibility of making your content accessible in varying formats for everyone with diverse needs. With alternative formats, your content reaches a wider audience with diverse needs.
Types of Alternative Formats
There are several different types of alternative formats for people with varying needs. Here, we have discussed the most widely used formats:
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Text-Based Formats
Here are some types of alternative formats in the form of texts:- Plain Text Documents: It is a simplified version of content stripped of all formatting. This means the content has no text in bold or italics or any image. It is a valuable alternative for documents packed with visuals, graphs, or those in formats that are not accessible. To make this format truly effective, include descriptive text for any images.
- Braille: People with visual impairments or blindness use braille to access large and complex information. This is especially great if individuals with visual impairments are viewing complex subjects science, math, and other subjects in the STEM field. When paired with other tactile graphics, braille offers a practical and user-friendly way to access manuals, textbooks, novels, and other materials challenging to grasp through audio alone.
- Large Print: Another text-based alternative format to take notes is large print for books. People with partial sight can access content from printed books through large print. A large print book is a reformatted version of a document designed to enhance readability by enlarging text, images, and other content. The text is increased to at least 18-point font, with wider line spacing for better clarity. Tables are typically converted into lists, and images are resized to make them easier to view.
- Transcripts: Basic transcripts are like a written version of what you hear in audio. It covers all the spoken words and important sounds to make sense of the content. Descriptive transcripts take it a step further by including details about what is happening visually, so even the visual cues are described in words. These are essential for making video content accessible to individuals who are both deaf and blind, ensuring no one misses out on the full experience.
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Audio-Based Formats
- Audio Recordings: Audio versions of books and documents are great for people who struggle to read printed text due to visual impairments, cognitive challenges, or aging. These alternative audio recordings are recorded by human narrators or advanced synthetic voices that sound remarkably real. They deliver clear, accurate readings and even tackle complex layouts and technical graphics with precision, making information accessible to everyone.
- Text-to-Speech (TTS) Output: With this technology, text content is converted into speech in real time. Unlike audio recordings that have a touch of emotions and personality to the voice, the text-to-speech output is an assistive technology that is available almost on every digital device and will read aloud the text presented in front of the screen.
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Video and Multimedia Formats
- Captions: Captions transform audio into text, capturing both speech and essential non-speech sounds to make content understandable. They appear directly within the media player, perfectly timed with the audio. Captions are invaluable for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and are also a great tool for anyone who finds it easier to process written words than spoken ones.
- Audio Descriptions: These are a narrative explanation of nonverbal and visual elements in a video that could be missed by people with visual impairments.
- Sign Language Interpretations: Sign languages communicate meaning through a combination of hand and arm movements, facial expressions, and body language. For many individuals with hearing problems, sign language is their first language. Some people may prefer having both sign language and captions simultaneously to fully understand the content.
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Digital-Based Formats
Within the digital realm, accessibility comes in many forms. Here are some alternative formats that are required in the digital world for an accessible document:- Tagged PDF: tagged PDF contains hidden accessibility markers that enhance the reading experience for users who rely on screen readers and other assistive technologies. Accurate tagging makes the content more navigable and adjusts its layout to fit different screen sizes, ensuring an optimal experience for users on mobile devices.
- HTML: It focuses on how information looks and feels on the screen, making presentation its top priority. HTML forms work well for basic data capture, but they are not ideal for complex reporting needs.
- ePub: The ePub format creates digital files perfect for viewing on mobile devices. One of its key features is that it is reflowable, meaning the content automatically adjusts to fit the screen size of any device. With ePub, readers can do more than just read—they can highlight text, take notes, adjust the text and background for comfort, and even use text-to-speech in some cases.
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Visual-Based Formats
- Tactile Graphics: Tactile graphics are essentially pictures that you can touch and feel. Many tactile graphics are produced using special printers that emboss raised lines onto paper, similar to Braille dots, or by using inks that harden to create textured structures that can be felt.
- Infographics: In this type of alternative format, complex information is presented through charts, diagrams, and data visualizations to break it down and make it easier to understand and digest.
- Simplified Text Versions: This type of alternative format is content rewritten in plain language using clear sentence structures with simple vocabulary to make it more accessible for individuals with lower literacy levels or people with cognitive disabilities.
- 3D Models: 3D models are physical or digital models of concepts or objects that provide tactile or visual alternatives for people with visual impairments to grasp spatial or structural details.
Difference Between Accessible Formats and Alternative Formats
On the surface level, one might confuse the two terms, accessible and alternative formats, but they are different from each other. Here’s how:
| Feature | Accessible Formats | Alternative Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | These formats make sure that the content is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. | While alternative formats provide content in formats other than the original to cater to diverse needs. |
| Purpose | To meet the accessibility standards and make content more accessible for people using assistive technologies. | To provide users with the flexibility in accessing content the way they prefer. |
| Example | Tagged PDFs, large print, captions. | Infographics, translations, audio recordings, and plain text versions. |
| Compliance | Should meet the official accessibility standards like ADA or WCAG. | The content may or may not meet the accessibility standards for this type of format. |
| Target Audience | Meant especially for people with disabilities like auditory or visual impairments. | People with disabilities are also included, but alternative formats also target a broader audience, like people with different literacy levels and language or learning preferences. |
| Technology Compatibility | Should be compatible with assistive technologies like braille displays, screen readers, or others. | It is not compulsory to make alternative formats work with assistive technologies. |
| Content Adaptation | The focus is on accessibility and usability. | The focus is consuming the same content in alternative ways. |
| Inclusivity | Provides equal usability and access for all. | Provides options for consuming content but does not promise accessibility. |
Industry-Wise Applications of Alternative Formats
| Industry | Alternative Formats Used | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Braille, Large Print, Simplified Text, Audio Recordings, Infographics, Captions, 3D Models | To support students with visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities; enhance learning for diverse learners. |
| Publishing | ePUB, Audio Books, Large Print, Simplified Text, Translations | To cater to readers with different needs, preferences, or disabilities; expand reach globally. |
| Healthcare | Plain Text Documents, Infographics, Audio Recordings, Translations, Braille | To communicate medical information clearly to patients with varying literacy levels or disabilities. |
| Corporate | Captions, Simplified Text, Translations, Infographics | To improve internal communications, training materials, and global collaboration. |
| Government | Tagged PDFs, Braille, Captions, Translations, Large Print | To ensure public resources and legal information are accessible to all citizens. |
| Technology | Accessible PDFs, HTML, Audio Descriptions, Captions, Translations | To provide inclusive user manuals, interfaces, and product guides for diverse customers. |
| Media and Entertainment | Audio Descriptions, Captions, Simplified Text, Translations, Sign Language Interpretations, 3D Models | To make content inclusive for audiences with disabilities and reach non-native language speakers. |
| E-Commerce | Plain Text, Captions, Translations, Simplified Text | To improve accessibility in product descriptions, user reviews, and videos for a diverse customer base. |
| Tourism and Hospitality | Translations, Audio Guides, Large Print, Simplified Text, Tactile Maps | To make travel-related information accessible to tourists with disabilities or language barriers. |
| Manufacturing | Simplified Text, Infographics, Large Print, 3D Models | To ensure safety manuals, product descriptions, and instructions are easily understood. |
Make Your Content Accessible to All
Ensure your content is accessible and compliant with alternative formats. Continual Engine makes it easy and efficient.
FAQs:
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What is an alternate format for accessibility?
An alternate format is a way to present information rather than traditional print text to make it accessible to people with disabilities. -
What are the alternative text formats?
Alternative text formats include:- Braille
- Large print
- Audio
- Electronic text
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What are the alternative formats that are accessible?
Here is the list of Accessible Alternative Formats:- Tagged PDFs
- Audio Formats
- Braille
- Large Print
- Captioned Videos
- Audio Described Videos
- EPUB Files
- HTML Web Pages
- Tactile Graphics
- Simplified Text Versions
