Accessibility Doesn’t Stop At The Door - Why Communication Now Matters More Than Ever
At IC Works, we work with organisations that care about accessibility. More often than not, those organisations have already made real efforts — step-free entrances, ramps, handrails, accessible toilets, and clear routes through public spaces. The physical side of accessibility is on the agenda. And rightly so.
But we’re here to say something really simple.
Accessibility doesn’t just stop at the door
It’s one thing to make sure people can get into your building or navigate your app. It’s another thing entirely to make sure they can understand what you’re trying to tell them once they’re there.
We call this ‘communication accessibility’ — and for many people, it’s the thing that makes the biggest difference.
So who’s it for?
We’re not just talking about people with formal diagnoses.
We’re talking about:
people who find reading hard
people who process information differently
people under stress or in unfamiliar settings
people who don’t speak English as a first language
people who get overwhelmed by too much text or complex wording
people who just need information to be clearer, calmer, and more direct
And to be honest, that’s most of us at one time or another.
So when we help make a sign easier to follow, or a leaflet easier to take in, or a video easier to understand — we’re not just helping some people. We’re making the message stronger for everyone.
The challenge we see again and again
Organisations are doing a great job with physical accessibility, but the moment we step into the world of posters, signage, websites, videos, forms, letters, and apps, things often fall apart.
And it’s not because people don’t care — it’s because they don’t realise how easily communication becomes a barrier.
We’ve seen:
posters where the headline is buried in a paragraph
leaflets with reading levels closer to university essays than everyday English
signs that make sense only to people who already know the system
web copy that’s long, formal, and full of jargon
app journeys that assume the user is fast, fluent, and unfazed.
The result? The message doesn’t land. The user misses out. The organisation loses the chance to connect, support, or serve.
What we do at IC Works
We work with organisations to make their communication more accessible — not by dumbing things down, but by opening them up.
We help you:
find out where your communication might be leaving people behind
rewrite or redesign materials to reach a wider audience
test content with people who know what it's like to be excluded
create easy read and accessible formats where they’re needed
train your team to build accessible communication into everyday practice.
We’re not rewriting your values. We’re not changing your goals. We’re just helping you make sure more people can get what you’re trying to say — the first time, without stress.
Why this matters
When people can’t take in the information they’re given, the consequences can be serious — missed appointments, misunderstandings, loss of access to services, breakdowns in trust. And for organisations, that means wasted effort, reputational risk, and avoidable complaints.
But when communication is accessible?
people take action, sooner
services are used more effectively
trust grows
and your organisation becomes known for getting it right.
Let’s work together
We believe communication should be as accessible as your entrance ramp.
And we believe you’re probably closer than you think — you just need someone to help you bridge the gap.
If you’re ready to go beyond the door and make your messages work for more people, we’re here to help.
IC Works. Because accessibility is more than bricks and mortar. It’s words, images, tone, clarity, and the power to be understood.