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Purple Beard Training

Name: Purple Beard Training
Address: 269 field end Road, Eastcote, London, HA49NN, GB
Telephone: +442080454405

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24/08/2026

Accessibility is often seen as a compliance requirement, but at its core, it's about creating experiences that work for everyone.

Something as simple as a poorly labelled field, low colour contrast, or an unclear error message can become a significant barrier for users trying to complete a task.

When designing forms, we should be asking questions like:

-Can this be completed using only a keyboard?
-Are error messages clear and actionable?
-Will screen readers interpret it correctly?
-Is the content easy to understand and navigate?

The best forms are often the most inclusive ones. They reduce frustration, improve completion rates, and provide a better experience for all users, not just those with accessibility needs.

Accessibility isn't an enhancement. It's good design.

17/08/2026

Accessibility is most effective when it's built in from the start, not checked at the end.

Too often, accessibility is treated as the final step in a digital project.

The problem is that by the time accessibility is reviewed, many of the barriers have already been created. Issues found during testing are often the result of decisions made much earlier in the process, whether that's in design systems, content structures, development patterns, templates, or authoring practices.

Fixing these issues at the end is almost always more expensive, more time-consuming, and more disruptive than addressing them from the beginning.

When accessibility is considered from the start, teams can make better decisions before content is written, components are built, and experiences are launched. Accessibility becomes part of the way work gets done, rather than another item on a compliance checklist.

Audits and testing still matter. They're essential. But their role should be to validate, inform, and continuously improve the process, not to act as the only line of defence before release.

The organisations seeing the greatest success are investing in the capability to create accessible experiences consistently. They equip their teams with the right knowledge, standards, tools, processes, and governance so accessibility is embedded throughout the life-cycle.

10/08/2026

When people hear the word accessibility, they often assume it only benefits disabled people.

The reality is much bigger.

Many products and features we use every day were originally designed to solve accessibility challenges but went on to benefit millions of people.

Examples include:

✅ Automatic doors
✅ Dropped kerbs
✅ Touchscreens
✅ Voice assistants
✅ Closed captions
✅ Keyboard shortcuts
✅ Ergonomic and adaptive products

These innovations were created to remove barriers, but their usefulness extends far beyond the communities they were originally designed for.

Think about how often you've:

🔹 Used captions in a noisy environment
🔹 Used a kerb ramp while pushing luggage or a pram
🔹 Asked a voice assistant to set a timer
🔹 Used keyboard shortcuts to work more efficiently
🔹 Opened an automatic door while carrying items

This is often referred to as the curb-cut effect, when solutions designed for accessibility end up improving experiences for everyone.

07/08/2026

One of the most common accessibility mistakes we encounter is using bold text to imitate headings instead of applying proper heading styles.

Visually, the document may look well-structured.

But for assistive technologies, there's a huge difference.

When sections are simply made bold:

❌ No real heading structure exists
❌ Screen reader users cannot navigate by headings
❌ The Navigation Pane remains ineffective
❌ Large documents become harder to navigate

Benefits include:

✅ Clear document hierarchy
✅ Faster navigation through the Navigation Pane
✅ Better support for screen readers and assistive technologies
✅ Improved user experience for everyone

A good rule to remember:

Structure is not the same as appearance.

Making text look like a heading doesn't make it a heading.

Using proper heading styles is a small change that can dramatically improve document accessibility and usability.

03/08/2026

Don't create bullet lists by manually typing hyphens, asterisks, or other symbols.

While manual bullets may look the same visually, assistive technologies don't always recognise them as actual lists.

Instead, use the built-in Bullets or Numbering tools available in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 applications.

Why does this matter?

✅ Screen readers can announce the number of items in a list
✅ Users can better understand the structure of information
✅ Content becomes easier to navigate and scan
✅ Documents are more consistent and professional

For example, a screen reader can tell a user:

"List with 4 items"

This immediately provides context that wouldn't be available when using manually typed dashes.

Accessibility isn't always about major changes. Sometimes it's about using the tools that are already built into the applications we use every day.

If you're typing a dash at the start of every line, it's probably time to use a proper list instead.

31/07/2026

The Accessibility Checker helps identify common barriers that could make content more difficult to access and understand. It can flag issues such as missing alt text, poor document structure, reading order concerns, and other accessibility-related problems.

You can usually find it by: Review → Check Accessibility or simply search for Accessibility Checker from the app's search bar.

27/07/2026

One of the quickest ways to improve accessibility is by using meaningful link text.

Too often, I see links written as:
❌ "Click here"
❌ "Read more"
❌ Raw URLs pasted directly into documents and emails

While these may seem harmless, they don't provide enough context for users; particularly those using screen readers, who often navigate by jumping through links on a page.

Instead, make the destination clear:

✅ YouTube Home Page
✅ Download the Accessibility Guide
✅ View the Project Timeline

Descriptive links help everyone:
✔️ Screen reader users understand where a link leads
✔️ Readers can scan content more efficiently
✔️ Documents and emails look more professional
✔️ Accessibility standards are easier to meet

Before adding a link, ask yourself:

"Would this link still make sense if it was read on its own?"

If the answer is no, it's time to make it more descriptive.

Small accessibility improvements can have a big impact.

23/07/2026

While it may look like a heading, assistive technologies and screen readers don't recognise it as one.

Instead, use the built-in Heading Styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc.) in Word. Not only does this create a clear document hierarchy, but it also enables features such as the Navigation Pane, making documents easier for everyone to navigate.

Why does it matter?
✅ Better accessibility for screen reader users
✅ Clear content structure and hierarchy
✅ Faster navigation through long documents
✅ Improved usability for all readers

Small changes like this can make a huge difference in creating more inclusive and accessible content.

20/07/2026

One of the most common mistakes in marketing materials, presentations, and one-pagers is poor colour contrast. When text blends into the background or important elements lack visual distinction, your message gets lost.

✅ Use strong contrast to improve readability and highlight key information.
✅ Make content accessible for a wider audience.
✅ Create a cleaner, more professional visual hierarchy.

❌ Avoid light text on light backgrounds.
❌ Don't rely on colour alone to communicate important information.
❌ Reduce visual strain by ensuring content is clear at a glance.

Remember: if people have to work hard to read your content, they’re less likely to engage with it.

Great design communicates effortlessly.

What’s the biggest design mistake you see most often?

14/07/2026

Our FREE excel accessibility masterclass takes place next week!

This session will show practical ways to build accessibility in from the start, reducing rework, supporting compliance requirements and helping ensure content can be used by all.

During the session, we'll cover:
✅Structuring spreadsheets for accessibility
✅Presenting data clearly and inclusively
✅Improving navigation and usability
✅Practical accessibility checks

Plus, you'll get a free accessibility cheat sheet to take away and share with your team.

📅 July 21, at 12:30 to 13:15
🎟️ Free registration: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/accessibility-starts-with-everyday-documents-excel-tickets-1991191570589

Register Today!

Address

269 Field End Road, Eastcote
London
HA49NN

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6pm
Tuesday	9am - 6pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm

Telephone

+442080454405

Website

https://purplebeard.co.uk/

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