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How to Make Impact Reporting Accessible: Five Things to Keep in Mind
In a world where we are generating more information at a faster pace than ever before, we have a responsibility to make sure that the information we contribute is valuable, suitable and impactful. One of the key ways that we can ensure this is by considering accessibility.
Accessibility is often misunderstood; people might think that it is limited to catering for those who are hard of hearing, are unable to speak, or have limited sight. However, the speakers at SIMNA’s Accessible Impact Reporting webinar painted a much broader and truer definition of the varied aspects that accessibility covers.
Last month, we had a fantastic group of speakers for a SIMNA event, made up of Marie Garrubba (Assistant Director of Evidence to Action at NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme), Samantha Abbato (Director at Visual Insights People), Samiha Barkat (Group Manager of Research, Evaluation and Data at Launch Housing), and Jody Barney (Executive Director of Deaf Indigenous Community Consultancy). Each speaker had a different perspective on accessibility, with common threads linking them all.
At its core, accessibility is about making something suitable to be discovered, accessed, consumed, or used by its audience. One thread that was clear across all the speakers was that accessibility is about communication. It is about getting a message across to one or more stakeholders in a way that helps them use that information for future decision-making. Effective communication is clear, concise and compelling, so impact reporting should naturally follow the same rules.
Among the many valuable insights provided during the session, there are five core accessibility takeaways for those creating content:
1. Reports vs. documents
In thinking about producing a report, you should first be aware of the difference between a document and a report. The purpose of a document is often to capture work in its entirety and include all the information in a comprehensive and transparent way, while a report is a focused output used to share findings with stakeholders to inform and support actions.
Ask yourself: do you need a report or a document?
Be clear about what you are trying to achieve and ensure that the format you choose is suitable for its purpose.
Consider how many pages is an appropriate length.
Ensure that the output is something that will be useful for the reader, rather than something that ends up on a shelf or in an archived folder and is never read or used.
2. Know your audience
Samantha Abbato and Samiha Barkat were very clear about the importance of knowing your audience when you’re producing a report. There is no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to communication, so it is important you understand who it is you are trying to communicate with and what you are trying to get across. This is essential to producing an effective report or communicating a data story.
The point was further highlighted by Jody Barney when considering First Nations audiences. People have specific preferences, interpretations, and abilities when it comes to consuming information, so you should factor this into the design, consultation, and creation of content. Samantha Abbato gave a good example of this when she was designing a report for “Every Bloke”. The project was focused on building connections amongst men through a shared work shed, where men could come together and work on hobbies and projects. Samantha ensured that the cover, content, and structure were audience-appropriate, and that the report could comfortably sit on a workshop benchtop without looking remotely out of place.
3. Cater to different abilities
We experienced a direct example of how technology often caters for a narrow audience by not adequately considering the experience of people of all abilities. Despite everyone’s best efforts to prepare for the presentation, when Jody tried to share her slides on the video webinar, she could no longer see the AUSLAN interpreter who was translating for the speaker and the group. When we do not consider the needs of those with different abilities, we narrow the audience that can engage with our content. Even with best intentions, hiccups can occur and sometimes you need to be flexible in addressing needs. Keep this in mind from the outset, and ensure the space, time, and budget to cater to different needs and abilities, so that the resultant content is high quality and accessible.
4. Consider varying the format
You do not have to stick to traditional reporting approaches to get your message across. In fact, when considering accessibility, there are many instances in which you think outside the box. You can and should use a variety of photo, audio, video, infographics, and animation content to engage and communicate with different audiences. Visuals often receive better engagement when used well, but apply the same rules as you would for written communication. Content needs to remain clear, concise and compelling. A great example from Samiha Barkat is “Kalemi’s Story” (linked below), where animation was used to convey a stakeholder’s story in a respectful and appropriate way. To prove the age-old saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”, this became one of the most highly accessed pages on Launch Housing’s website, and supported a variety of their advocacy and engagement work.
5. Be cognisant of First Nations cultural considerations
With any work in this space, it is always important to hold an awareness of the diversity of interpretations that can be taken from your content, and take care to minimise the risk of harm. Where possible, it is important to adopt a First Nations-led approach, making sure that you can preserve any data that is collected, and also play it back to communities in a way that is respectful.
Reflect on how you show up and engage. What are you saying and how are you saying it? Does it both meet the brief and the community expectations? Focus on a strengths-based perspective and acknowledge the self-empowerment of First Nations people.
In order to work collaboratively, build trust and form good relationships for any work you are doing. Acknowledge that context is complex, and insight comes through experience. Therefore, strongly consider consulting someone from the community to understand any hidden contexts that you may not be aware of. As part of the cultural protocols of a community, you may have to get permission from certain elders before you engage the community more broadly. When undertaking community engagement, make sure to fairly remunerate those who participate in your process, acknowledging that this knowledge is privileged.
Final Reflections
Overall, it was an insightful and varied webinar from which there are many take-aways. While it was hard to dive in detail into such a broad and complex topic, we found it a great starting point to dissolve some of the misconceptions around accessibility. There is a recording of the webinar available for any SIMNA members who missed the session, and a list of panel-recommended resources shared below. These are useful in supporting the journey towards more accessible impact reporting and content.
Whether you’re a non-profit, a business, or an individual with a mission, incorporating these strategies into your communication efforts can help you inspire action and leave a lasting impact on the world. The power to change lives lies within the stories we tell, and with the right approach, you can be a catalyst for positive social change, ensuring that the message you disseminate reaches everyone.
So, what is your key message, and how will you use it to make a difference today, making sure it’s accessible to all and is culturally respectful? We would love to hear what you do next!
Resource recommendations
Books
Strategies for clear, concise and compelling report writing:
Writing at Work, by Neil James
Writing for Impact, by Bill Birchard
Accessible Website & Video Examples
NDIS Guides for Understanding Supports
Launch Housing: Kalemi’s Story
Accessible Report Examples
Capital Cities Homelessness Index
Launch Housing Impact Report 21-22
Speaker Websites
Deaf Indigenous Community Consultancy
Author: Lavinia Kanagandran, SIMNA Victoria Organising Committee