Alternative Formats
Some people cannot use a standard web page or PDF, no matter how well it is built. Alternative formats make the same information available in ways that work for them: Easy Read, large print, audio, braille, captions and transcripts.
What are alternative formats in accessibility?
Alternative formats are versions of your content produced specifically for people with different access needs, such as Easy Read for people with intellectual disability, large print or braille for people who are blind or have low vision, and audio or captioned versions for people who cannot read text or hear audio. In Australia they are often required to meet the Disability Discrimination Act and the Digital Service Standard, and to deliver genuinely inclusive services.
One message, many ways to receive IT
Accessible HTML and remediated documents solve most barriers, but not all of them. A person with an intellectual disability may need plain language and supporting images. A braille reader needs a correctly formatted braille file, not a PDF. A Deaf user needs captions and a transcript, not an audio recording. Alternative formats close that final gap, so the same information reaches everyone.
ExceedAbility produces alternative formats as a standalone service or as part of a wider document remediation or uplift programme. We work from your source material, follow the relevant standards for each format, and return production-ready files with a short note on how to keep them current.
Formats we produce
Easy Read
Plain language paired with clear, supportive imagery for people with intellectual disability or low literacy.
Large print
Reformatted documents with larger type, generous spacing and high contrast for low-vision readers.
Braille
Correctly transcribed and formatted braille files, ready for embossing or refreshable braille displays.
Audio and described content
Narrated audio versions and audio description for video, so content works without sight or reading.
Captions and transcripts
Accurate captions and full transcripts for video and audio, meeting WCAG 1.2 requirements.
Accessible electronic versions
Tagged, WCAG and PDF/UA-compliant electronic documents as the accessible primary or alternative.
What you get
- Production-ready files in each format you need, checked against the relevant standard.
- A consistent message across every format, so nothing is lost or simplified incorrectly.
- Guidance on when each format is required and how to request them on your own pages.
- A repeatable process your team can follow for future content.
Where this sits in the journey
Alternative formats are part of Phase 1, Review and Advice, in our Accessibility Continuum. They work best alongside accessible source documents, so most clients pair this with document remediation and clear internal guidelines.
Back to the Accessibility ContinuumCommon questions about alternative formats
Plain answers to what they are and when you need them.
What types of alternative formats does ExceedAbility produce?
We produce Easy Read, large print, braille, audio and described content, captions and transcripts, and accessible electronic versions (tagged, WCAG and PDF/UA-compliant). Each is made from your source material to the relevant standard for that format.
What is Easy Read?
Easy Read pairs plain language with clear, supportive imagery so information is accessible to people with intellectual disability or low literacy. It conveys the same message as the original in a simpler, more visual form.
When are alternative formats legally required in Australia?
Alternative formats are often needed to meet the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Australian Digital Service Standard, and to deliver genuinely inclusive services. The right formats depend on your audience and the content involved.
Do alternative formats replace accessible documents?
No. Accessible HTML and remediated documents solve most barriers; alternative formats close the final gap for needs they cannot meet, such as braille for blind readers or Easy Read for low literacy. They work best alongside accessible source documents.