Beyond Alt Text: Creating Accessible Content for Neurodiverse Audiences

Source: ChatGPT

Digital accessibility: it’s a topic nearly as trendy as AI. That’s because a lot has happened on the accessibility front in recent years, taking it from a “nice to have” element that makes you a good digital citizen to non-negotiable.

Nowadays companies are liable to get sued if their websites aren’t accessible to people with disabilities. It’s the law of the land in most places now and companies and organizations are scrambling to ensure their digital properties follow the globally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

When most people think about digital accessibility, they think of screen readers, contrast ratios, and alt text. All of that matters—a lot—but accessibility is about a lot more than meeting WCAG standards or supporting screen reader technology. True accessibility means creating content that can be understood, processed, and engaged with by as many people as possible—including neurodivergent users.

What do I mean by neurodivergent users? I mean people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, anxiety disorders, and other conditions that result in differences in processing information. That is to say people who don’t experience digital content in “standard” ways. People like us (I myself have ADHD) deserve content that doesn’t just exist, but that works—clearly, calmly, and accessibly.

Here’s how we start getting there.

1. Keep Structure Predictable and Consistent

Neurodiverse users often benefit from content that follows a clear, repeatable structure. That means:

• Clear headings and subheadings (use proper HTML markup!)

• Short paragraphs with one idea per section (This is a big one for us ADHD folk!)

• Lists and bullet points to break up information

• Consistent placement of links, buttons, or CTAs

Structure isn’t just a design choice—it’s cognitive scaffolding. And it not only helps the neurodiverse; in fact, you could make the case that we’re all ADHD online. We read more slowly. We struggle with long paragraphs. We have the attention span of hyperactive puppies. Predictable and consistent structure benefits everybody—the neurodiverse only more so.

2. Use Plain Language, Not Simplified Ideas

Using plain language doesn’t mean dumbing things down. It means removing unnecessary complexity, jargon, or figurative language that might create barriers for readers with language processing differences. People with autism in particular struggle with metaphor and figures of speech—things that most content creators take for granted. (This is also an important consideration for audiences that include non-native speakers of English.)

Examples:

• Say “join a meeting” instead of “hop on a call.”

• Avoid corporate metaphors or idioms like “move the needle” or “circle back.”

• Define acronyms the first time you use them—even common ones.

Plain language helps everyone, but for neurodivergent users, it can be the difference between engaging and checking out.

3. Offer Content in Multiple Formats

Some people process written information best. Others prefer audio or visual formats. When possible, offer:

• Summaries or TL;DRs at the top of long posts

• Video transcripts with proper formatting

• Audio versions of key content

• Visual diagrams with explanatory text—not instead of

This isn't about extra polish. It's about meeting people where they are, neurologically and emotionally.

4. Be Mindful of Tone, Timing & Pacing

Neurodivergent readers can be more sensitive to:

• Overwhelming tone (urgency, ALL CAPS, emotional language)

• Long blocks of unbroken text

• Time-limited tasks or popups that demand quick action

Write in a calm, clear tone. Avoid unnecessary urgency or pressure. Make content easy to navigate at the reader’s pace.

5. Design with Focus in Mind

Many neurodiverse users—especially those with ADHD—struggle with digital environments full of distractions or competing visual elements. You can help people like me stay with you by:

• Using white space to give content breathing room

• Avoiding autoplay animations or excessive blinking/movement

• Keeping navigation intuitive and minimal

Again here, this is a case where I’m convinced everyone benefits. In my experience, nobody likes excessive blinking and movement online and everyone likes ample white space. We live in an age of online chaos and overstimulation and it’s not only us neurodiverse folks that tend to feel overwhelmed.

Clarity isn’t just about what you write. It’s about what you remove.

Accessibility Isn't a Checklist. It’s a Mindset.

If we only design for the most “typical” user, we miss the opportunity to truly connect.

Accessible content for neurodiverse audiences isn’t a nice-to-have and shouldn’t be considered secondary to accessibility for people with physical disabilities. It’s essential, if we care about inclusion beyond surface level. It asks us to slow down, simplify without dumbing down, and think more broadly about what it means to be understood.

And when we do that, our content doesn’t just become more inclusive. It becomes better for everyone.

Need Help With All This? Hire a Neurodiverse Communicator

Despite slow improvements in awareness, there remains a stubborn misconception in corporate culture that neurodivergent candidates—people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, OCD, or other neurological differences—are risky hires. Too intense. Too quiet. Too sensitive. Too honest. Too . . . much!

But what if we reframe those assumptions as strengths?

• People with ADHD often bring exceptional ideation energy, creative momentum, and the kind of pattern-hunting skills that turn briefs into big ideas.

• People on the autism spectrum may bring clarity, directness, and a deep attention to structure and tone, ideal traits for messaging architecture and executive voice work.

• Dyslexic communicators frequently bring holistic thinking, visual storytelling gifts, and a powerful instinct for emotional resonance.

• Those with OCD or anxiety disorders may be incredibly tuned into risk language, stakeholder nuance, and detail—invaluable in issues management and crisis response.

In a field that’s about telling stories people haven’t heard before, neurodivergent minds offer exactly that: new lenses, new logic paths, new ways in.

I myself am a neurodiverse communicator with a ton of experience creating accessible content. I’ve also worked closely with communicators with other shades of neuro-spiciness and I factor what I’ve written here into everything I do. I’d be more than happy to help your company or organization do more than simply check a bunch of WCAG boxes and call it a day.

Feel free to contact me if you’re ready to take your digital accessibility to the next level.