EPAS - Guidelines for accessible printing

The EPAS (Eclusive Print Accessibility Standard) guidelines are the most complete and professional set of guidelines for accessible printing. Whereas digital information has been assessed for years according to WCAG, a similar standard for physical publications has long been lacking. EPAS (Exclusive Print Accessibility Standards) changes that by establishing clear standards for accessibility that are actually applicable in practice.

Eclusief developed EPAS to fill this void and provide organizations with a testable, reliable framework with which to assess whether their printed materials are truly understandable, readable and usable - also for the elderly, visually impaired and people with disabilities. As such, the EPAS Guidelines are the first set of print accessibility standards to provide clear direction to designers, publishers and print providers alike.

What is EPAS and why was it developed?

Digital accessibility has received much attention in recent years, but physical communication has lagged conspicuously behind. Organizations are often already required to work to digital standards such as the Government Digital Accessibility Decree, but for print, until recently there were no clear guidelines for accessible print on which designers, publishers or printers could base their work.

The need for a professional standard was growing - a standard that:

• provides direction for design, typography and choice of materials
• helps organizations communicate more inclusively and clearly
• supports readers with more readable and understandable information
• Bringing print accessibility to the same level as digital accessibility

EPAS fulfills exactly that role. It provides a practical and testable accessibility framework for print, based on realistic use cases and demonstrable guidelines for accessible print.

Developed from practice, research and real readers

EPAS is not a theoretical model, but a system of standards built entirely from practical experience. The print accessibility standards within EPAS were developed based on:

• Print, typography and information design experience
• recurring problems that become apparent during audits
• insights into how different audiences experience print
• material research on paper, gloss, thickness, coating and binding
• light and contrast measurements that show how printing works in realistic conditions

As a result, EPAS provides a framework that establishes not only what accessible print should be, but also how to assess print for accessibility and why certain design or material choices are crucial for readability and ease of use. Organizations wishing to meet professional guidelines for accessible printing will find in EPAS a clear, applicable and future-proof frame of reference.

The 4 EPAS Principles.

EPAS forms the most complete framework for accessibility principles printed matter in the Netherlands. These four principles describe all factors that determine whether printed matter is visible, readable, understandable and usable. Each principle contains testable criteria, allowing organizations to objectively assess and improve their printed materials. Together, they form the foundation of professional guidelines for accessible print.

Principle 1: Visible

The first EPAS principle focuses on the visual clarity of printed materials. Visibility is an essential part of accessible print guidelines because readers can only begin to interpret when information is easily discernible.

Key points of interest:

Visible print meets clear accessibility principles:

• contrast remains adequate under varying lighting conditions
• photos and backgrounds do not interfere with readability
• icons are recognizable, clear and consistent
• design supports content rather than the other way around

With this principle, EPAS defines the visibility requirements that determine whether printed materials are accessible, both to readers with good vision and to the elderly and visually impaired.

Principle 2: Readable

The second EPAS principle deals with everything that determines how comfortably and effortlessly text can be read. Readability is one of the most direct guidelines for accessible print because typography and layout have a huge impact on the reader's experience.

Key points of interest:

• font size matched to target audience and context
• adequate line spacing and logical column widths
• a hierarchy that is clear at a glance
• enough white space to create peace and order

This principle shows how EPAS assesses print accessibility and why typographic choices are crucial to an inclusive reading experience.

Principle 3: Understandable

Where readability is about being able to read, comprehensibility is about being able to follow. This EPAS principle makes it clear that information must be logically structured to remain comprehensible and scannable. Comprehensibility is thus a central part of the guidelines for accessible print.

Key points of interest:

• clear chapters, introductions and page layouts
• recognizable patterns and visual anchors
• page usage aligned with scannability
• Predictable information flows that guide the reader

This clarifies which structural principles contribute to accessible print, so that information is not only read but understood.

Principle 4: User-friendly

The fourth EPAS principle makes the standard unique. Printed matter is a physical product - therefore EPAS looks not only at design, but also at material and handling. Physical accessibility is often forgotten in digital frameworks, but is indispensable within accessible print guidelines.

Key points of interest:

• Paper should not be shiny or translucent
• booklets should remain open without difficulty
• format should fit the target audience and use
• pages should turn easily
• Printed matter must remain usable in various lighting situations

With this principle, EPAS defines what physical accessibility standards are important for print, something that is not included in any digital guidelines.

In short

Together, the EPAS principles form a complete, practical and testable framework that clarifies what accessible print materials must meet and how organizations can assess them. These four guidelines for accessible print create publications that are not only beautiful, but also visible, readable, understandable and usable for all.