Toolkit: a practical checklist for emotional accessibility
Tone and language
Replace threat and urgency with clarity. Prefer “Here is why we need this” over “Failure to comply may…” unless legally required, and even then add plain-language context.
Avoid moral judgement language. Keep copy precise, respectful, and neutral.
Pacing and cognitive load
Break long forms into steps with progress indicators. Reduce simultaneous demands and remove distractions from critical moments.
Offer “save and return later” by default for high-stakes flows.
Autonomy and consent
Make defaults explainable and reversible. Provide meaningful choices, and avoid dark patterns that pressure agreement.
If you collect signals, keep them minimal, opt-in where possible, and transparent to users.
Safe recovery
Design for mistakes. Provide clear error messages, examples, and paths to fix issues without restarting.
Add confirmation before irreversible actions, and make support reachable at the moment of need.