Key elements for creating accessible e-mails

Abstract

Electronic mail has been established as a means of official interaction between government agencies and citizens, being cited in Federal, State and Municipal laws. However, studies on accessibility in electronic mail are still scarce, considering that, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in 2010, there was, in Brazil, a contingent of 45.6 million people with some type of disability. As a result, potential users who need e-mails to have some type of access facilitator exist, but which are not always met. In this context, the present study aims to present recommendations and guidelines to make e-mails accessible, based on a documentary study from official and academic sources, covering both technical and scientific documentation. As a result of the study, the recommendations for creating accessible e-mails, from the perspective of people who use e-mail as a form of official communication in the development of their activities, can be highlighted in seven main points: subject field; text form; language used in the message; images that can be inserted into the message; tables; attachments; and signature. The observation of the guidelines listed in the study can help a greater number of people to have access to government information.