On October 7, 2021, Santé publique France received the 2021 Prescrire Award for producing the guide “Communicating for All: A Guide to Accessible Information,” which recognizes publications of interest to the general public and/or healthcare professionals.
Health prevention accessible to everyone
The guide "Communicating for Everyone: A Guide to Accessible Information" was developed in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Research Chair in Literacy and Inclusion (CIRLI) at the Université du Québec en Outaouais, the Cultures et Santé association (Belgium), and, in France, with the National Agency for the Fight Against Illiteracy, Unapei, and an expert in digital accessibility.
This guide sets out recommendations for developing information accessible to all, based on the principles of universal design and taking into account the needs of the audiences it is intended for.
Each chapter provides suggestions for best practices, lists pitfalls to avoid, and offers specific examples for illustration. A table summarizing essential practices concludes each section. The specific needs of people with intellectual, hearing, or visual disabilities are taken into account.
The guide is intended primarily for public and private organizations such as municipalities, healthcare facilities, social and medical-social institutions and services, associations, and businesses, across all sectors. It is designed to support all stakeholders in designing and sharing information that is accessible to everyone, regardless of their audience or literacy level.
Learn more
guide
22 October 2025
For the past 13 years, Santé publique France has been developing an approach to information accessibility. Initially focused on people with disabilities, particularly in its campaigns, this approach now targets anyone whose health literacy prevents them from taking full responsibility for their own health. This guide combines scientific knowledge with the experiences of numerous stakeholders.
These recommendations are also based on the concept of literacy, that is, the ability to understand and use information. In 2012, 6 out of 10 French people had difficulty understanding or assimilating the information needed to be fully self-reliant (OECD, 2012). The concept of health literacy, introduced in the 1970s in English-speaking countries, is becoming a public health concern in France.
magazines/journals
The first prerequisite for taking charge of one’s own health is access to knowledge. Health literacy is a major determinant of population health. It refers to individuals’ motivation and ability...
